Eileen M. Wendt

Eileen Wendt, age 90, was called to her heavenly home on February 2, 2022 at the Pembilier Nursing Home in Walhalla, North Dakota.

Margaret Eileen Wendt was born July 19, 1931 to Earl and Agnes (McGurran) Brown and was the third of 14 siblings.

Eileen went to school in Cavalier and during her  high school years, she worked for Klevin's Studios of Cavalier where she tinted black and white photos into colored life-like treasures.  Eileen went on to earn her teaching certificate from Valley City Teacher's College and then began teaching at the Leroy Public School. Eileen was excited to begin her teaching career but that paled in comparison when she met the love of her life, Florian Wendt. They dated for a short time before she snatched him up and married him on April 7, 1951 at the St. Boniface Church in Walhalla, North Dakota. 

Eileen and Florian started their life together in Walhalla where they happily gathered with family and friends and danced the soles off their shoes whenever they could. The Good Lord blessed Eileen and Florian with three children: Florenda, Richard and Robert.  She was thankful for these blessings most days, and often went through a list of her siblings' names before getting to the name of her child that she wanted to talk to. With all joking aside, she loved her children with her whole heart. Her love for her family increased as the grandchildren and great grandchildren joined her fold.  She would sit for hours holding them and reading or singing to them or just carrying on a conversation with them.

During their early married years, Eileen worked as a telephone operator, which was an ideal job for someone who loved to talk with people.  This was back in the days of party lines, and she was always disappointed when people told her to hang up on her end of the line. Eileen later worked for Karel Sales and Service in Walhalla and finished her working career with the U.S. Census Bureau where she talked Florian into driving her to her appointments  on the pretext that she needed him to protect her from any unfriendly dogs.  Florian loved Eileen, and didn't mind doing this one bit.  It gave them an opportunity to visit with people and have lunch at a local café together, where Eileen would usually say she wasn't hungry and then proceed to eat most of his lunch and drink nearly all of his coffee and then ask him what he was having for dessert.

Eileen was very active in her community, whether it was in Walhalla or in their winter home at Rainbow Spa in Desert Hot Springs, California.  She joined in every event she could and took many pictures to remember these times.  She was a 4-H leader, and a member of the St. Boniface Altar Society and Degree of Honor. She loved attending her daughter's horse events and was a super fan of dirt track racing. She was the most committed and loyal supporter of her niece's singing group "Andi and the Browns."  She enjoyed camping and fishing, especially when she could reap the rewards of a day of fishing without having to go out in the boat.  She could fry up fresh walleye like no one else and serve them with a kettle of potatoes and everyone relished every bite.

Her Catholic faith was very important to Eileen, as evidenced by her passing away quietly in her chair with her rosary in her hands.  We know she was met in heaven by not only Jesus, but her beloved Florian.  She once had a dream that she died and went to heaven and was met by Florian who was so happy and excited to see her but went on to remind her that she was not the boss of him up there.

Eileen was preceded in death by her loving husband, Florian; her parents, and her siblings and their spouses: Joseph Earl Brown, Jack (Mavis) Brown, Leonard (Rita) Brown, Theresa (Tom) Nugent, Katherine (Gene) White and Mary Agnes Brown.

She is survived by her children: Florenda (Harry) Holen, Richard (Bobbi) Wendt and Robert Wendt; her grandchildren: Christopher Olson (Desiree Kintyhtt) , Luke (Nikki) Holen, Corey Holen, Stephanie (Jeremy) Bakken, and Darin Wendt (Teasha Campagnola); great grandchildren: Carter Bakken, Cece Bakken, Chaz Bakken, Decker Wendt, Denli Wendt, Madalyn Holen and Parker Holen; her bonus great grandchildren: Cassandra Kintyhtt, Lexis Kintyhtt, Delani Kintyhtt, Zaiden Kintyhtt, and Liam Campagnola; brothers: David (Johnette) Brown, Tom (Marge) Brown, Joe (Becky) Brown; sisters: Mary Urlaub, Julia Reck, Evelyn (Bob) Rogers, and Earlene (Phil) Kase, and several nieces and nephews.

Eileen wouldn't hesitate to tell you that she lived a full and happy life.  She loved deeply and completely and without reservation.

"You will be always loved and never forgotten.  May your soul Rest in Peace."

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, May 2, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Walhalla, ND. A rosary service will be held Sunday, May 1st at 7:30 p.m. at the church.