Frieda Wittmier

Frieda (Ackerman) Wittmier, 93, Steele, ND, passed away peacefully on Saturday afternoon, December 29, 2018, at the Baptist Health Care Center, Bismarck.

Services will be held at 11:00 am Friday, January 4, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Steele, ND, with Rev. Jacob DeBoer officiating. Burial will be in Streeter, ND.

Visitation is from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm Thursday, January 3, at Eastgate-Steele Memorial Chapel, Steele, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm.

Frieda, daughter of Jacob and Katherina (Stroh) Ackerman, was born December 11, 1925, 3 miles southeast of Streeter, ND. She attended country school from grades 1- 8. Frieda and Jacob J. Gums were joined in marriage on October 24, 1946, in Streeter, ND. The fall of 1950 they moved to Gackle, ND, and operated a service station. In 1955, they moved to Steele, ND, where they owned and operated the Gums Produce Station until January of 1960. Jake passed away January 8, 1960.

Frieda worked at Jamestown College for a year before marrying Arthur Wittmier on August 19, 1961 and lived in Streeter. Frieda gave birth to their daughter, Robin, on January 19, 1964. Frieda was the manager of the Streeter Youth Center from 1977 – 1982. Art passed away December 8, 1992. She moved to Steele in 1998 where she lived until she had a stroke in October of 2018.

Frieda was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Steele, and a member of the Active Seniors.

Frieda enjoyed spending time with her family more than anything. Her greatest joy was being Grandma to her granddaughters, Darcie and Darla. She loved to keep the dogs Bella and Charlie, when Dean and Robin were out of town. She enjoyed baking, cooking, cleaning, reading, crocheting, gardening, and playing cards with her friends. She loved it when we would surprise her with a caramel cooler from Caribou.

Frieda is survived by her daughter, Robin (Dean) Dewald, Dawson, ND; granddaughters, Darcie (AB) Faul, and one great-grandbaby on the way, Stanley, ND, and Darla (fiancé, Adam Tescher), Bismarck, ND; one sister and two brothers, Edna Niskanen, Mt. Iron, MN, Reuben Ackerman, Gackle, ND, and Elmer (Dena) Ackerman, Hutchinson, MN; brother-in-law, Clifford (Deloris) Wittmier, Hardin, MT; and sister-in-law, Elsie Wittmier, Wishek, ND.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jake Gums; husband, Arthur Wittmier; three brothers and five sisters, Walter, Edwin, Hubert, Helen Fischer, Rose Fischer, Lydia Reich, Emma Hins, and Eva Ackerman (died in infancy); and step-grandson, Benji Dewald.

Memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran WELCA, Sanford Hospice, or a charity of the donor’s choice.