Emma Mendell, age 92 of Underwood, ND died Monday, August 1st, 2011 at the Benedictine Living Center of Garrison, ND.

Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM Friday, August 5th at First Lutheran Church in Washburn with Pastor Joel Sherer officiating. Interment will follow at the Riverview Cemetery in Washburn.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM Thursday at Goetz Funeral Home in Washburn with a 7:00 PM Remembrance Service.

Emma was born January 26, 1919 on the family farm near Benedict, ND to Lohven & Bessie (Novlesky) Bovkoon. She attended a country school near her home for the first 8 years of her schooling and graduated from Velva High School in 1938. Following her graduation, she attended a business college in Minot.

In 1940, she moved to Oakland, CA and met her future husband, Yale A. Mendell. They were married on May 18, 1941 in Oakland. They lived and worked for many years in California. In 1974, Emma and Yale retired to Salem, Oregon. They moved to Washburn in the fall of 1983. Yale passed away in 1985. In May 2008, Emma moved to Underwood.

Emma enjoyed traveling and creative hand work. She loved children and often babysat for family and friends.

She is survived by three sisters, Agnes (Harold) Gasmann of Max, Mabel Dahl of Garrison, & Violette Okerson of Turtle Lake; many nieces & nephews, great nieces & nephews, and great-great nieces & nephews.

Emma was preceded in death by her husband, five brothers, & three sisters.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the donor's charity of choice.