Odelia Boyer

Odelia K. Boyer, age 98, of Fargo, ND, passed away on Friday, October 1, 2021, in her home. Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 7, 2021, from 5 PM to 7 PM followed by her 7 PM prayer service at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home in Wahpeton, ND. Visitation will continue on Friday, October 8, 2021, at Zion United Methodist Church in Walcott, ND, from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM followed by her 10:30 AM funeral service. Pastor Mark Britton will officiate the service. Burial will be in Zion Cemetery in rural Walcott, ND. Arrangements have been entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home.

Odelia (Dee) Kathryn Kummer was born August 3, 1923, to Nicholas Kummer and Elenora Anna (Ista) at their farm by Colfax, ND. It was here she attended school. When she graduated from high school, she attended school at St. John’s Hospital, Fargo, ND. She graduated in 1945 with a 3-year RN degree. You had to purchase 3 white uniforms to attend school and work at the same time. She worked the night shift in the delivery room for $123.00 a month. She moved to Compton, CA, and did some private duty nursing for a short period. On December 21, 1947, she married Darrel Boyer at the Zion United Methodist Church, rural Colfax. They lived in CA for a short time before coming home to help on the Kummer farm and care for her mother. In 1950 they lived on the Haverland farm and in 1956 moved to the Percy Tarr farm by rural Mooreton. In 1964, they moved to the farm their son, Mark, currently lives on.   In 1987, they built a home in Wahpeton and moved there.  They spent 40 winters in Mesa, AZ where they square danced, played cards, golfed, and played host when the kids and grandkids came and enjoyed the weather. For the last few years, they have lived in Fargo.

Dee was an excellent cook, gardener, and seamstress. She was the family historian, she kept records of births, marriages, and deaths. We are going to miss her record keeping.

Dee’s faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior was an important part of who she was. It was her desire to see all those she loved, experience the same reality she did in her walk with the Lord.

Dee will be forever missed by her husband, Darrel of 73 years; her children: Connie (deceased)(Bill) Starkjohn, Stuart (Pat) Boyer, Shirley (Wayne) Nelson, Mark (Kristie) Boyer, Martin (Debbie) Boyer.

Grandchildren: Tom (Elaine) Starkjohn, Renee (Tom) Cordle, Michelle (Chris) Matthews, Betsy (Chad) Schulz), Katy (Brandon) Halonen, Mandy (Damion) Nystrom, Wesley (Samantha) Nelson, Kyle (Beth) Nelson, Colette (Chris) James, Brian (Amy) Boyer, Angie (Dayne) Kratcha, Julie (Levi) Jacobson, Cheri (Travis) Grefsrud, Tina (Dustin) Stredwick, Lisa (Mike) Butkiewicz.

Great-grandchildren: Ella, Emmeline, Ezra, Elise, Eliza, Enoch, Eden Starkjohn, Nathan, Tyler, Aubrey, & Isaac Cordle, Charlotte & Theodore Matthews; Olivia, Sydney, & Hailey Schulz, Tyler, Leo, & Griffin Halonen, Whitney & Nickolas Nystrom; Adriella, Jay, & Riley Nelson, Ian & Isabelle Nelson; Lauren & Claire Boyer, Tanner, Mya, & Addelyn Kratcha, Lillian & Jada Jacobson, Shaun Grefsrud.

She is preceded in death by her parents: Nicholas & Eleanora Anna (Ista) Kummer, her in-laws, Andrew & Minnie (Northway) Boyer, her siblings, and their spouses: Marie (Walter) Johnson, Ed (Laura) Kummer, Ray (Betty) Kummer, Carol (Herman) Schick, Angeline (Dale) Gregory, Donald (Delores) Kummer and their daughter, Connie.

Dee did not want flowers for her funeral. Instead, she wanted families to go out and enjoy a big dish of ice cream.

The family is grateful for Senior Helpers and Hospice who made it possible for mom to be at home with dad during her last few months here.

Memorials can be given to: Zion United Methodist Church, the Zion Cemetery Fund or the charity of your choice.

Odelia's Memorial Folder