Marcella "Sally"Artz, 95, Minot, formerly of Antler, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012, at Trinity Hospital in Minot.
Marcella Frances "Sally" Zimmer was born July 17, 1917, the daughter of Peter and Mary (Helten) Zimmer, in Trier Township of Cavalier County. Her mother, Mary, passed away when Marcella was 18 months old. Her father, Peter, later married Hilda Weber, and together they raised Marcella. She was raised on a farm near Munich, and educated in Munich. She graduated from Munich High School in 1935.
Following her high school graduation, she worked at the Munich Post Office before moving to Valley City, where she worked as a checker at a grocery store and later at a cafe in Valley City.
Sally married Aloysius James Artz on May 10, 1943, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Munich. Sally coached the Munich girl's basketball team for a time. Following Aloysius' discharge from the Army in 1946, they made their home on a farm near Antler, where together they farmed and ranched.
Aloysius passed away Aug. 3, 1980. Following her husband's death, Sally continued to reside at Antler until 1991, when she moved to Minot.
Sally was a former member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Antler, where she taught CCD classes, and of St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Westhope. She was currently a member of St. Leo's Catholic Church, Minot, where she was a member of the St. Winifred's Guild, the Confraternity of Christian Mothers, and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. She served as secretary/treasurer of the Bottineau County Farm Bureau for more than 32 years, was a 4-H Leader, and served as treasurer for the St. Joseph's Hospital Auxiliary. She volunteered countless hours with UniMed Hospital, Trinity Hospital, and Trinity Homes in Minot.
As a charter member, she was instrumental in establishing the International Peace Garden Special Education Board on which she served for 27 years, and was a groundbreaker in the state's movement to begin to offer special education services for children with special needs. She also volunteered with the Easter Seals, Minot Convention and Visitors Bureau, Mid-Dakota Chapter of the American Red Cross, and Right to Life, by which she was honored for her many years of dedicated service.
Surviving family includes: children, Gary (Pat) Artz, Fargo, Mary Artz, Fargo, Helen (Gary) Mathwich, Havre, Mont., Wayne B. Artz, Antler, Gail Artz, Fargo, Lois Titus, Casselton, and Mardell (Jeff) Dahlin, Kenmare; grandchildren, Sarah (John) Elkins, Sam Mathwich, Cyrus Artz, Joslyn (Brock) Braun, Rusty Dahlin, Gail's children, Neil and Kevin; and other grandchildren, Travis Titus, Jessica Titus, Adriann (Tom) Shea, Matthew (Jen) Titus, Whitney (Shawn) Gravalin, and Amber, Courtney, Carmen, and Morgan Titus; seven great-grandchildren; sisters, Pauline Argenziano, Fargo, Rosemary Steffan, of Michigan, Margaret Haugen, West Fargo, Mary Frances Becker, Devils Lake, Sister Philip Zimmer, St. Joseph, Minn., and Agnes (Joe) Hanigan, Lincoln, Neb.; brother, Eugene (Sharon) Zimmer, Colorado Springs, Colo.; sisters-in-law, Regina Hoffmann, Munich, Madeline Hoffmann, Grand Forks, and Esther Artz, Fergus Falls, Minn.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Sally was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Aloysius; son, Neil Artz; and siblings, Clara Michels, Roman Zimmer, Ted Zimmer, A.C. Hoffmann, Michael Hoffmann, and Father Joe Zimmer.
Mass of Christian Burial: Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012, 10 a.m., at St. Leo's Catholic Church, Minot.
Interment: Saturday, 2 p.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Antler.
Visitation: Today, Aug. 31, from 3 to 5 p.m., at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.
Vigil prayer service: Today, 7 p.m., at St. Leo's Catholic Church, Minot.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Right to Life, St. Mary's Cemetery in Antler, or to an organization of the donor's choice.
Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).
