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Joanne Schuster passed from this earth’s struggles into Heaven’s glory on Friday, September 9, 2016, at the Carrington Medical Center.
Coralee Kemmer was born to Frances (Olson) and Ervin Kemmer on May 19, 1940, in Minot, ND. She was their only child.
As a child, and perhaps even as an adult, Coralee’s favorite place on earth was the Olson farm near Esmond. Her uncles Dick and Joe always had time to show her arrowheads, teepee rings, wildflowers, and rocks. She adored her Aunt Ruthie and her maternal “Gram.”
Coralee attended various elementary schools in and around Esmond, three years of high school in Sykeston and graduated in 1957, from Anamoose High School. She moved to St. Louis for a brief time before attending North Dakota Agricultural College, and moved to Carrington in her early 20’s.
While working as a waitress at the Miami Grill in Carrington, Coralee met Ben Schuster. After a brief courtship, they were married on July 10, 1962. Four children were born into the family: Ben, Jr., Linda, Laurie, and Tim.
Coralee enjoyed the kitchen and had a reputation as a great cook and baker of chocolate chip cookies. Although she tried for years, she never perfected chokecherry jelly, but the family learned to enjoy chokecherry syrup anyway.
Coralee loved working outdoors and was an integral part of the Schuster farm operation, driving tractor, truck, and combine. As part of Ben Schuster Aerial Spray she towed a water trailer over miles of township roads, helping load a Piper Cub for takeoff from those same roads. Coralee and Ben were members of the International Flying Farmers and enjoyed attending their fly-ins. In 1965, she was named queen of the North Dakota chapter of that organization. She also served as treasurer of Walters Township from 1968 until 2012.
Coralee was very active in her children’s lives, attending concerts, helping with homework and coaching potential spelling champions. Coralee held office with the Carrington Band Mothers and organized numerous fund raising events for that organization. She also drove school bus for the Carrington School District for over 18 years.
Coralee held a quiet but strong faith in God and her Savior Jesus Christ. She was a part of the church family at Calvary Baptist Church. Miles of rolled bandages for White Cross missions were prepared at her kitchen table. Coralee volunteered untold hours at Calvary’s Awana Club, sometimes working one-on-one with clubbers and sometimes preparing materials behind the scenes.
Coralee was a member of National Rifle Association, served as an officer of the Carrington Chapter of the Sons of Norway for several years, and was an enthusiastic supporter and sponsor of Service Dogs of America. She loved cats, none more than her companion Chewie.
Coralee enjoyed music, singing and playing piano, guitar, and alto saxophone. Coralee shared these talents as she played piano for services at Faith Baptist Church, Calvary Baptist Church, and local nursing homes and sang duets for specials. Although she claimed not to be a skilled seamstress, she enjoyed the challenge of patching work clothes and sewed many dresses for herself and her daughters.
She loved North Dakota history and studying Norwegian heritage. As a life-long learner, Coralee was proud to see her oldest granddaughter graduate from high school and begin college. She loved to attend her grandchildren’s concerts, musicals, and recitals, and took an avid interest in their homeschool studies.
Coralee is survived by her daughters Linda of Carrington, and Laurie (David) Morstad of Hampden; her son Tim of Carrington; her grandchildren Erin, Chris, Hannah, and Rebecca Morstad, all of Hampden; and her sister-in-law Dorothy Peterson. She was preceded in death by her parents, aunts and uncles, husband Ben, son Ben, Jr., and special friend Harold Alexander.
Her Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 14, 2016 10AM-7PM with a Prayer Service at 7PM all at Evans Funeral Home.
Her Funeral Service will be Thursday, September 15, 2016, at 10:30AM at Calvary Baptist Church, Carrington.
Her Burial will be at Carrington Cemetery.
Arrangements by Evans Funeral Home, Carrington, ND.
On-line condolences may be sent at www.EvansFuneralHomeND.com.