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Elaine Dauenhauer, 86, passed away peacefully on March 13, 2022, surrounded by her loving children and ready to meet her Lord and her husband, Al.
Mass of Christian burial will be held 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 18 at Church of Corpus Christi, 1919 N Second St., Bismarck. A service livestream will be available on the church’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CorpusBismarck/
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Church of Corpus Christi, Bismarck. A rosary/vigil will begin 7 p.m. and a livestream will be available on the funeral home website.
Elaine was born on the Goetz homestead in Strasburg on June 2, 1935, to Dominic and Dorothy (Feist) Goetz. As a baby, her parents moved to Pontiac, Michigan. A few years later, they moved back to North Dakota to farm in Sterling where Elaine worked very hard alongside her dad. She was a graduate of St. Mary’s Central in Bismarck and was employed at Provident Life.
Elaine enjoyed dancing and country western and old-time music. She and a group of co-workers would motor to the Casa Loma in New Salem for evenings of dancing, and it was there she met the love of her life, Albert Dauenhauer. They were married September 30, 1957, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bismarck and were blessed with eight children. She was a devoted wife and mother, her highest calling and accomplishment, and all of her children loved to spend time with their mother all the way until her last breath. Their devotion is a testament of the investment she made into the lives of her family.
So many can attest that Elaine was a wonderful hostess. Whether you were hungry or not, you were always offered food when you showed up at her house and there was never an option to refuse it. She did not take no for an answer. Although she was busy working as a rancher’s wife, raising beef cattle, draft horses, and ponies, she was gifted in making anyone who showed up at the farm feel welcomed. She and Al also enjoyed giving hayrides to local church groups and parties. (Grandson Chase Dauenhauer carries on this tradition as Grandpa Al’s Hayrides.)
Elaine is survived by five daughters: Lori (Bob) Simons, Dickinson, ND; Jean (Mike) Smith, Williston, ND; Shari Dauenhauer, Dickinson, ND; Debra (Todd) Beard, Williston, ND; Jodi (Darren) Sletten, Ryder, ND; three sons: Alden (Joanne), Baldwin, ND; Gary (Steph), Gilbert, AZ; Dale (Lisa), Hazen, ND; 21 grandchildren, 54 great grandchildren, 3 great great grandchildren, five brothers: Dennis Goetz, Turtle Lake, ND; Tony (Jane) Goetz, Riverdale, ND; Blaine (Kathy) Goetz, Sterling, ND; Dominic (Verna) Goetz, Sterling, ND; two sisters: Betty (Jim) Mitzel and Dorothy Kastner, both of Bismarck, ND; and loving friend of 72 years, Bea Geiger of Bismarck, ND.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Al; her parents, Dominic and Dorothy Goetz; her sister, Mary Ann Schmaltz; her brother, Raymond Goetz; and her great granddaughter, Kaytlin Tibor.
In Elaine’s own words, “I was blessed with a wonderful life and great family. To Him be the glory. Love you all, see you up there.”
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