Freda Mehlhoff

Freda Mehlhoff, 101, died peacefully in Phoenix, AZ, on April 3, 2016, at her daughter Jeanne’s home. Services will be held at 11:00 am Friday, April 8, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 E. Divide Ave., Bismarck, with Rev. Merle Hoots officiating. Visitation will be held on hour prior to the service. Graveside services will be held at 1:30 pm Friday at the Tuttle Cemetery. Freda Vollmer Mehlhoff was born August 26, 1914, to Frederick and Emma Kiemele Vollmer. After graduating from high school in Tuttle in 1934, she married John Mehlhoff in 1935. Freda was a proprietor of Tuttle’s Confectionery Store and supplied local farmers with veterinary medication. She also helped John with the barbershop and farm. Freda enjoyed Phoenix Suns basketball, Minnesota Twins baseball, reading, long walks, and family gatherings. She was an involved member of the Tuttle Nazarene Church and the Bismarck Baptist Church. Her faith was the center of her life. Freda’s spiritual strength and belief in Christ profoundly affected all those around her. Favorite books of the bible were Romans and Acts. Freda had a smile that would light up the room. When daughter Jeanne would leave to run errands, she would always say, “See you later alligator,” Freda would say “after while crocodile.” Freda lived independently in an apartment in Bismarck until the age of 99. Her relatives, Darlene Turitto, Nella Engstrom, and June Kraft lovingly helped Freda in Bismarck. Freda is survived by her daughter, Jeanne; her grandchildren, Alan Mays, Phoenix, AZ, Karen Tricoli, Carol Springs, IL; and her great-grandchildren, Heather, Jonathan, Daniel and Grace. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John; her daughter and son-in-law, Janice and Hap Mays; her sisters, Martha, Bertha, and Anna; and her brothers, George, Art, Fred, Reinholt, and Irven. Memorials may be given to Hospice of the Valley, 1520 E Flower St, Phoenix, AZ, 85014, or a charity of the donor’s choice.