Geraldine "Gerry" R. Ebensteiner

Geraldine R. Ebensteiner, 93 of Devils Lake formerly of Starkweather ND passed away on Monday, January 23, 2023 in the loving care of her family at Eventide Heartland Care Center.

Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Sunday, January 29, 2023 from 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. and will continue at St. Joseph Catholic Church from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 5:00 p.m.  Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, January 30, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. with burial in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Funeral Mass will be livestreamed at Facebook/stjosephchurchdvl.com

Geraldine Rita Waldorf was born on June 5, 1929, at Starkweather, North Dakota, the daughter of Math and Clara (Lehnen) Waldorf. She grew up in the Starkweather area. She attended St. Joe Country School, rural Starkweather and Starkweather Public School. 

Geraldine “Gerry” was united in marriage to Wilfred Joseph Ebensteiner on January 6, 1948 in Starkweather.  They established their home on a farm in rural Starkweather where they lived, worked and raised their family through the years.  Along with being a devoted wife, special mother to four children and all those things that being a part of the farm, a community and church require, Gerry also began cooking at the Knights of Columbus Club in Devils Lake in 1969. This gift, this vocation, this career would last for over 40 years, retiring in 2010. In 1990, Gerry and Wilfred moved to Devils Lake and called it home. Wilfred died on January 4, 2004.

Gerry was an active member of Assumption of Mary Catholic Church in Starkweather and St. Joseph Catholic Church in Devils Lake after they moved. She volunteered and offered her time and talent to all the activities of both Altar Societies and was a member of St. Gerard’s Circle in Devils Lake.

Even though cooking was her job, Gerry loved to cook and she was one of the best.  She always made sure family favorites were at the holidays, special events and celebrations.  No get-together was complete until some sort of card game was played. She taught all her grandchildren how to play many different card games. Gerry enjoyed gardening, scrap booking, BINGO and painting and embroidering dish towels. She treasured her family and many dear friends and shared her handiwork with them. 

Gerry felt so very blessed to have her family so close for all these years. We have memories to last a lifetime, a legacy of love to carry with us always.

Gerry’s loving family include her children and their spouses, Ronald and Patricia Ebensteiner, Cando ND, Allen and Alvina Ebensteiner, Devils Lake, Sandra and Dwight Elfman also Devils Lake and Gordon and Laurie Ebensteiner, Carrington ND; eleven grandchildren Bradley, Michael (Angela), Darren (Amy) Ebensteiner, Jennifer (Glenn) Youngerman, Kayla Ebensteiner; Ashley (Andrew) Everson; Steve (Sarah), Brandon (Teri Jo), Austin Elfman; Dusten (Trista), Tyler Ebensteiner; eighteen great grandchildren Andrew, Carter, Jackson, Mason, Brady, Jacob, Maggie, Addison, Braylyn, Simon, Shyley, Stockton, Everly, Grace, Keller, Huxten, Keaton Jo and Elizah Rea; sister Shirley Jones, Chanhassen, MN; sisters-in-law Rita Waldorf-Boe and Anna Mae Koch; many nieces, nephews and their families. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Wilfred, granddaughter Amanda Ebensteiner, brothers Walter, Eugene and Victor Waldorf, sister Arlene Reslock. 

Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society in memory of Geraldine.