Madelyn "Lena" Marie Schepp

Madelyn M. “Lena” Schepp, 100 of Devils Lake formerly of Michigan, ND passed away on Tuesday evening, April 26, 2011 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, ND. Mass of Christian Burial for Lena will be held on Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. Fr. Dale Kinzler will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Monday from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 5:30 p.m. Visitation on Tuesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Madelyn Marie, “Lena” was the second of thirteen born to Johanna (Thomas) and Frank Burckhard. She was born on August 23, 1910. The family farmed near Rohrville, North Dakota and later moved to Devils Lake where Lena met and married Emil A. Schepp on July 1, 1935 in Devils Lake. They raised two children and lived in Manfred, ND and Michigan ND where Emil managed the Farmers Union Elevator and Lena worked in the local hospital as a nurses’ aid. They retired in 1974 and the couple moved back to Devils Lake. Emil passed away on July 24, 1991 and after a couple of years, Lena moved to Park Manor in Devils Lake where she resided for 14 years. During this time of her life she was very active with volunteer work, outings and luncheons with the girls, playing pinochle and taking trips to visit her son and daughter. She was also a very active member of St. Jude’s Circle and the Red Hats. However, throughout Lena’s life, attending Sunday Mass was one of her most meaningful and important things she did. Lena was a kind and gracious lady who enjoyed being around family and friends. She had a great sense of humor and quick wit. She was loved by many and will be dearly missed. Lena is survived by her loving family which includes her children, Claudia and her husband Denny Durigan of Conway, Arkansas and Jerry Schepp and his wife Karen of Seattle, Washington; grandchildren, Drew Durigan, Dana (Brian) Gainey: Sara Schepp and Eric Schepp; great grandchildren, Austin, Carson and Elliott Gainey; sister, Bette Zych of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; brother, Alex (Isabelle) Burckhard of the Twin Cities area of Minnesota; many nieces, nephews and their families also survive. Lena was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Emil; brothers, Ned, Andy, Tony and Jack Burckhard; sisters, Eva Burckhard, Amelia Ganje, Helen Schepp, Kristeen Axtman, Cecelia Madson and Josephine Mastel.