Mary Bichler

ANAMOOSE - Mary Eva Bichler, 100, Anamoose, passed away Aug. 25, 2012, at the St. Aloisius Nursing Home, Harvey. Her funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 30, at St. Cecelia Catholic Church, Harvey with burial at St. Francis-Xavier Catholic Cemetery, Anamoose.

Visitation will be held today from 3 to 7 p.m. at the church followed by a 7 p.m. prayer service at the church.

Mary Eva Eisenzimmer, daughter of Joseph and Katherine (Hoffart) Eisenzimmer, was born Aug. 16, 1912, in Balta, where she was raised and educated.

On Sept. 19, 1933, she was married to John Bichler in Balta. They farmed in the Wellsburg area for a time and later in the Selz and Goodrich areas before moving to Anamoose in 1959. John passed away on May 9, 1992.

In 1990, Mary Eva moved to Fargo where she lived until entering the St. Aloisius nursing home in Harvey in December of 2004.

While living in Anamoose, she was a member of St. Francis-Xavier Catholic Church and upon moving to Fargo, became a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

Mary Eva loved to spend time in her garden and raise flowers. She also enjoyed cooking, canning, crocheting and quilting.

She is survived by two sons, Raymond (Marcie), Anamoose, and Henry, Hillsboro; six daughters, Marie (Keith) Straley, Post Falls, Idaho, Virginia (John) Ripplinger, Harvey, Veronica (Pat) Gores, Minot, Shirlein (Victor) Vetter, Bismarck, Beverly Bichler, San Diego, Calif., and Debra Bichler, Fargo; 30 grandchildren; 54 great-grandchildren; 32 great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Elizabeth Fettig, Jamestown; and her sister-in-law, Regina Eisenzimmer, Rugby.

Mary Eva was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; one son, Carl Michael; one great-grandson, Damian McKenna Miller; four brothers, John, Joseph, Michael and Benedict; four sisters, Caroline, Katherine, Theresa and infant, Mary Ann; and son-in-law, Joseph Ziegler. (Bethke-Nelson Funeral Home, Drake)