Isabelle Finken • 1917 - 2009

Isabelle Finken, 91, Minot, ND, formally of Douglas, ND, died with family at her side on Thursday, April 9, 2009, in the Knife River Care Center, Beulah, ND.

Isabelle Mary (Schumacher) Finken was born on the family farm southwest of Kenmare on December 2, 1917, the second child of Nicholas and Katherine (Geislinger) Schumacher. She attended grade school at St. Agnes Catholic School and graduated from Kenmare High School in 1935. She helped at home for two years following graduation. She worked for a family in Minot for the next five years before moving to Van Nuys, CA. where she went to business school and worked at an aircraft plant for the war effort. In 1945, she returned to Minot and worked at a bank for three years.

Isabelle married Wilmer Finken on June 22, 1948 at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Kenmare. They made their home and raised their 5 children on a farm near Douglas. They farmed until 1977 when Wilmer became disabled. They remained on the farm until moving to Minot in 1981. Eventually they bought a new Condo on Thompson Lake, where they marveled at having beaver and geese in their backyard right in Minot. This became the gathering point for many memorable family events and holidays.

Isabelle and Wilmer moved to Edgewood Vista in March of 2000 and lived there together until December of 2001 when Wilmer became a resident of ManorCare. After Wilmer's death on March 24, 2005, she continued living at Edgewood Vista until moving into an adult foster care home in July of 2005. She then resided at Trinity Homes from December of 2006 until moving to the Knife River Care Facility in Beulah in March of 2009.

Isabelle was a former member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, Douglas and a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Minot. She was active in the Ladies Aid of both churches, the food pantry, and took communion to the ill.

Isabelle's life was centered around her family, faith and friends. She had a love for life and enjoyed the outdoors. Her and Wilmer's love of camping and fishing evolved from trips in the car, traveling with various campers and eventually a cabin at Rice Lake, where they spent many enjoyable days. She enjoyed playing cards, gardening, quilting and get-togethers with friends and relatives. She was a devoted, caring, loving mother who went the extra mile to do whatever was necessary for her family.

Surviving family includes: sons: Dennis (Muriel) Finken of Midland, MI; Robert (DeAnne) Finken of Douglas; daughters: Sharon (Ted) King of Great Bend, KS; Kathy (Arlo) Sailer of Beulah; Elaine (LeRoy) Stolt of Minot; grandchildren: Heather (Cory) Stroup and Ted (Hillary) King IV of Great Bend, KS; Tracy Finken of Harvey, Holly and Katie Finken of Fargo (NDSU) and Dylan Finken of Douglas; 4 great grandchildren: Katherine and Mathew Hicks, and Reese and Teah Isabelle King (born 4-10-2009); 3 step great grandchildren: Crystal, Codi and Bradley Stroup all of Great Bend, KS; brother George (Evelyn) Schumacher of Kenmare; many nieces, nephews and cousins. Isabelle was preceded in death by her husband, Wilmer; her parents; her sisters and brothers-in-law: Gertrude and Albert Smetana and Louise and James Linnertz; her brother and sister-in-law: Wilfred and Marion Schumacher.

Funeral: Monday, April 13, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Minot.

Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, ND.

Visitation: Saturday, April 11, 2009, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Vigil Prayer Service: Sunday, April 12, 2009 at 7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Celebrant of the Liturgies: Father Bruce Krebs

Music
Processional Hymn: "On Eagle's Wings" #439
Offertory Hymn: "I Have Loved You" #631
Communion Hymn: "I Am The Bread of Life" #338
Commendation: "Song of Farewell" #840
Recessional Hymn: "How Great Thou Art" #413
Patti Garcia, Vocalist/Song Leader
Jeanne Artz, Organist

Honorary Bearers: Isabelle's remaining nephews

Active Bearers: Jim Linnertz, Mike Woiwode, Tom Linnertz, Blaine Schumacher, Nick Schumacher, Pat Finken, George Smetana

Following the graveside service, please join the family for a time of fellowship and lunch in the lower level of the church.

Our family would like to thank all of you for your many acts of kindness. Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated during this difficult time. May God bless the memory of Isabelle.

To sign the online guest register for Isabelle
To view the online guest register for Isabelle

To view the inside of Isabelle's folder
To view the outside of Isabelle's folder
To view the insert of Isabelle's folder

Back to Obituaries