Elizabeth "Libby" Ness • 1921 - 2004

Elizabeth "Libby" Ness, 83, 1900 28th St. SW, Minot, ND, died Saturday, December 4, 2004, in a Minot hospital.

Elizabeth Tracy Johnson was born on July 16, 1921, the daughter of Alfred and Bertha (Tracy) Johnson in Bowbells Township of Burke County, rural Bowbells, ND. She attended grade school in Bowbells and graduated from Bowbells High School in 1940.

Libby was married to Emmett D. Ness on November 29, 1941, at Bowbells. They lived in Aylmer, ND; Brooklyn, NY, and Hamberg, ND, before moving to Des Lacs in 1948. While at Des Lacs, she was a member of Des Lacs St. Vincent Catholic Church and was an active member of the Altar Society. She was the City Assessor for many years and served as a member of the building committee for the remodeling of Des Lacs school. She was a member of the P.T.A. and served on various committees and as an officer of that organization.

They moved to Minot in 1978, where she worked at Gift House Redemption Center, Ellisons Department Store, and Samuels Jewelry before retiring in May of 1981.

She was a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Minot and its Altar Society.
She had served as a board member of the Y.W.C.A. and was an organizer and charter member of the Wise Women Investment Club. She had served as an active member of the UniMed Hospital Auxiliary. She has also devoted much of her time to volunteer work.

Surviving family includes: husband of 63 years: Emmett of Minot;sons: Michael Ness of St. Paul, MN; Thomas (Denise) Ness of Battle Lake, MN; and Robert (Sharon) Ness of Fridley, MN;
daughters: Theresa (Mark) Katona of Milwaukee, Wisc; Mary Tandy of Kenosha, Wisc; Patricia (Dan) Piercy of Fountain Valley, CA; and Veronica (James) Larkin of Oxnard, CA;
11 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; sisters: Colleen (Lawrence) Mickelsen of Minot; Lucile Patrick of La Mesa, CA; and Dolores (Lyle) Sundin of Bowbells; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Libby was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Ralph Johnson; sisters, Ilene Johnson, Catherine O'Connell, Florence Siebert, Ann Rubbelke; and an infant sister, Genevieve Johnson.

Mass of Christian Burial: Thursday, December 9, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Minot, ND.

Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, ND.

Visitation: Wednesday, from Noon until 7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Holy Recitation of the Rosary/Prayer Service: Wednesday, at 7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials are preferred to Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church Food Pantry.

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