Elsie Gunsch, 89, Hebron, died Sunday, March 9, 2014 at St. Joseph’s Hospital & Health Center, Dickinson. Elsie’s funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 13, 2014 at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, with Rev. James Hessler officiating. Interment will take place later this Spring at the United Methodist Cemetery, Hebron. Visitation will be on Wednesday, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and on Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson.
Elsie Biffert was born November 16, 1924 in Morton County, nine miles south of Hebron, the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Landsiedel) Biffert. She lost her mother at a young age of three years old. She was educated in the Heilburn District #18 through the 8th Grade. Due to her father’s blindness, she was needed at home and was unable to continue her education. This was a disappointment for Elsie, for she always wanted to be a History teacher. In the Fall of 1942, Elsie left the family farm to work and live in Hebron.
On December 20, 1944, Gottlieb and Elsie were married in the First Baptist Church, Hebron. They made their home on the family farm 18 miles south of Hebron. They were blessed with two sons, Dennis Dale and Gordon James. They were married 44 years and nine months when Gottlieb passed away on September 20, 1989.
Elsie was very active in the Evangelical United Brethren Church, south of Hebron for many years. She taught Sunday School and worked with the youth. In 1968, she began attending the Bethel Assembly of God Church, Glen Ullin. This remained her home church for the remainder of her life. Elsie had a great love for Jesus, and she shared this love with everyone she met. She was blessed with the gift of prayer, spending many long hours praying for her family, neighbors, and all of God’s people.
She found great joy in cooking, baking, gardening, and raising her “baby chicks”. She was also a member of the Homemakers Club in Hebron. Elsie loved her grandchildren very much, spending many hours walking with them and talking about the “good old days”. She also enjoyed playing “Skip-Bo” with her grandchildren. Grandma always had cookies in the cookie jar and you never left the house hungry.
Elsie is survived by her sons, Dennis (Arlette) Gunsch, Hebron, and Gordon (Karen) Gunsch, Lander, Wyo.; nine grandchildren, Debbie (Terry) Miller, Fayetteville, Ark., Sherrie (Scott) Dassinger, Dickinson, Susan Matthews, Bennettsville, S.C., Tina (Kevin) Degree, Berthold, Tanya Duran, Riverton, Wyo., Grayson Gunsch, Washington, Utah, Jay (Irene) Gunsch, Lander, April (Chad) Dutchuk, Killdeer, and Carrie (Nick) Johnson, Lander; 15 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and one brother-in-law, Leo Gunsch, Colorado.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gottlieb; her parents; stepmother, Christine Biffert; Brothers and sisters-in-law, Max (Ruth) Biffert, Adam (Gladys) Biffert, and Alfred (Martha) Biffert; sister, Cinderella Gunsch; and sisters and brothers-in-law, Ted (Viola) Gunsch, and Elizabeth (Albert) Otto.
The family prefers memorials to the Richardton Health Care Foundation, PO Box H, Richardton, ND 58652
