Gertrude "Lindy" J. Lange

Gertrude (Lindy) Lange, 92, of Devils Lake was called to her heavenly home Wednesday January 31, 2018.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, February 9th at 10:00 a.m. at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Devils Lake with Very Reverend C.F. Wilhelm officiating, concelebrated with Fr. Paul Schuster. The wake service for Lindy will be held on Thursday, February 8^th at 7:00 p.m. with visitation beginning at 6:00 p.m. all at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Gertrude Julia Linneman was born March 5, 1925 in Reynolds, ND. The 8^th of 9 children born to Anton and Matilda Linneman. She grew up in the Reynolds area and graduated from Reynolds High School in the class of 1943. She continued her education, earning a teaching degree from Mayville State Teachers College. Upon graduation she taught in elementary schools in the Kloten, ND area.

She was introduced to her future husband by teaching friends from Grand Forks. After a brief courtship she was united in marriage to Lawrence J. Lange of Webster, ND on June 16, 1948 in Reynolds. They lived in the Grand Forks area until Larry completed law school, followed by some years in Crosby and Bismarck before settling down to raise their growing family in Devils Lake.

Lindy may have left the classroom but her love of teaching never ceased. Correct grammar, proper manners, and a love of reading were instilled in all her children. She taught as a substitute at St Joseph’s School, was a catechism teacher and assisted in various capacities in the religious education program.

Devout in her Catholic faith, she attended daily Mass and assisted Larry with all the extensive duties of a Deacon. She was a member of the Legion of Mary, served as an extraordinary minister of the eucharist and regularly brought communion to the homebound.

“Be fruitful and multiply” (Gen: 1-28). Lindy and Larry did just that and raised 10 children, had bountiful gardens, planted evergreens and fruit trees, and partnered in a family farm operation. Lindy’s hospitality and generosity was evident to anyone who visited by the produce and fresh wheat bread they left with. Her large house was home to family, friends, and strangers alike. There was always room for one more under Lindy’s roof. Even the homeless and forgotten found shelter on occasion.

Winter didn’t slow them down, Lindy and Larry were charter members of the Lake Region Curling Club and participated in the sport well into their eighties. It was their second home during winter months, hardly missing a league game or a bonspiel. They treasured the life-long friends made through the sport.

Lindy is survived by many:

Ten Children: Kate (David) McKibben of Guemes Island, WA; Louise (Rich) Dwyer of Eugene OR; Greg (Laurie) Lange of Hazen, ND; Mark (Nancy) Lange of Devils Lake, ND; Mary Jo (Tim) Campbell of Colorado Springs, CO; Julie (Tom) Schuster of Minneapolis, MN; Tim (Kathy) Lange of Scottsdale, AZ; Mike (Jill) Lange of Edwards, CO; Michelle (Adam) Lange-Pearson, Rochester MN; Jennifer (Tim) Olson of Fargo, ND.

Twenty five grandchildren: Kelly (Marc) Aversa, Leigh (Joe) Hall, Kristi (Aaron) Sterner, Danielle (Chris) Mendoza, Nathan (LeeAnn) Dwyer, Jesse Lange, Josh (Ragina) Lange, Brady (Jason) Lange, Jared (Vanessa) Lange, Melissa Lange, Malory (Kelly) Bjella, Matt (Jamie) Lange, Dylan Campbell, Tessa Campbell, Christina (Paul) Bussler, Nick (Emily) Schuster, Michael Schuster, Michael Lange, Alex Lange, Cassie Lange, Christopher Lange-Pearson, Stephen Lange-Pearson, Zoe Lange-Pearson, Jack Olson and Kate Olson. Twenty one great grandchildren with two on the way: Austin Sterner; Anna, Nicolas, and Alex Aversa; Alyssa, Ryan and Nathan Hall; Kealey and Keagan Dwyer; Cameron and Olivia Mendoza; Owen Dwyer; Jayden, Asher, Mika, Jada and Ezra Lange; Blake and Hayden Bjella; Juliet Bussler and Lawrence Schuster. She is also survived by one sister, Clare Scholand, Hillsboro, ND.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, four sisters, her husband Lawrence, and great granddaughter Kaia Sterner.

In lieu of flowers, St. Joseph’s St. Vincent De Paul Society or the Alzheimer’s Association may be considered.