Ella Mae Netzer-Herda

   Ella Mae Netzer-Herda, 79, passed away peacefully at her home in Mandan surrounded by family on Oct. 10, 2014, after losing her fight with melanoma cancer. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at the United Church of Christ, 1200 E. Highland Acres Road, Bismarck, with the Rev. Gretchen Deeg officiating, followed by lunch. She will be laid to rest at North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

   Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

   Ella Mae was born on May 1, 1935, to Henry Wolff and Christina Burrer in Haynes. In 1953, she graduated High School in Lemmon, S.D. The following year she married Victor R. Netzer in Lemmon. They shared a life together with their five children for 33 years. Ella married Peter V. Herda on June 30, 1990, Bismarck, and resided in Mandan. Ella loved to spend time with her family and her ever-growing wide circle of friends. She enjoyed traveling with family and the Good Neighbors Club through Dakota Community Bank, venturing as far as Australia, Dominican Republic, Canada, Alaska and around the U.S.

   Ella was an excellent cook, loved flowers and gardening and looked forward to socializing and participating in a variety of community games and activities. Ella lived by the motto: Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much. Ella will always be remembered for her laugh, her sweet disposition, her love for family, people and life.

   Ella Mae is survived by her five children, Gerry (Jody) Netzer, Mandan, Larry (Rene) Netzer, Schaumburg, Ill., Darlene (Gene) Janas, Brooklyn, N.Y., Barbara (Steven) Redfield, Fargo, and Shirley (Steve) Wolf, Westminister, Md.; six step-children, Alex (Jeanie) Herda, Longmont, Colo., Steve (Karla) Herda, Mandan, Dominick (Karen) Herda, Sacramento, Calif., Anthony (Julia) Herda, Azusa, Calif., Susan (Fred) Miller, Santa Clara, Calif., and Duncan (Susan) Herda, Sacramento, Calif.

   She is also survived by her 23 grandchildren, Laura Netzer, Aurora, Colo., Rachel (Cody) Chamblin, Egan, S.D., Lindsay Netzer, Aurora, Sarah (Ryan) Thomas, Fergus Falls, Minn., Ashley Herda, Mandan, Nathaniel (Brooklyn) Netzer, Polson, Mont., Geran Herda, Plymouth, Minn., Lindsey Herda, Mandan, Brianna Netzer, Bismarck, Scott Herda, Mandan, Calvin Herda, Sacramento, Conrad Herda, Sacramento, Greg Herda, Sacramento, Victoria Miller, Santa Clara, KaitLyn Miller, Santa Clara, Truman Herda, Longmont, Marne Herda, Sacramento, Karly Herda, Sacramento, Alexandra Miller, Santa Clara, and Tiger Herda, Azusa.

   She was blessed by three great-grandchildren, Gwen Salazar, Aurora, Brinley Chamblin, Egan, and Orin Netzer, Polson.

   In fond memories of Ella Mae, and in lieu of flowers, memorials can be donated to St. Alexius Home Care and Hospice, Bismarck, N.D. and/or Bismarck United Church of Christ Musical Fund.

   Go to www.weigelfuneral.com to sign the online guest book and view tribute photos.