Betty Schmerbauch

Funeral Mass for Elizabeth ?Betty? Schmerbauch, 84 of Dickinson will be 10:00 a. m. , Thursday, February 2, 2006 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church with Father Jerry Kautzman celebrating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph?s Cemetery in Dickinson. Visitation will be Wednesday, February 1, 2006 from 3:00 p. m. to 9:00 p. m. with Rosary at 7:00 p. m. at Stevenson Mischel-Olson Chapel. Betty passed away Wednesday, January 25, 2006 at St. Benedict?s Health Center in Dickinson, twelve days after the passing of her husband, Leo, of 49 years. Betty Bridget Dengel Schmerbauch was born on August 26, 1921, the daughter of John M. and Ethel (Samson) Dengel in New England, ND, one of ten children. Betty attended Stoltz rural school as a child. Her first language was German, as her parents emigrated from the German colonies in present-day Romania. After learning the skills of farming, Betty worked at the Dickinson Press, a local dry cleaner and the St. Charles Hotel, among other jobs. Betty met Leo M. Schmerbauch at a community dancehall and the couple was married June 6, 1958. They continued their enjoyment of music and dancing all of their lives. After their marriage, the couple and their son, Dean, moved throughout the upper Plains States while Leo built and repaired grain elevators. Betty was a vital support to Leo through his working years as a bookkeeper, secretary, and even as a carpenter?s helper when needed. After retirement, the couple resided at Evergreen and later at St. Benedict?s Health Center, where they enjoyed reminiscing with friends. Leo and Betty enjoyed museums, threshing bees, car shows and sight-seeing in the Black Hills, Medora, and Yellowstone National Park, as well as visiting family in North Dakota, Minnesota and California. Leo and Betty kept in touch with relatives and old friends by personal visits, telephone, letters, and email. Betty was an avid reader, especially books about sensational crimes, the Battle of Little Big Horn, wagon trains and westerns. Betty also enjoyed animals, including those at zoos, as well as horses, buffalo, deer, barnyard animals and her son?s various domestic pets. Betty loved playing the harmonica she received from her father. Some of her favorite tunes were Red River Valley, Yellow Rose of Texas and You are My Sunshine. Betty and Leo had active and inquisitive minds about history, world and national news, and local events. They always had books, magazines and newspapers to read to keep up on the events. Betty enjoyed making quilts, cooking and baking traditional German food and also making crafts, embroidery, and gardening vegetables and flowers. Betty is survived by a son, Dean Schmerbauch, Santa Fe, NM; a daughter-in-law, Lynn Schmerbauch, Gaylord, MN, three granddaughters, Tammy (Dave) Pikal and family, Brownton, MN, Tera (Trent) Messner and family, Gaylord, MN, Britany Schmerbauch, Gaylord, MN; four great-grandchildren; sisters, Helen Ainscough, San Grabriel, CA; and Theresa Butterfield, Visalia, CA; nephews, Anthony (Betty Ann) Theede, Breckenridge, MN; Glenn Theede, NV, numerous other nephews, nieces and cousins across North Dakota and Minnesota by the names of Dengel, Bogner, Klemm, Montee, Lawrence and Blumhagen. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo, her parents, sisters Catherine, Ethel, brothers Jack ?John Jr. ?, John P. , Otto, Karl, an infant brother, Karl, and a stepson Allen Schmerbauch.


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Burial Date: February 2, 2006
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Mass: Thursday, St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Dickinson