Frances Waxweiler

Frances Adelaide Waxweiler, 87, Wahpeton, formerly rural Mantador, ND, passed away Monday, July 21, 2014, at St. Catherine's Living Center, Benedictine Health System, Wahpeton, ND.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 25, 2014, at Sts. Peter & Paul's Catholic Church, Mantador, ND, with Fr. Peter Anderl Celebrant. Visitation will be at the church Thursday, from 5-7 p.m., with a rosary led by Foresters and Christian Mothers at 7:00 pm followed by a Liturgical Wake. Visitation continues one hour before the Mass on Friday. Interment will be at the Calvary Cemetery, Mantador. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton.

Frances Adelaide Henkenius was born on December 28, 1926, to Albert and Hedwig (Veit) Henkenius. She lived with her parents, two brothers, and six sisters on farms in Antelope and Dwight Townships and attended schools there. Later she taught schools in Center and Barney Townships. Frances was united in marriage to James Waxweiler on September 21, 1949 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Mooreton, ND. Together they raised five children. James passed away May 4, 2006. Frances lived on the farm before moving into Wahpeton-Breckenridge, entering St. Catherine's Living Center in May of 2013.

Frances and James were members of Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church at Mantador and both were active in church activities for many years. She organized the CCD program under the direction of Fr. Peter Grady. It was one of the first CCD programs to be organized in the Diocese of Fargo. She also taught religion for many years, and held offices in the Altar Society, Christian Mothers and Catholic Order of Foresters. Frances enjoyed gardening, fishing and many weekends at their lake cottage on Deer Lake in Minnesota with family and friends.

Blessed to have shared her life are her children; two sons: Richard (Beverly) Waxweiler, Mantador, Robert (Deborah) Waxweiler, Rice, MN; two daughters: Mary Ellen (Jeff) Krump, Hankinson, ND, and Donna (Jerry) Dimmer, Yankton, SD; son-in-law, James Wills, Bismarck, ND; 18 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, James, her daughter, Kathleen, two brothers, Joe and Adolph Henkenius; and six sisters: Caroline Muir, Amelia Jaeger, Elizabeth Lund, Marie Weber, Marcella Luebke, and Dorothy Klosterman.