Gay Marie "Gabby" Kramer

A Celebration of Life for Gay Marie “Gabby” Kramer, 61, of Almont, ND, will be 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at the United Lutheran Church of Almont with Pastor Bill Dodd officiating.

Gabby passed away at her home on Sunday, July 9, 2023 surrounded by her family, after a brave and hard-fought battle with cancer.

Gabby was born February 1, 1962, in Turtle Lake, ND, the oldest child of Erwin and Nancy Thiel. She grew up with her brothers and sister on the family farm, where her love of animals was fostered. She attended school in Almont, and opted to graduate a year early, in 1979, through independent studies.

She moved to Mandan where she and her cousin Sharon were roommates, and she began working at Kmart. After working at Kmart for a short time she landed a job as a meter maid with the police department. A few years later she went on the road to travel where she met Russell Kramer in Carlsbad, New Mexico. They traveled together seismographing throughout the western part of the country and eventually settled in Twining, MI near Russell’s family. In 1984 they welcomed their first child, William (Bill) Kramer. A few short years later, on New Year’s Eve 1986, Russ and Gay Marie were married in Standish, MI at the Free Methodist Church.

Gabby worked at Twining Food Market for many years. In 1994 daughter Kaitlen Faith, born in West Branch, MI, made their family complete. Over the years they made many trips back to North Dakota to visit family and friends and in August 1996 they decided to move to Almont to be closer to Gabby’s family and she started her own in-home daycare business, caring for many of the kids in Almont. When Kaitlen was old enough to go to school Gabby began work at The New Salem Journal, helping with the printing and assembling of the Vintage Guitar Magazine. She later took a second job with Rud's Tesoro helping them run the Almont station and doing their bookwork. Over the years she wore many hats at one time. She loved to work with people and enjoyed helping them. She worked for several years as the cook for the Almont Meals on Wheels and later began working at M & H convenience store in Mandan. She was a beloved employee there and enjoyed the time she spent employed there, making many friends. Gabby later made the tough decision to leave M & H to run the Muddy Creek Saloon in Almont where she worked until her passing. Gabby also helped son and daughter-in-law Bill and Jacey open North Shore Resort at Lake Tschida earlier this year. She loved the lake and was looking forward to working at the lake for the summer where she could be outside and enjoy her family and nature.

No matter what she was doing or where she was at, Gabby loved to work with people. She was kind and caring, never one to judge. She was an animal lover, taking in strays and tending to them. She was an avid reader, she had a green thumb, and spent many hours gardening with her flowers. She also immensely enjoyed camping and anything outdoors. Time spent with her family meant the world to her, especially time with her granddaughters who she loved fiercely.  They all adored Grandma G and loved her to no end! She was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and friend who will be deeply missed by many.

Gay Marie is survived by her husband Russell, son William "Bill" Kramer and wife Jacey of Mandan and their daughters Shacey, Willow, Ellie and Sadie; daughter Kaitlen Kramer, Almont; stepson Jeremy Kramer and his wife Amanda and their two daughters Zoey and Alexus of Sterling, MI; her mother, Nancy Thiel, Almont; brother Bryan Thiel, Almont; sister and brother-in-law Debbie and Todd Norton of New Salem; brother and sister-in-law, Brad and Robyn Thiel, Almont; many nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Erwin Thiel.