Wilma Billie Ginther

Wilma E. “Billie” Ginther, 87, Devils Lake, ND, died Monday, July 31, 2006 at the Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, August 4, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. Fr. C.F. Wilhelm will celebrate the Mass with burial in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Devils Lake. Visitation will be Thursday, August 3, 2006 from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:30 p.m. in the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake. Visitation on Friday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Serving as Casket Bearers for Billie will be her grandsons, Brian, Dale and Michael Ginther, Todd Aronson, Dustyn and Deryck Ludwig. Honorary Casket Bearers will be her eight great grandchildren. Reading the Scriptures will be Deb Ludwig Gift Bearers will be Billie’s Granddaughters, Kim Zinke, Michelle Olson, Danyelle Ludwig, Livie Kraft and Leslie Wentz. Music will be provided by Tom Wade, Soloist and Patty Cote, Organist Wilma E. Thomson was born on September 19, 1918 at rural Doyon, ND, the daughter of George and Elsie (Miller) Thomson. She was reared and educated in the Southam area, attending Hope Country School. On December 26, 1938, she was united in marriage to Richard J. Ginther at the Sacred Heart Parsonage, Crary, ND. They established their home on a farm at rural Southam and through the years would live at many other farms in the Southam, Doyon and rural Devils Lake areas where they farmed and raised their family. They also lived for a short time in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1962, they moved into Devils Lake and for the past 4 years, Billie has been a resident of the Heartland Care Center. Richard died on February 20, 1994. While living in Devils Lake, Billie worked as a sales clerk in several stores including Montgomery Wards, Manns, J.C. Penney’s and Glickson’s and was one of the first female clerks to sell means wear at Glickson’s. She later worked as a cook at the Courthouse Café and Town and Country Club. After retiring, Billie started dealing Black Jack at the Elk’s Lodge and was at one time one of the oldest Black Jack dealers in North Dakota when she was into her 70’s. She also was famous for her delicious caramel rolls and was able to delight many people of the Devils Lake area when they were able to purchase them by the dozen. Richard and Billie spent several weeks each winter in Las Vegas, Nevada. Billie’s favorite pastime was Bingo and Black Jack. This love of Bingo always traveled back to Devils Lake with Billie and she played Bingo whenever and wherever she could. She made many friends on the “Bingo Circuit” and it brought Billie many hours of fun, laughter and camaraderie. Billie was a former member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Christian Mothers of Crary and after the church closed was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. She was also a very active member of the Elks and Eagles Ladies Auxiliary, the VFW Auxiliary and the Southam Homemakers. Billie is survived by her children: Rosella Aronson of Doyon Rick Ginther and his wife, Mary Ann of Devils Lake Doug Ginther and his wife, Sandy also of Devils Lake Deb Ludwig and her husband, Mike of Prior Lake, Minnesota Eleven Grandchildren: Kim (Daryn) Zinke, Todd (Rochelle) Aronson, Michelle (Wayne) Olson, Brian (Stacey) Ginther, Mike (Tanya) Ginther, Dale Ginther and friend, Lisa Olson, Dustyn Ludwig, Deryck Ludwig, Danyelle Ludwig, Livie (Brian) Kraft and Leslie (Roger) Wentz. Eight Great Grandchildren: James Ginther, Clara Ginther, Dana and Andrea Zinke, Taylor and Brooke Aronson, Abby and Emma Olson. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard; son, John Wayne Ginther; brothers, Floyd, Walter and Herbert; sister, Hazel Schickling.