Eileen Bachmeier, 100, Minot and formerly of Esmond and Harvey died on Thursday, August 8, 2024 in Souris Valley Care Center – Velva.
Eileen Grace Smith was born on April 3, 1924 on a farm near Larson, ND to George and Elizabeth (Hannis) Smith. She was raised on the farm and attended country schools in that area. The family moved to Dunseith in 1938, but Eileen lived with an aunt and uncle in Rugby while she attended Rugby High School. She graduated from Rugby High School in 1942 and continued her education at the St. Andrews School of Nursing in Bottineau where she earned a degree in nursing in June of 1944. As a young nurse she was employed at San Haven prior to accepting a position at St. Aloisius Hospital in Harvey.
Eileen married Walter Bachmeier on November 13, 1946 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Devils Lake, ND and they made their home on a farm nine miles southwest of Esmond, ND. Eileen was employed as a Registered Nurse at both the Maddock and Harvey hospitals and was the proud mother of David, Bonny, Bernadette, Beth, Barbra and Daryl. Walter and Eileen moved to Minot’s Wellington Assisted Living Center in 2009. Walter died on April 27, 2016 and Eileen continued to reside at the Wellington. She moved to the Souris Valley Care Center in Velva in 2023.
Eileen was a former member of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Esmond and St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Harvey and a current member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church – Minot. Also, she was a member of the Esmond VFW Ladies Auxiliary and St. Cecilia Church Council. She especially enjoyed gardening, baking, sewing and was an outstanding cook. Her great love was working in the nursery and newborn ward, holding and rocking the babies.
Eileen’s loving family includes her children: David (Carmen) Bachmeier, Bonny Kemper and Beth (Gerald) Borho all of Minot, Bernadette (Wayne) Olson and Barbra (Kevin) Lauerman all of Indianapolis and Daryl Bachmeier of Fargo; 18 grandchildren: Corbin (Jessica) Bachmeier, Cullin (Sharon) Bachmeier, Creighton (Mackenzie) Bachmeier, Josh (Audra Mari) Duhamel, Ashlee Duhamel (Cameron) Deschamp, McKenzee (Ben Koll) Kemper, Kassidy (Nick Murdock) Kemper, Sara Beth (Raphie) Chakanetsa, Adree (Benjamin) Steventon, Rory (Ashley) Borho, Justin (Samantha) Olson, Whit (Megan) Olson, Sara Lauerman (Eddie) Coyle, Brett Lauerman, Alexis Bachmeier (Fiancé Will Moestart), Cierra Bachmeier and Dallas Bachmeier; 28 great grandchildren: Lillian Bachmeier, Aidan, Archie and Elizabeth Bachmeier, Benson and Blake Bachmeier, Axl and Shepherd Duhamel, Oliver and Everette Deschamp, Sonja and Ginny Koll, Emma, Anna, Penelope and Scarlett Olson, Wyatt, Mary, Cora and Hawken Olson, Savannah Murdock, Anashe Chakanetsa, Atyra and Samuel Echanis, Noah Nicole and Micah Mae Borho; brother-in-law, Marvin Bachmeier, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Eileen was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one granddaughter Cassandra Bachmeier, two great grandsons, Shadrach and Quaid Olson, siblings: Evelyn Byrud, Leah Ferguson, Marly Saunders, Helen Klein, and DuWayne Smith; brothers-in-law, John, Albert, Jack, Joe and Leonard Bachmeier and sisters-in-laws, Mary Pfau, Katherine Bachmeier, Julia Aschburger, Philomena Aylesworth, Ann Larson, Helen Zarr and Irene Buckner.
Mass of Christian Burial: August 31, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church – Minot.
Interment will be September 3, 2024 at Noon in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery – rural Mandan.
Visitation: August 30, 2024 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home – Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.
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