Dana Elizabeth Black

Dana Elizabeth Black, 58, Bismarck, passed away Nov. 14, 2021

A graveside service will be held 1:00 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 21, at Athena Cemetery, 50900 Sherman St., Athena.

Dana was born in Pendleton, Oregon on December 25, 1962 to Charles and Rusty Black.  There she joined her older sister Lea, living in Gibbon, Oregon. They grew up together and enjoyed many adventures. Her youth revolved around horses and animals.

She attended grade school at Athena, Oregon, until the family moved to Orofino, Idaho. There she finished her school years and graduated Orofino high school in 1982. Dana participated in sports, 4-H and horse events. Later she attended Lewiston College.

Dana moved with her parents to Weippe, Idaho, as always she was always her mom’s sidekick and helper. Traveling many a mile retrieving school buses or looking at horses. Dana enjoyed the yearly trip to the Pendleton Roundup and Happy Canyon night show, where she was a worker, checking in contestants and on the Hay crew when she was younger. If she could, she would talk all day about her love for the Roundup. She had many friends and relatives to see each year.  She earned a lifetime pass with 40 plus years of working at the rodeo.

She loved the mountains and yearly hunting trips with her dad Charlie. They hunted every year and was an excellent shot and very seldom came home with empty hands.

In 1991 Dana met Craig Albers and when the Black family accepted him, she joined him in Lewiston, Juliaetta and Grangville, Idaho. She enjoyed helping him with remodeling their houses that they lived in and hunting with Craig and Charlie in the Grangeville area.

When her doctor in Grangeville heard about ties to North Dakota, he suggested moving there because all the specialist doctors she would ever need were there. Eliminating long distance traveling. The doctors and specialists added many good years to Dana’s life. They moved back to New Salem, North Dakota, to Craig’s great-grandfathers farm. There they raised angus cattle and a border collie dog named Jet and Dana’s cat named Pugsley. Dana enjoyed her time at the farm, keeping the yard mowed and looking nice. She helped with the cattle, spring calving, and making hay.  Her favorite was raising the bummer calves  and graining the replacement heifers.

She was Craigs go to person for any help he needed. She spent many a day on her 4 wheeler with their Border Collie, Jet, riding the calving pasture. Some days, time slipped away and they spent all day watching the calves.

Dana battled health problems from a young age. She always stayed positive and as long as the doctors could figure out her problem, she would take the medicine and make the best out of the situation.

She had an unbelievable desire to live every day. She was a fighter.

They enjoyed the NFR for nine consecutive years, her favorite was the year they met her sister and brother in-law  John Lea Vanhouten there.

Dana enjoyed a lifetime spent with her sister’s family, extended Black family and Craig’s family in North Dakota. Holidays were always celebrated and Dana put on a great meal and a decorated house. She enjoyed family and friends her door was always open.

She is survived by her best friend Craig Albers,  sister, Lea (John) VanHouten; niece, JaDee VanHouten; great-nephews, Carter and Tucker; great niece in-law, Ali VanHouten; great-niece and nephew, Rietta and Mason, aunts Tiny and Wanda and numerous cousins and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and nephew; Corey VanHouten.

Memorials contributions may be sent to the American Diabetes Association.