Gertrude (Gertie) Boger entered her eternal home at the milestone age of 100! She was a long-time resident of Turtle Lake, ND. A funeral service will be held on Friday, May 22 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Turtle Lake with burial in the Turtle Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. 

Gertrude Marilyn Wirtz grew up on the family farm near Coleharbor, ND. She often shared fond memories of that time spent with her parents and older sisters and brothers. She graduated from Garrison High School in 1943. She attended college in Minot just long enough to prepare her for an interesting job as a typist during the 1944 legislature.

She met her future husband, Fred Boger, at a dance in Garrison, and in June 1945 they married and began their long life together in Turtle Lake. They raised three daughters, the ABC girls, Ardythe, Brenda, and Candice. Gertrude supported Fred in his job as elevator manager and as owners in a new business adventure, Boger’s Speed Wash, a laundromat they established on Main Street in 1960, and operated for 36 years.

As a mom, Gertrude instilled and role modeled many life enriching values…faith in God, loving and serving others, dedication to family and friends and a healthy lifestyle. Her daughters played piano, went to Bible Camps, and on to college due to her encouragement. Traditions were celebrated…. days spent baking heart shaped cookies to send to her daughters for Valentine’s Day, her favorite holiday. She served the most delicious German food like kuchen, stroodla and cheese buttons at family get togethers. After school, the cookie jar was always full to grab some variety of homemade oatmeal cookies. Their home was a gathering place for friends to hang out and stray cats to find a home. She and Fred tended to a garden every year and filled their pantry with homemade produce and chokecherry wine…. which they shared! Typical of the times, Gertrude belonged to several homemakers and social clubs where lessons were presented and assorted Jello salads and desserts were served! They met in their homes and members became cherished lifelong friends.

Gertrude had a servant heart. At Peace and Trinity Lutheran Church, she was a long serving Bible School and Sunday School teacher, a leader in the women’s groups and a continuous member of Bible Study. As is customary, Gertrude and Fred had their special pew in church! Whenever called upon to help, she was there…in the community as well. Volunteering to fund raise for many charities and serving on the election board as a long-time clerk. Closer to home, she was a loving and devoted care giver for her parents who lived right next door. Her loving heart touched many, as several homeless people were on the receiving end of her and Fred’s shelter and hospitality, whether in their home, or at the laundromat.

Life in Turtle Lake continued in retirement. One highlight was being part of the annual Turtle Days Parade, cruising down Main Street beside Fred, in their restored 1957 teal and white Chevrolet! During the Centennial Celebration, they were honored to be crowned King and Queen! She and Fred enjoyed several bus trips with friends and traveled many times to Kansas City to “visit the kids”. This slower pace provided more time with grandchildren and extended family. Family was so important to her, and she was dedicated to keeping in touch with everyone, as well as being a prayer warrior for all.

After being a part of the Turtle Lake community for 71 years, the time came for the next chapter. Gertrude and Fred sold the home they built and cherished and moved to assisted living in Bismarck. A few years later, they moved to Kansas City to live with their daughter, Brenda. Fred passed away in 2019. They were blessed with 74.5 years of marriage. Later Gertrude moved to a care center where she resided for her remaining years. She endured some long very painful health struggles, beginning in childhood and continuing throughout her life, and surprised herself by reaching 100. Something she always said would never happen! God bless the life and memory of Gertrude.

Gertie is survived by her daughters, Ardythe Kurle, Bismarck, ND, Brenda (Robert) Youness, Shawnee, KS, Candice Galarneau, Overland Park, KS, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren, Shawn Kurle (Samantha Koehler), Washburn, ND, Jon (Jeana) Youness, Jay, Jack, and Julie, Fargo, ND, Elizabeth (Jon) Zimmerman, Maddy and Ellie, Shawnee, KS.

She was preceded in death by her Husband, Fred Boger, Son’s in-law, Terry Kurle, Nathaniel Galarneau, Parents, George and Katherine Wirtz, In-Laws, Daniel and Wilhelmena Boger, Siblings, Anna (John) Bossert, Henry (Gertrude) Wirtz, Lydia (Art) Sterud, Emil (Gladys) Wirtz.