November Sky Reinoehl

Minot, ND

November Sky Reinoehl, age 5, Minot, ND, passed away on September 28, 2025, due to injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.

March of 2020 was a wild, dark time in the world-masks, social distancing, and isolation quickly became the new normal, and would remain the norm for quite some time. God decided the world needed a little light, so 12 days after the pandemic was declared, November Sky Reinoehl was born and immediately brightened up the lives of everyone who met her.

Through a stroke of luck, Angie was blessed with the ability to stay home to care for November for the first 15 months of her life. That first year was filled with many, many visits to the Roosevelt Park Zoo, walks through the greenhouse at Lowe’s, drive thru excursions at Kaffee Kiosk and Broadway Bean, splash pad shenanigans at Radio City Park, and many days spent at her Uncle Mike’s house with her beloved cousins, Charlie and Sophie.

Baby November was made of giggles and brute strength. Affectionately dubbed, “Monster Truck Baby”, she lived up to the name. If a room was too quiet, it wouldn’t be too long before you could hear the thunk, thunk, thunk of her chunky legs carrying her away from whatever mischief she had just caused. True to her nature, she was a cuddlebug through and through-anytime there was a lap or arms she could climb into, she would. Though inconvenient at times, nobody could be annoyed for very long when they looked down and saw her hazel eyes staring back up with nothing but pure love.

But as time passed, as it usually does, it became very clear that November’s light needed to be shared with the world. Cyndi Morlang opened up the doors of her home to November and took her in as one of her daycare kids. This unlocked an entirely new world of possibilities, experiences and an incredibly large, unmeasurable amount of fun. Cyndi, Brenana, Taya, Grandma Peg, and Shane brought endless magic to November’s everyday life. Whether it was storytime downtown, a close encounter at the zoo, an unprompted dinosaur party, or just walking through the neighborhood with fairy wings on, November was always ready to put on her shoes and go to Cyndi’s.

As she grew, her smile and soul only illuminated brighter. Though, at the time, she didn’t talk very much, her actions spoke volumes. When a friend fell, she was always the first to run to the rescue. If someone was crying, she was the first to comfort with a hug or a rub on the back (whether they wanted it or not.) Her nature was always to nurture-whether that be to her friends, her toys, or some new kid she met at the park.

Her immediate instinct was to love. To know November meant to know pure, innocent, unfiltered love.

Years passed-some friends aged up to kindergarten, some continued to grow with her-but in what felt like the blink of an eye, she went from being the “baby” at daycare, to being the “big kid.”

She didn’t just turn into a big kid, she also turned into a big sister. November became “Sissy” to Luca in August of 2023, and showered him in love, toys and cuddles for two beautiful years. She was delighted when she found out she was going to have a little brother. Angie and Charles gave her the big job of naming the baby-the options she gave were BabyBabyBaby, and Luca (after the Disney sea monster.) After extensive deliberation, they went with the latter.

Wherever you saw November, you could usually find Luca trailing behind closely. Whether they were cuddling on the couch watching Spidey and his Amazing Friends, hiding under the bathroom sink with a flashlight, or more recently, hiding behind the couch to draw on the wall with markers, they were always together. She taught him his ABC’s, how to count to 15, how to unlock doors, and the definition of love (even if it hurt sometimes.)

Oftentimes you could find Luca on November’s lap in her little rocking chair, rocking back and forth, patting his bum like he was a newborn. Occasionally you’d see November look down, brush the hair out of his eyes, and lay a kiss on the top of his head.

It’s not lost on us that the concept of November’s death is one that Luca cannot yet grasp. For him, it’ll manifest as a quieter dinner table, less lip balms and mints to steal, and an empty booster seat next to him in the car.

They say that the last summer before kindergarten starts is the last summer your kids are still “little,” so everyone made sure this summer was one for the books for November.

She was determined to ride her bike with no training wheels, and she did just that after only 20 minutes of practice with Charles. She was unstoppable when she was wearing her unicorn helmet.

She taught herself how to ride a skateboard and do tricks in our kitchen. It was always a challenge to correct her-while yes, what she was doing was dangerous, it also did look really cool.

She had finally mastered the monkeybars at daycare, and did them until she got blisters from showing everybody that she could do them.

She flew on her first airplane to Denver with Angie, Charles and Luca, and got to meet all of the O’Conner crew in Glenwood Springs at Great Grandma Jane’s big birthday bash. She immediately fell in love with everyone, and everyone fell in love with her. On this trip she got to listen to bagpipes in the mountain air, dip her toes in the cool calm of a river, go to her first aquarium, and stay at a dinosaur-themed hotel with a really cool pool (which, of all things, was her favorite part.)

She got a taste of what it was like to be a farm kid when she gave up the city life for a week and traveled with Jacob and Hannah to Hannah’s grandma’s farm and came home asking how many sleeps it was until she could go back again to visit.

When the summer came to a close, November’s next great adventure was calling to her: kindergarten. It was time to share her with the world in yet another new way.

After working her first year at Surrey Public School and getting to know the incredible elementary staff, Angie knew that November would fit right in as a Mustang, and she absolutely did.

There were definitely a few rough mornings while getting used to the earlier wakeup time, but November was always excited to velcro on her light-up unicorn sneakers, buckle up her backpack, and hop in the car so she could use the “magic key” (Angie’s door fob) to get into the school. For many people at school, they got three square hugs (or more) a day. Sometimes she even threw in a couple of “I love you’s” if she was feeling really happy.

While at school she learned: many nursery rhymes (Little Miss Muffet was a favorite); the Pledge of Allegiance (she was so proud she had to call Uncle Mike to recite it to him and Auntie Steph… she got most of it right); how to rainbow write; her five senses; how to snap her fingers; and many, many new songs and games. She adored school, and she adored everyone in the school. Her teachers made such an impact on her, within her first week of school she came home saying that she wanted to be a music teacher when she grew up, just like Miss Klebe.

Her last week of school was incredible. It was homecoming. Monday started off strong with USA day and she came to school dressed as a bomb pop, complete with a repurposed New Year’s headband that she and Angie glued stars to. Tuesday was college day, so she wore a blue shirt to match Angie’s college sweater. Wednesday was her favorite… pajama day. She lit up when she saw she was going to wear her Princess Elsa nightgown to school. Thursday was, of course, blue and white day. While at the pep rally Angie got to watch November file into the bleachers and sit with the rest of her class. When November realized her mommy was sitting across from her, she lit up, started waving and shouted, “Hi Mommy!”

Friday was a special field trip to the pumpkin patch with the Friday Care program where she spent her last day in Minot surrounded by her friends, Mrs. Witcher, and her Mommy, having the time of her life.

There are no words that can express the pain of losing a child, especially a child like November. We will never know the reason why she was called to God so soon, but as a very dear family friend said, “God gets a lot of thorns and every once in a while he needs a petal. He got a petal today.”

November, my love, my love- as I whispered to you every night after you had fallen asleep, I love you, I am so proud of you, and I am so, so happy that I get to be your Mommy.

November is survived by:

Daddy (Jacob Shepard), Watford City, N.D.; Mommy and Daddy (Angie Reinoehl and Charles Crane), Minot, N.D.; brother, Luca Crane, Minot, N.D. Grandparents: Lolli and Pop (Karen and Jessey Shepard), Dickinson, N.D.; Grandma Jodi and Grandpa Rick Gustafson, Bottineau, N.D.; Bumpa and Grammy (David and Peg Crane), Mott, N.D. Aunts, Uncles and Cousins: Uncle Mike, Auntie Steph, Charlie and Sophie Reinoehl, Minot, N.D.; Titi (Joanna), Steve, Blaze Warren and Izavella Jason, Billings, M.T.; Unkie (Zachary Shepard), Dickinson, N.D.; Nicholas Autry, Tulsa, O.K.; Katie, Jeremy, Mary Claire, Jonathan, Felicity, Cecelia, Margaret and Xavier Vidmar, Bismarck, N.D.; Molly, Paul, Emma, Anna, Georgia, and Karl Peltier, Virginia, M.N.; Monica, Jordan, Theresa, Jake, Charlie and Rosie Struck, Dickinson, N.D; Ben, Carlie, Bentley, Chase, Grayson and Bentley Reinoehl, Rugby, N.D.; Arianna, Amaiyah and Alice Reinoehl, A.Z. Great-Grandparents: Robo-Grandma (Arlene Reinoehl) Bottineau, N.D.; Nani and Poppy (John and Debbie Shepard), Manteca, C.A.; Ken and Margie Boys, Grandbury, T.X.; Jane McGarity, Mott, N.D. Great Aunts and Uncles: Ken and Cassandra Boys, Grandbury, TX; Jennifer McPherson, Trout Creek, MT; Paul and Shauna Johnson, Manteca, CA; Andrew and Sherry Pappadakis, Woodland Park, CO; Matt Shepard, Manteca, CA; Veronica Westby, Bothell, W.A.; Amye Westby, Arlington, W.A.; Lisa and Keith Steinke, Minot, N.D. The extended Crane family and O’Conner Crew. The Morlangs, Cyndi, Shane, Taya, “Brenana”, and all the daycare kids. Mrs. Thom and Mrs. Streich, her kindergarten teachers; Mrs. Hysjulien, her principal; Ms. Klebe, her music teacher; Ms. Ritzke, her school counselor; Mrs. Seiverson, her librarian; Mr. Van Berkom, her P.E. teacher; Ms. Day and Ms. Alyssa, Surrey School office crew; Mrs. Witcher, Friday Care Coordinator and head peppermint distributor; and the Surrey Public School Class of 2038. And many, many more people whose names could not possibly fit on one page of the newspaper.

November was preceded in death by:

Uncle, Zack Reinoehl; her Papa Clint Reinoehl; Great Uncles: Mark and Rob Westby; Great Grandparents: Lonny Reinoehl; Donna Westby; Great Aunt Janice Cheney; Second Cousins: Brandon Shepard; Bridgette Hart; Great-Great Grandparents: Burton and Lillian Shepard; Fred and Lita Clark; John Maxwell; Shirley Reomich; George and MaryLou Boys; Troy Shepard; Shirley and Charles Crane; Carr McGarity.

November walked into eternity holding the hand of Daddy’s fiance, Hannah Kocher.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 10, 2025, at St. Leo the Great Roman Catholic Church, Minot. To view a livestream of the service or share memories and condolences access www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com

Interment: Oak Creek Cemetery, Bottineau, ND at 2:15 p.m.

Visitation: Thursday, October 9th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at St. Leo the Great Roman Catholic Church with Vigil Prayer Service beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Thomas Family Funeral Home of Minot is trusted with arrangements.

Published by The Minot Daily News, October 3, 2025.