Mary Ellen Woodmansee

Mary Ellen Woodmansee, 94, of Bismarck, died on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016 at Sanford St. Vincent’s Continuing Care Center. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 23 at 10:30 am at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Bismarck, with Father John Guthrie officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held from 6:00 to 7:00 pm Friday, April 22, followed by a vigil and time of sharing at 7:00 pm at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. Mary Ellen was born on October 23, 1921 to Frederick R. and Rose (Ramold) Witt in Nebraska City, NE. She attended 12 years of school at Lourdes school. She began her education when she was four years old, thus going to The College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, MN at the age of 16. It was there she met Robert Woodmansee, who was attending The College of St. Thomas. She married Bob at Fort Snelling, MN on June 5, 1944. While Bob was in the Army and stationed in Kansas City, Mary Ellen was living with her parents in Nebraska City, NE. She gave birth to their daughter, Nancy, while Bob was visiting for the weekend. They moved to Bismarck in 1946 when Bob was discharged from the Army. Mary Ellen and Bob raised their five children in Bismarck. Mary Ellen held down the household during the week while Bob was traveling for Woodmansee’s Stationery, and later for his own businesses, OMF, and 3M Office Systems, Inc. Many holidays were shared with Bob's brother, Joe Woodmansee, his wife Winnie and their seven children. Mary Ellen cherished her friends. They created fun and played pranks on each other that Lucille Ball would envy. Mary Ellen was a Den Mother for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, served on the PTA for Cathedral School, was a member of Bible Study, Fortnightly Study Club, and PEO Chapter F. She enjoyed several bridge clubs, and in her words "Going to the YMCA with friends for aerobics class…though the best part was coffee on Fridays, after class." Mary Ellen and Bob loved to dance, as well as play golf together. They belonged to two dance clubs, Fiesta Club, and 40 Club. Over the years she served as a board member for the North Dakota Mental Health Association, the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, as well as on the Board of Regents for the University of Mary. She had a keen mind and loved to read. Mary Ellen and Bob had the opportunity to travel the world with Bob’s association with the 3M Company. They traveled to six of the seven continents. Her last trip overseas was to accompany her friend, Ruth Guthrie, to Mrs. Guthrie’s son, John’s, ordination in Rome. Mary Ellen is survived by her sister, Joan Davis of Grand Island, NE, her sister-in-law, Winnie Woodmansee of Bismarck, and many nieces and nephews. Also surviving are her children: daughter Nancy Woodmansee (Willy Bach) of Oldsmar, FL; son Jeff Woodmansee (Ardy) of San Diego, CA; daughter Mary Peterson (Clyde) of Helena, MT; daughter Susan Nicola (Randy) of Bismarck; and son Dr. James Woodmansee (Kari) of Grand Forks, ND. She is also survived by her grandchildren and great grandchildren: Robin Watson (Yort) and their children Peter, Abby and Linus of Clearwater FL; Holly Cloud and her children Jasper, Josey and Sam of Big Stone Gap, VA; Melanie Bach (Tony Orlando) Eva and Delia of Spotsylvania, VA; Dr. David Woodmansee (Dr. Constanze Treugut) and their son, Robert (Bobby) of Munich, Germany; Peter Woodmansee of San Diego, CA; Chris Peterson (Patrick Boise) of Missoula, MT; Meg Peterson (Tony Zito) of Los Angeles, CA; Joe Nicola (Jessica) of Minneapolis, MN; and Billy Nicola (Tressa) of Salt Lake City, UT. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bob, her brother, Fred Witt, her brothers in-law, Joe Woodmansee, Jim Davis, and George Swartz, and her sister-in-law, Mary Jane (Woodmansee) Swartz, and nephew, George Swartz, Jr. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mary Ellen's name to the Bismarck Veteran's Memorial Library, 515 N. 5th St., Bismarck, ND 58501; or to God's Child Project, 721 Memorial Hwy., Bismarck, ND 58504. Mary Ellen’s family will always hold in highest regard the amazing care givers from St. Vincent’s Continuing Care Center. They ministered to Mary Ellen with such loving and compassionate care over the past three years. They are truly angels on earth.