Niela Rae Ludwik
June 9, 1940-June 6, 2019
Niela Rae Ludwik, 78,
Garrison, died on Thurs-
day, June 6, 2019 at San-
ford Hospital in Bismarck.
Memorial services will be
held on Friday at 2:00
p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran
Church in Garrison. Buri-
al will be at in Drake at
8:00 pm.
Niela Rae June (Kaibel)
Ludwik was born June 9,
1940 to Norman and Rosie
(Engel) Kaibel. She went
to country school until
the 6th grade before at-
tending school in
Anamoose and Drake.
Niela Rae married Eu-
gene Ludwik on June 26,
1956 and had 3 children.
They moved more than 20
times in the first couple
years of their marriage.
The lived in Fargo, Minot,
Drake, and Santa Susana,
CA. In 1969 they moved
back to North Dakota and
farmed and milked 100
head of cows until their
son Kevin took over the
farm in 1984. They then
purchased the Coleharbor
Bar, bait shop and gas sta-
tion and ran it together
until Gene’s death in
1988. Niela Rae operated
the business by herself for
one year. During this time
she was also a full-time
bus driver for the Under-
wood school.
After selling the busi-
ness she became the
secretary for the Augusta
na Lutheran Church in
Underwood. She met
Dennis Ludwik and soon
combined families adding
1 more son and 3
daughters. They moved to
a home on the lake by
Garrison in 1996. She
then drove bus for West
River Transit and the
Garrison school system.
She drove for the school
just weeks before her
death and she always en-
joyed the kids she drove
for.
While living in Garrison
Niela Rae never let the
grass grow under her feet.
She was always on the go
and was willing to help
with anything at any time.
She was very active with
St. Paul Lutheran Church.
She was involved in the
quilting group, Bible
study, and WELCA. In the
community she helped at
the Senior Citizens, Camp
of the Cross, Rhubarb Fes-
tival, the church’s German
supper, and attended ex-
ercise classes. She also
helped many people that
were less fortunate.
Niela Rae is survived
by: her partner, Dennis
Hedstrom, Garrison, ND;
children, Roxanne (David)
Kapanke, Underwood,
ND, Kevin (Donna)
Ludwik, Van Horne, Iowa,
Julie (Reginald) Faul,
Dunnellon, Fl; Dennis’
children, Kristie (Michael)
McEntire, Fairfax, VA,
Linette (Frank) Laswell,
Turtle Lake, ND, Jennifer
(Joe) Hall, Wilton, ND,
Michael (Laurie)
Hedstrom; 25 grandchil-
dren; 21
great-grandchildren; sis-
ter, Sandra (John) Caudle,
Dunnellon, FL; brother,
Larry (Mary) Kaibel,
Drake, ND; and many
nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in
death by: her husband,
Eugene Ludwik, parents,
Norman and Rosie Kaibel,
and brother, Norlan
Kaibel.
To sign the online regis-
ter go to www.garrison
thompson.com.