Mass of Christian burial for Barbara Welder, 102, of Mobridge will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, August 6, 2013, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Burial in Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home with a prayer service at 7 Monday at the church. Mrs. Welder passed away August 1, at Mobridge Regional Hospital in Mobridge. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed in Barbara's name to St. Joseph's Catholic Church Building Fund.
Barbara Welder was born on May 5, 1911 at Hague, N.D., on a family farm to Jacob and Mary Eva (Silbernagel) Mitzel. Barbara attended Rural District Seltz School.
Barbara married Tony Welder at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hague, N.D., on Nov. 17, 1931. In the fall of 1932, they moved to Glencross, S.D., and built a house and barn and started farming and ranching for 25 years. In 1953, Tony bought into the Livestock Auction Sale Barn in Mobridge. In March 1957, they sold the ranch and moved to Mobridge and built a new home. They missed their friends from the Glencross and Timber Lake area.
Tony and Barbara had no children, but were very close to Mike and Barbara Welder's children, who lived 1 miles from their place. They then hired Tony's nephew Clarence Volk and his wife, Martina, who had two children at their house, later they moved back to North Dakota. They then hired Pete Fischer and his wife, Lucille, they had four children next to their house, it was like they always had children around and enjoyed each one.
Barbara was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Altar Society, and a member of the Moose, was active at the Senior Citizens and played in the Kitchen Band. She did altering for Mabel Kesling's store Golden Carriage for 7 years, also sewing and altering for other people. She also enjoyed gardening, cooking, baking and playing cards.
Tony passed away on Dec. 10, 1991. Barbara missed him in so many ways but life had to go on. Tony was a people person and they did many things together, square dancing for 15 years, traveled a lot on bus tours which they enjoyed very much.
On May 15, 2004, Barbara sold her house and moved into an apartment at the Prairie Sunset Village in Mobridge. Her life changed again and the move was hard, Barbara said, "I'm sure I will like it here, I feel like I'm on vacation."
Barbara is survived by sister, Ellen Gabriel of Sun City, Ariz.; brother, Joe Mitzel of Sun City, Ariz; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Tony; five sisters, Frances Volk, Rose Werlinger, Mary Klein, Evelyn Jung and Aggie Martin; three infant sisters, Margaret, Annie and Irene; four brothers, Frank Mitzel, Eddie Mitzel, Adam Mitzel and Leo Mitzel.