Lila L. Bemis

1920 - 2025

Lila L. Bemis, Valley City, ND, passed away November 17, 2025, at the age of 105 at SMP Health-St. Raphael. The funeral service will be 10:30 am Monday, November 24, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Valley City. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church. Burial will be in Woodbine Cemetery, Valley City.
Lila Lorraine Anderson was born March 18, 1920, on her mother's birthday, on a farm in southern Barnes County, ND to parents Thorsten E. and Rosalie (Gertz) Anderson. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith. At a young age the family moved to Jamestown, ND, where she attended school through the eighth grade. The family moved to Sanborn, ND, where she participated in many school activities and graduated in 1938. In 1939 she married Melvin "Meg" Bemis at her aunt's home in Moorhead, MN. They made their home in Fargo, ND, for a time before returning to Valley City, where they operated a shoe repair shop for many years. After retirement in 1971 Lila went to work at Stephan Law Office as a tax consultant, where she worked for 39 years, enjoying her work and her clients. After retiring from tax work, she began work as a weekend host at the Rose Bud Visitors Center. She greatly enjoyed visiting with local and foreign visitors. She was also a volunteer in our beautiful city.
The Bemis's were members of Our Savior's Lutheran Church where she was a long-time member of Women of Our Savior's circles, also serving on the church council, Archives Committee, Good Samaritan's Quilters, as well as participating in Bible studies, Prayer Break and as coordinator and member of Our Savior's Servants groups.
Lila is survived by her grandsons Merlin Smart and Marlin Smart, both the Twin Cities, MN; Miles "Bud" (Gwenn) Smart, North Carolina; Rufus Jefferson (Kris Gruber), Fargo; Randolph Jefferson, Portland, OR; two great grandchildren, Ryan and Erica; several great great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Meg, two daughters Lila Mae Smart and Marsha Jefferson, stepson Giles Bemis, two brothers, and three sisters.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City. An online guestbook is available at www.olivernathanchapel.com.