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Frances Mae Jorgenson, 88 of Valley City, died Friday, September 4, 2015 at Mercy Hospital.
Frances was born on September 16, 1926 to Mary (Lehman) and Moses Bontrager in rural Wisconsin. At a young age, she moved with her family to farm in the Rogers, ND area.
She lived her entire adult life in Valley City. She married Robert Arthur Elstrom in 1946, and they established a home in North Valley City, along the Sheyenne River. At the time of Bob’s death in 1964, they had six children, ranging in age from four months to sixteen years old. Frances continued to raise all six children on her own without hesitation.
She worked at several places in Valley City, among them Bloom’s Bakery, as well as a long career at Sheyenne Care Center, from which she retired in 1985.
She married Howard Jorgenson in 1985, and they shared 20 active years together until his death in 2005. Until her recent illness in July, Frances continued to live independently, still gardening, driving, and supporting church and family. Her life was hallmarked by a love of family, connection to community, and her Christian faith.
Frances is survived by five children: Laurel, Ronald (Lora Raveling), Peggy (Bob Hendershot), James (Sara Sha), and Robert; seven grandchildren: Lisa, Jeremy, Tyler, Forest, Rowan, DJ, and Bobby; 2 great grandchildren, Camille and Parker; and five siblings: Abe, Edna, Amelia, Jake, and Reuben, as well as many nieces and nephews, stepchildren and their children.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter, Shirley (Elstrom) Olson, two husbands, Robert Elstrom and Howard Jorgenson, three sisters, Sarah Mast, Anna Klein, and Mattie Steinhaus, and one brother, Simon Bontrager.
Visitation will be from 5-7 pm, with a prayer service at 7pm, Thursday, September 10 at Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel in Valley City. Visitation will continue from 9:30-10:30 am, followed by the funeral service at 10:30am, Friday, September 11 at Epworth United Methodist Church in Valley City. Rev. Dayne Zachrison will officiate. Burial will be in Woodbine Cemetery in Valley City.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City. An online guestbook is available at www.olivernathanchapel.com.