Jean Regan Niemann

Jean M. Regan Niemann, 89 of Devils Lake, ND died on Thursday evening, November 20, 2008 at the Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake. Mass of Christian Burial for Jean will be held on Monday, November 24, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. Fr. Dale Kinzler will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery, rural Webster, ND. Visitation for Jean will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Sunday from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 5:30 p.m. The Rosary will be led by the Catholic Daughters. Visitation on Monday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Serving as Casket Bearers for Jean will be Wyatt Regan, Bryce Regan, Robert Regan, Ken Regan, Dale Regan, Jesse Regan and Arlynn Hefta. Reading the Sacred Scriptures will be Cheryl Hefta Bringing forth the Eucharistic Gifts will be Anthony Regan, Sadie Hefta Catlyn Kristie and Marissa Regan Music will be provided by Kevin Regan and Audrey Myklebust Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharistic will be Marlene Jorgenson. Jean Mavis Regan was born in Devils Lake, ND on July 18, 1919 to Rube and Sibyl (Lovgren) Regan. She attended country schools in Harding Township through the 8th grade. She graduated from Devils Lake High School in 1936. After graduation, she attended Union Commercial College in Grand Forks, graduating in 1938. She then went to Los Angeles, California and worked for Alexander-Alexander Insurance Firm, who insured the movie stars. Later, she was called back home, as her mother was very ill and they needed her help. She was a dedicated volunteer and devoted caregiver to her mother and especially her dear brother, Doug. She worked in Devils Lake for Fred Cuthbert, as a legal secretary for many years, also working for Frank Foughty, Ralph Erickstad and Neil Thompson as they joined the firm. She was the owner of Jean’s Secretarial and Answering Service, downtown Devils Lake, where she worked through the years. Later, she moved her business to her home on 14th Street East, until her retirement in 1995. In her younger years, Jean trained in Devils Lake under the American National Red Cross Nurse’s Aide Program. After graduating from their program, she served as a volunteer Red Cross Nurse’s Aide at Mercy Hospital from 1945 to 1946. On October 14, 1995, at the age of 76, Jean married her high school classmate, Clifford J. Niemann in Devils Lake at St. Joseph Catholic Church. They made their home in Devils Lake in the summer and traveled to Los Altos, California for the winter, where Cliff had his home. They have resided at Heartland Care for the past several years. Jean’s life was her family and music. She had a special love for her Irish Heritage and was very interested in the family genealogy. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, where she was choir director and organist for many, many years. She was also a member of the Devils Lake Music Club, a member and secretary of the Lake Region Community Concert Board and member and past officer of Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Jean is survived by her loving family, her husband, Cliff of Devils Lake; Brothers: Dick Regan and his wife, Candy of Devils Lake; David Regan and his wife, Sylvia of Tavares, Florida; Jack Regan and his wife, Margaret of Simi Valley, California; Sisters: Helen (Alex) Xydias of Sun Valley, California; Peggy Fucich of Palmdale, California and Rita Rolph of Ventura, California; Many nieces, nephews and their families and many dear friends also survive. Jean was preceded in death by her parents; an infant sister, Mary Frances and 7 year old sister, Marilyn; brother, Douglas Regan and step-daughter, Nicolle Cornett. Memorials may be directed to the St. Joseph Organ Fund or the American Cancer Society which Jean served as the local Memorial Chairman for many years.