Ilene Trusty

Ilene (Fuller) Trusty, 90, a resident of Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, went to her heavenly home on December 2, 2019. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 9, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 106 Osage Ave, Bismarck.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 8, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck. A prayer service will begin at 6:00 p.m.

A spring burial will be held at a later date. 

Ilene was born at her parent’s farm near Arena, ND, to John and Erna Merkel. She struggled coming into this world only weighing two pounds at birth. She attended school in Arena until she wanted to stay home and help raise her brothers and sisters.

Ilene married Robert Fuller in Napoleon on May 10, 1946 and were married for 38 years until Robert passed away in 1984. Ilene and Robert had four children: Jerry, Larry, Allan, and Karen.

Ilene married Lynn Trusty of Wing, ND. They moved to Bismarck in 1992.

Ilene enjoyed fishing, camping, gardening, canning, and cooking. Bob and Ilene opened their home to three of Robert’s brother’s children: Jeanette, Raymond, Ronald, and one grandchild, Craig. They raised them as their own for three years. Ilene enjoyed helping others and doubling the size of her family brought her great joy.

Ilene is survived by her four children, Jerry (Dianne), Cottage Grove, MN; Larry (Patricia), Bismarck, ND; Allan (Iris), Bismarck, ND; and Karen (Mike) Mittleider, Steele, ND; 11 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Marlene Eckholm, Bismarck; Arvada Johnson, Bismarck; and Geraldine (Warren) Germundson, Minot; and many nieces and nephews whom she adored.

She was preceded in death by Robert Fuller and Lynn Trusty; her parents, John and Erna Merkel; two brothers, Lee and Arnold Merkel and their spouses, Darlene and Beverly; two infant sisters; two brothers-in-law, Walter Eckholm and Wesley Johnson; and her beloved dog, Molly.