Ann Verdouw

Anna (Ann) VerDouw passed away peacefully at her home in Bismarck, North Dakota, surrounded by her children and family, on September 8, 2009 at the age of 91. Services will be held at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Bismarck, at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2009, on what would have been her 61st wedding anniversary. Visitation will be held at the Cathedral on Thursday, September 10, 2009 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., followed by a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. A visitation will also be held at the Lisko Funeral Home in Edgeley, North Dakota on Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 9:00 a.m., followed by burial at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Edgeley at 10:00 a.m.

Anna (Ann) B. DeCrans was born in Saint Boniface, Manitoba, on April 26, 1918, to Gustave and Maria (DeCruyenaere) DeCrans. At the age of eighteen months, Anna moved with her parents to Pembina County, North Dakota. She received her education in the Bowesmont, North Dakota School System. She was employed by Treasure Masters, a greeting card studio, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for a number of years.

Ann married Lawrence J. VerDouw in Aberdeen, South Dakota on September 11, 1948. She was employed by Montgomery Ward and Company in Aberdeen for three years. The couple and their infant daughter, Patricia, moved to Edgeley, North Dakota in December 1951. Ann worked part-time at the Edgeley Coast to Coast Hardware Store for nine years before retiring in 1977. She was an active member of the Edgeley Homemakers Club, the Edgeley Civic and Study Club, Transfiguration Parish and Altar Society, and many other community affairs. An avid history buff, one of Ann's proudest accomplishments was her involvement in the compilation of the 1987 Edgeley, North Dakota Centennial History Book.

In September 1993, after 42 years in Edgeley, Larry and Ann moved to Bismarck. There Ann was a member of the Bismarck-Mandan Garden Club, the Bismarck Elkette's, and the Burleigh County Senior Center. Ann was also a hospitality minister at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit for several years. Ann was an avid fan of the Minnesota Twins and Tiger Woods. She loved working in her garden and following her grandchildren and all of their activities.

Ann is survived by her children: Patty VerDouw, Edgeley, North Dakota, grandsons Justin and Gregory Goettle; Pam and Jay Vocke, Oak Park, California, grandsons Todd and Chris Vocke; Rita and Merlyn Lepp, Bismarck, grandson Marvin Lepp and great-granddaughter Lillyanna, grandson Wayne and Brooke Lepp; Doug and Joan VerDouw, Bismarck, granddaughters Hayley and Katelyn VerDouw; Gary and Lynda VerDouw, Saint Peters, Missouri, grandson Brian and Darcy VerDouw and great-granddaughter Madeline, granddaughter Bethany VerDouw, grandson Tom and Paula VerDouw, step-granddaughters Lydia, Sarah, Hannah, and Bethany Brockman; and Janeen Fraser, Bismarck, grandsons Ryan and Evan Dosch. Ann is also survived by her brother, Alphonse DeCrans, Fargo, North Dakota, and her sister, Toni Ives, of Bismarck. She is preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Margaret Sazak; her husband, Larry; her 21 year old son, Gregory John VerDouw; and a granddaughter, Lindsey Ann VerDouw.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to any of Ann's favorite charities: the God's Child Project, Bismarck; the Burleigh County Senior Center, Bismarck; and the Saint Mary's Central High School Music Department, Bismarck.