Colleen Barendt

Colleen Barendt, 82 of Devils Lake passed away on Thursday, December 15, 2022, at her home in the loving care of her daughter and Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Devils Lake with burial in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery.

Colleen Ann, daughter of Glenn and Jeannette (Mertens) Weirick was born on February 24, 1940, in Devils Lake.  She grew up in Ramsey County, attending school in Crary and Devils Lake, graduating from St. Mary’s Academy in 1958.

October 15, 1960, Colleen married Clayton Barendt. They established their home on the Barendt Farm, just east of Webster ND where they would live, work, and raise their children, Michael, and Nancy. She occasionally babysat for the neighbors, but mostly helped out with the farm, whether it be driving a truck, working summer fallow, or taking dinner and supper to the field. They also had about 70 head of cattle. Mom loved the calving season. She also hauled Nancy and her horses around the state to horse shows in the summer.  

In 1984, Colleen started working for H.E. Everson company as a bookkeeper for several years. She also cooked at Lake Country Manor, the Good Samaritan Center, and Senior Meals. Eventually she retired from Kmart after 17 years of working there.

Colleen was known to many as the local “Avon Lady” in which she sold Avon for 42 years, receiving many awards for achieving top salesperson in her area.   

Colleen had several pastimes over the years, including knitting, ceramics, bowling, and anything crafty. Sharing many of these things with friends and family. She enjoyed her once a week coffee/lunch group after retirement.  

Colleen was an active member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church at rural Webster until it closed and she the joined St. Joseph Catholic Church in Devils Lake.

Above all else, Colleen loved her family, enjoyed fun times with friends and trusted in the promises of her Lord.

Colleen’s loving family include her children Michael (Roxanne) Barendt, Devils Lake and Nancy Kurtz (Brock Ballweg) of Webster, ND; six grandchildren Tanner (Alyssa) Pederson, Morgan Barendt (Evan Wood) and Hannah Barendt, Amber Kurtz ( Travis Nelson), Alyssa Kurtz (Aaron Geer) and Brandon Kurtz and fiancé Clara Widvey; nine great grandchildren Laynee, Lily, Rowan; Aubrey, Harper; Nora, Drew; Kaden, Asher; brother Rodger (Linda) Weirick, Three Rivers, CA; sisters Janet Elfman, Larimore, ND and Virginia “Ginger” (Kenneth) Engelhart, Minot ND; uncles and aunts Charles and Janet Mertens, Jerry Mertens of Devils Lake, Phyllis Lange, Merced, CA, Dick Everson, Wisconsin and many nieces, nephews and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband Clayton Barendt.

The family would like to thank the dialysis unit nurses for their kindness and compassion over the last four years while taking care of Mom.