Alice Sophia Sommerfeld

Alice Sophia Nelson Sommerfeld entered her heavenly home on October 16, 2008.

Alice was born on October 10, 1912, in rural Walsh County to Knute and Amanda (Schenstad) Nelson. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Sarnia Lutheran Church. She attended a rural elementary school in Walsh County and was graduated from Walsh County Agricultural High School, Park River in 1930. Following high school she attended Mayville State Teachers College and Minot State Teachers College earning a teaching certificate. For eight years she taught in rural schools in Williams and Walsh Counties.

On June 8, 1938, she married Walter Sommerfeld at St. Andrews Lutheran Church, Niagara ND. They operated a bar-restaurant in Whitman, ND. In 1947 they moved to Michigan, ND, which was her home for the next 59 years. During those years she was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church, taught Sunday School, was congregational treasurer, and organist. She was a 4-H leader and belonged to a Homemakers group. She was a proud 30 year member of the local Sons of Norway Lodge and served for many years as its secretary and musician. She was a gifted seamstress and sewed for many people in the Michigan and Whitman communities. She practiced the gift of hospitality.

Since December 2006 she lived at Valley Memorial Eldercare in Grand Forks. Until her recent illness, she enjoyed the home's many activities and made many new friends.

She will be greatly missed by her children, Deanne (Donald) Kirsch, St. Cloud, MN and Gene (Linda) Sommerfeld, Fort Dodge, IA; her grandchildren, Jason (Mette) Kirsch, Copenhagen, Denmark, Joel Kirsch, St. Cloud, MN, and Jeremy (Jessica) Kirsch, Rice MN, Brian Sommerfeld and Marysa Sommerfeld both of Fargo, ND; great-grand-daughters, Allysa Kirsch and Elsa Kirsch; sisters-in-law, Anna Kutz, Ruth Sommerfeld, Sylvia Sommerfeld, Joyce Sommerfeld and Darlene Sommerfeld; brother-in-law, Emil Sommerfeld; and 34 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Walter; her sisters, Clara Grove and Beatha Grove; her brothers, Lionel and Clifford.

Visitation and a celebration of her life will be held at the Aaker Funeral Home in Lakota, ND From 4-8 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 19, 2008. Her funeral service will be held on Monday, October 20, 2008 at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, Niagara, ND at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Michigan Cemetery following the service.