Wanda Jean Schestler
April 12, 1956-June 22, 2020
Wanda Jean Schestler,
64, Valley City, ND, form-
erly of Minot, ND, passed
away Monday, June 22,
2020, at Sanford Health in
Fargo, ND.
Wanda Jean was born
April 12, 1956, to Dale
and JoAnn Hulse, in Bot-
tineau, ND. At age five,
she was adopted by Ray
and Cloa Wasson. She
spent her childhood living
in North Dakota and Ore-
gon. She graduated from
Velva High School in
1974.
Wanda worked as a bar-
tender and homemaker
until the early 1990’s. She
then worked as a Head-
start teacher’s assistant
until 1995. And finally,
she went to work for
Community Action as a
nutrition specialist. Help-
ing others was her pas-
sion. She loved her senior
citizens and worked many
hours to make sure they
had all they needed.
Thanksgiving Day was
spent delivering meals to
seniors with her grand-
son, Mitchel. Taking her
family down to see the
holiday train was always a
special time for her. She
and her family would
help fill the truck up. She
always became emotional
about how the community
came together to help the
less fortunate. She also
loved spending time with
the various food pantries
that she was part of. All of
her children had helped
through the years with
her various food drives
and deliveries.
In 2011, she was in-
volved in a devastating
car accident that left her
with a severe brain injury.
She fought hard over the
past nine years. During
this time, her daughter,
Trista, worked especially
hard to be her voice and
was always by Wanda’s
side. She lived at various
care facilities throughout
North Dakota. Her longest
stay was at Dakota Alpha
in Mandan. Each facility
came to love her infec-
tious laugh and her danc-
ing. She loved doing arts
and crafts especially
coloring for hours.
She enjoyed playing
computer games, board
games, and her grandchil
dren and pets.
Wanda will always be
remembered for her car-
ing and giving heart, her
love for rescued animals,
her inspirational quotes
and her heart-warming
laugh.
Her loving family in-
cludes: children, Tara
Nielsen, Minot, Tosha
(Derek) Olson, Minot,
Kristofer Schestler, Minot,
and Trista Schestler “baby
doll”, Bismarck, ND;
grandchildren, Kelseye
(James), Ta’teanna, Mitch-
el, Breein, Brekka, Peyton,
Hunter, Cameron and
Briar; great-grandchildren,
Rylan and Aubrie; broth-
ers, LeRoy, and Tim
(Lisa); sisters, Tammy
(Mark), Kimmie and Tam-
mi (James); and numerous
nieces, nephews and
cousins.
Wanda was preceded
in death by: her parents;
and brothers, Dale and
Billy.
Memorials: In lieu of
flowers, memorial are pre-
ferred to Homeless Coali-
tion.
Celebrating the Life of
Wanda Jean: (due to the
Coronavirus Pandemic)
A Celebration of Life
Service will be held Mon-
day, June 29, 2020, at
11:00 am at the Velva City
Park.
Memorials: In lieu of
flowers, memorial are pre-
ferred to Homeless Coali-
tion.
The service will be
video recorded for the
public to view and can be
accessed by going to
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/
channel/UCkw5wBH7W_I
UwKUcuLvhgOw.
Those wishing to sign
the online register and
share memories may ac-
cess the online obituaries
section at
(www.thompsonlarson.
com).