Cecelia Virginia Orth

Cecelia Virginia Orth

Cecelia Virginia Orth of Fargo, ND, died on Monday, July 19, 2004 in Cape Coral, FL.

Cecelia V Thomas was born in Bluegrass, ND to Louis and Mary (Keller) Thomas and grew up on a farm near Beulah, ND. She graduated from high school and married Ruben Orth on May 5, 1952 in Beulah. They moved to Bismarck, ND and then to Fargo, ND in 1954. She worked as a bookkeeper for Northern Improvement but her main focus was raising her family, several foster children and many other children for which she provided childcare. Along with her husband, she was active in Catholic War Veterans, volunteered at the Veterans Hospital Chapel Service, and they were involved with Germans from Russia Heritage Society. Cecelia was a member of Royal Neighbors of America and Catholic Daughters. In 1979, she took on the added responsibility of being a surrogate mother to Cyrena & Kenneth Kelsch after the death of their mother, Mary, Cecelia's best friend. Cyrena's three children, Jennifer, Patrick, and Sarah, still call her "Grandma Celia" to this day.

At the age of 29, Cecelia was afflicted with Rheumatoid Arthritis and later Parkinson's disease. Despite these setbacks she lived her life with much pride and perseverance.

When Ruben died on Feb 22, 1990, Cecelia started spending her winters with family in Cape Coral, FL. Some of her favorite pastimes included playing cards with friends, attending daily mass, and going to breakfast. She joined St Andrew Catholic Church in Cape Coral FL, where she taught CCD. Despite her physical limitations she was a member of Knights of Columbus Auxiliary, Council of Catholic Woman and the Widow Club at St Andrew's. Cecelia joined the Lay Carmelites in 1997 and was very active in her chapter. She maintained her membership with St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church and Catholic Daughters in Fargo. Her greatest sources of happiness were spending time with her grandchildren, family and friends. Her strong faith in Our Lord helped her face each day with dignity despite her declining health.

She will be deeply missed by her eight children: Deborah Walling, Cape Coral, FL, Margaret (Steve) Lattimore, Fargo, ND, Suzanne (Steven) Silbernagel, Fort Myers, FL, Thomas Orth, Salt Lake City, UT, Ruben Jr (Margaret) Orth, Horace, ND, Mary (Jerome) Belcourt, Fargo, ND, Richard (Terri) Orth, Cape Coral, FL, Melissa (Paul) Kvislen, Kindred, ND. Thirteen grandchildren, Virginia Walling, Robert James Walling, Stephanie (Jeff) Ketterl, Steven Silbernagel Jr, Holly Orth, Shannon Orth, Amanda Belcourt, Matthew Belcourt, Madelyn Orth, Emma Orth, Jonathan Orth, Katherine Kvislen, Jacob Kvislen; three great grandchildren, Kristyna Walling, Annabelle Ketterl, Jeffrey Wallace Ketterl Jr.; nine siblings, Josephine Plummer, Delphine Thomas, Amelia Dietrich, Mary Dietrich, Margaret Hughes, Frances Ball, Jerome Thomas, Pauline Thompson, Linda Sailer; several other relatives and numerous friends.

Cecelia now joins her Lord together with her husband, her parents, her infant brother, Walter, and her beloved granddaughter, Erin Lindsey Orth in heaven.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 am on Wednesday in St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Fargo. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 4:00-6:45 pm followed by a rosary at 6:45pm and prayer service at 7:00 pm in Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo. A rosary and visitation will also be held in the church on Wednesday beginning at 10:30 am. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Fargo. Arrangements with Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo. Online guestbook at www.boulgerfuneralhome.com