Mertis Fritz

Mertis Fritz, 88, Bismarck, formerly of Dunn County, died Thursday, November 20, 2003 at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck. Funeral services will be 2 p. m. Monday, November 24, 2003 at Normanna Lutheran Church, Dunn Center, with the Revs. Aanen Gjovik and Dale Nabben officiating. Interment will be in Dunn Center Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 1:00 p. m. to 9 p. m. at Price-Murphy Funeral Home, Dickinson, with a prayer service at 7:00 p. m. Visitation will continue Monday at the Church one hour prior to the service. Mertis Sophia Searles was born March 14, 1915 to Gage and Nettie (Gilbertson) Searles at her parental home near Dunn Center. She attended elementary and high school at Dunn Center and graduated in 1932. She then attended Dickinson State Teacher?s College from 1932 ? 1933 and started teaching rural schools in the fall of 1933. She received her standard teaching certificate in 1936. She married Fred Fritz in Killdeer on December 5, 1936. They moved to the Killdeer mountain area in the spring of 1937 to farm. Mertis taught school there for one year. They returned to the Dunn Center area in 1942 and farmed and ranched there until 1966 when Fred retired. Mertis continued to teach and furthered her education and received her bachelor?s degree in Elementary Education in July, 1966. She was appointed Dunn County School Superintendent in 1966, which she continued until 1975. They moved to Bismarck in March, 1978 for medical reasons. Fred passed away September 16, 1983. She entered Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in July, 2000. Mertis was presently a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Bismarck. She was a charter member of Normanna Lutheran Church in Dunn Center, where she taught Sunday School and was an advisor of the Luther League. She volunteered many hours at MedCenter One, Q&R Clinic, North Dakota Heritage Center, the Governor?s Mansion, and RSVP. She is a past member of the Sons of Norway, Delta Kappa Gamma and a member of Retired Teachers of North Dakota. She is survived by: two sons, Gary (Roberta) Fritz, Killdeer, Donavan (Vicky Su) Fritz, Belfair, Wash. ; two daughters, Norene (Merrill) Braaten, West Fargo, Mavis (Eldor) Goetz, Baldwin; six grandchildren, Colleen Braaten, Kevin (Mary) Braaten, Scott (Linda) Fritz, Dean (Mary Ann) Goetz, Gregory Fritz, Dianna Romanoski and several great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, one grandson, Robert, great-grandson, Andrew and an infant brother, Gordon. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Normanna Lutheran Church or the donor?s choice.


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Burial Date: November 24, 2003
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Service: Monday, Normanna Lutheran Church