Frances P Mirehouse

Frances Mirehouse, 99, formerly of Langdon, died Friday, March 11, 2011 at her daughter's home in Woodstock, GA.

Memorial services will be held at the Langdon United Methodist Church, June 10, 2011 at 10:30am. Interment will follow at 1:00pm at the Zion Cemetery, Osnabrock, ND.

Frances Pearl Wenzel was born November 3, 1911, in Hay Township, at the home of her parents Jacob and Annie (Ritter) Wenzel. She grew up in Hay Township and attended grades 1-8 at Hay #3.

She graduated from Osnabrock High school in 1928 as Salutatorian. Her speech centered around "A Well Balanced Life: Physical, Intellectual, Moral, Social and Spiritual". Following high school graduation she attended Valley City Teachers College for 2 years obtaining a Standard Profession

Teaching Certificate in 1931, graduating with honorable mention. She taught a total of 5 years in Cavalier County.

She married James Earl Mirehouse on June 20, 1934, at the home of her parents in Hay township. Her last year of teaching coincided with her first year of marriage. Earl and Frances lived and farmed in Loam Township. They lived on the farm for 25 years before moving to Langdon. She always enjoyed the farm, the change of seasons, the solitude of a walk in the countryside, even if it was to bring home the cows for evening chores. She did a lot of gardening and was very good at making things grow.

Her activities outside her home were centered around the Zion Evangelical United Brethren Church, Osnabrock, ND. She was the Sunday school superintendent for many years as well as a Sunday school teacher, especially with the youth, and coordinated the Bible School activities as well. Mrs. Mirehouse's public school students would visit her in her retirement, giving her credit and thanking her for instilling in them the deep desire to learn and crediting her with their academic sucess and advanced degrees, that lead to their personal achievement. Her Sunday School students also would drop by the house and thank her for leading them to a life in Christ Jesus, and the joy that comes as a result.

When she was retired and living in Langdon she was very active in the Langdon United Methodist Church, especially the women's activities. She also could be found leading an adult Sunday School

class. She continued with her gardening during retirement having a large garden on the farm as

well as in Langdon. She was known by many as the African Violet lady. She always had many plants in bloom and loved to give them to friends. She also did a lot of hand work, sewing, crocheting and quilting. She was an avid reader, always on books of faith. She had a very large library, all of

which had been read. One pastor commented that having other pastors in the audience did not make him nervous, but she made his knees knock for she was so well read, and her knowledge of her faith was so deep.

Her life was her family, friends, neighbors and fellow church members. Her comment, "Life is work, family, and faith, doing each day what needs to be done as best I can". In May 2008, because of poor health she moved to Woodstock, GA where she resided with her only daughter, Janis Mirehouse Waxvik.

Frances is survived by her daughter: Janis Waxvik of Woodstock, GA; three grandchildren: Kristine (Bob) Stanley of Bristow, VA; Cynthia (Brent) Wenger of Woodstock, Ga; Eric (Kathleen) Waxvik of Brambleton, VA; six great-grandchildren; one sister: Kathryn Gustafson of Langdon, ND; and

one brother: Robert Wenzel of Saratoga, CA. She was preceded in death by parents, Jacob and Annie Wenzel, husband Earl Mirehouse, brothers Rev. Sterling Wenzel and Harold Wenzel, and one

infant granddaughter.