Criselda “Cris” Woiwode
Oct. 8, 1926-Dec. 1, 2020
Criselda Elizabeth
(Finken) Woiwode, 94,
Minot, died peacefully of
natural causes on De-
cember 1st, 2020, at her
daughter’s home in Minot,
ND, surrounded by her
loving family.
Criselda “Cris” Finken
was born October 8, 1926
on the family farm in
Douglas, ND to John and
Mary (Loch) Finken. She
graduated from Douglas
High School.
On her 20th birthday
she married Jerome
Woiwode (following his
discharge from the Army)
in Douglas at Holy Cross
Catholic Church. They
moved for a short time to
the Fargo area where
Jerome attended mechan-
ics school. They farmed
west of Douglas, ND for
12 years prior to moving
to Minot.
After their seven chil-
dren were born, Cris be-
gan working outside the
home. She was asked to
fill a temporary position
at St. Joseph’s Hospital in
the housekeeping depart-
ment that lasted 27 years.
During this period she be-
gan working part time as a
waitress at the Moose
Lodge in Minot. She re-
ferred to this as her fun
job.
They spent many sum-
mer days creating
wonderful memories with
family at “Paradise,” their
cabin at Rice Lake.
Her strong faith and de-
voted prayer life set a
wonderful example for
her family and friends.
Going to Mass, praying
the rosary and the Divine
Mercy Chaplet had be-
come her favorite pastime.
She had a wonderful
sense of humor which
was evident by the witty
remarks she made until
the very end. She was a
very kind and forgiving
person.
She took great comfort
in having her children
with her at the end of her
life. Her family and her
relationship with the Lord
were the most important
things in her life. There is
no greater love than the
love of a mother for her
family.
Cris was a charter
member of Our Lady of
Grace Catholic Church in
Minot. She was an active
member of the Catholic
Daughters of America,
Our Lady of Grace Altar
Society, Seven Sisters,
and Catholic Enrichment
Group. She was a rosary
leader at church, worked
at the OLG Food Pantry
(into her 90’s) and served
fellowship following Sun-
day Mass.
She especially enjoyed
the wonderful friends she
made at fellowship (or
was it just for the
donuts???).
Jerome and Cris loved
to dance, especially the
waltz. She loved playing
cards with her family. She
was often heard telling
the grandchildren and
great-grandchildren it
doesn’t matter if you win
or lose because the prize
is the same.
Her loving family in-
cludes: her children,
Verona Ferderer of Minot,
Deacon J. Mike (Marion)
Woiwode of Lake Havasu,
AZ, Val Lavik, Al (Karen)
Woiwode and David
Woiwode, all of Minot; 17
grandchildren; and 29
great-grandchildren (with
number 30 arriving soon);
and numerous nieces and
nephews.
Cris was preceded in
death by: her parents;
husband, Jerome, who
died in 2004; sons, Jerome
Jr., Donald; son-in-law,
Carl Ferderer; grand-
daughter, Laura Bruce;
brothers, Wilmar Finken
and Everett Finken; sister,
Ermella Ditch;
brother-in-law, Donald
Ditch; sisters-in-law, Isa-
bel Finken and Dorothy
Finken.
Divine Mercy Chaplet:
Monday, December 7,
2020, at 10:10 am at Our
Lady of Grace Catholic
Church in Minot.
Mass of Christian Buri-
al: Monday, December 7,
2020, at 10:30 am at Our
Lady of Grace Catholic
Church in Minot.
Visitation: Sunday from
1 to 3 p.m. at
Thompson-Larson Fun-
eral Home, Minot.
Interment: Rosehill
Memorial Park, Minot.
In lieu of flowers,
memorials are preferred
to Our Lady of Grace Food
Pantry, Dakota Hope Clin-
ic and Real Presence Ra-
dio.
The service will be
livestreamed for the pub-
lic to view and can be ac-
cessed by going to
YouTube at
www.youtube.com/
channel/
UCkw5wBH7
W–IUwKUcuLvhgOw
Those wishing to sign
the online register and
share memories may ac-
cess the online obituaries
section at www.thompson
larson.com.