Deloris Henschel

Deloris Jean was born December 9, 1933, the only child, to Emil Saiger and Erna Lindenburger Saiger at Pembina, ND. She moved to the Bathgate area in 1936. 

Mom attended public school in Bathgate and took piano lessons at the State School for the Blind. Once her hands started going in different directions, Mom said she was done.  She graduated from Bathgate Public School in 1951, earning the honor of valedictorian, enrolled in the Deaconess School of Nursing, and graduated in 1954. Mom worked at the Grand Forks Clinic for 3 ½ years and ventured to Honolulu, Hawaii, where she was a nurse at the Kuakini Hospital for 3 years. 

Mom married Dad, Karl Henschel, on October 6^th of 1961 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Grand Forks. They moved to the Bathgate area in 1962. Dad was farming, and they spent the winters in Grand Forks from 1964-1967. In 1968, they built a house on her parents’ farm east of Bathgate that still stands today. Mom and Dad farmed until 1992. 

After Kelly, Karla, and Karmen were born, the folks stayed in the Bathgate area to live and work. Mom worked countless hours doing fieldwork after her dad passed in 1944. She spent many years on the Bathgate Election Board and briefly worked nights at the Pioneer Rest Home. Her many talents included macrame, counted cross-stitch, and baking, all of which she shared with family, friends, and the Pembina County Fair. Mom and Dad enjoyed playing cards with relatives in Cavalier and weekly games of Smear, the game of choice, were held at Reiny’s Bar in Bathgate.

Deloris is survived by her husband Karl, who resides at Wedgewood Manor in Cavalier;  Kelly (Jayme) Henschel, Pembina, ND,  Karla (Amy) Henschel, Bathgate, ND,  Karmen Ruffatto, Columbus, MT,  Deb Henschel, Vergas, MN,  Jeff Ruffatto, Columbus, MT; her grandchildren Kassondra (Darren) Henschel, Vergas, MN, Megan (Justin) Graten, Perham, Joanna (Chandler) Wickham, Billings, MT, Kari Ruffatto, Columbus, MT,  Laightyn Henschel, Mesa, AZ;  great-grandchildren Charlie and Millie Graten; and sister-in-law Ruth Tully, Bismarck, ND, and sister-in-law Hattie Henschel, Grafton, ND. She is also survived by many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Preceding Deloris in death were her parents.

Family would like to extend special thanks to Leah Austfjord, Donna Thom, and Michelle Hardy for arranging transportation when we just couldn’t make it, the staff at Pembina County Memorial Hospital and Clinicare, those at Country Estates who gave Mom so much joy, and all who shared Mom’s journey at Pembilier Nursing Center in Walhalla, ND. Our family has been blessed in so many ways by your kindness.

Deloris Jean Henschel, 89, of Bathgate, ND passed away Sunday, June 11, 2023 at Pembilier Nursing Center in Walhalla, ND. Funeral service will be held, Friday, June 16, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Lutheran Church in Cavalier, ND. Visitation will be held Thursday, June 15, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m at the church.

Everyone is invited for lunch and fellowship at the Henschel Farm, east of Bathgate, after the funeral service. Please bring your own lawn chair.