Alma Vanourny

Alma Vanourny, 96 of Ellendale, ND formerly of Forbes, ND died May 18, 2013 at Prince of Peace Care Center, Ellendale. The funeral is 10:30am Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Forbes with Pastor Alan Eppen officiating. Burial is at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Aberdeen, SD. Visitation is 2-7pm with a prayer service at 5:30pm at Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale. Arrangements by Hoven Funeral Chapel. Alma Vanourny, 96, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Shock) Helfenstein, born December 4th 1916 on a farm ten miles south of Ashley ND. She attended rural school in McPherson County, South Dakota through the 8th grade and worked on the family farm until she was old enough to work away from home. She then was a domestic assistant for many families. Her final job was a waitress at the Ashley Hotel and restaurant, where she met her future husband Herbert Vanourny. Herbert and Alma were united in marriage March 6th, 1945 at Ashley Baptist Church. After their marriage, they purchased their farm north of Forbes. Alma worked with Herbert in the fields as well as milking cows by hand and raising chickens. They moved off the farm and into the city of Forbes in 1999 and to the independent living quarters at the Evergreen place in Ellendale in 2007. After Herbert’s death in 2009, Alma moved upstairs to their assisted living facilities and in 2012 to Prince of Peace where she resided until her death May 18, 2013. Alma was an outgoing, pleasant lady who loved to visit with people. She had many self-taught talents, including crocheting, sewing, quilting, canning and cooking. Her specialties were kuchen, dill pickles, and many German dishes. In Forbes she was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, the American Legion Auxiliary, and a homemaker’s club. Grateful to have shared her life are three daughters: Sharon (Jim) Bohl of Lincoln, NE, Bonnie (Kenny) Hochhalter of Arthur, ND, and Candace Flakoll of Ames, IA; six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, one sister, Kathryn Janke and two brothers Peter and John Helfenstein. She was preceded in death by her husband Herbert, her parents, two sisters (Eva and Elizabeth) one brother (Fred), son-in-law Paul Flakoll, and one grandchild.