Alice Marie Bernice FOSS

1921 - 2017  (95 years)

• Name	Alice Marie Bernice FOSS
  Birth	20 Aug 1921	Williams County, North Dakota
  Gender	Female
  Death	21 Mar 2017	Williston, Williams County, North Dakota
  Notes	Alice Marie (Foss) Reinholdt was born August 20, 1921,on the family farm outside Ray, North Dakota. She was the ninth of ten children born to Bernt and Beret Foss. On Tuesday, March 21, 2017, after 95 fully lived years, she passed away peacefully, surrounded by her children & several other family members, at the Bethel Lutheran Nursing Home in Williston, ND. She will be laid to rest at the Temple Cemetery, next to her husband of 44 years, and in close proximity to several other family members who have gone before her. Alice had four sisters and five brothers. The family farmed and had some livestock including cows, chickens, and horses. She was a self-described tomboy, liked to run and climb fences, and could care less that she became very tan in the summer, while her older sisters were trying to keep their complexions as white as possible. She was a good student, excelling at spelling, having won local “spelling bees”, as well as math and reading. She remained an avid reader until she began having eyesight difficulties in her later years. She role modeled and shared that love of reading with all of her children. She completed 8th grade and began attending high school in Tioga, but had to leave school to begin working for other people at the age of 14, as her parents could no longer afford to send her. During those years prior to marriage, she was a waitress, cook, housekeeper, and nanny, for several different families, many of whom she continued to have relationships with after she stopped working for them. Alice met Donald Reinholdt while working on a farm near Sawyer, ND. They met while she was milking cows in the barn. After a period of courtship, which included time spent at “Lovers Lane” they were married on April 28, 1943. They began married life in Sawyer, but then moved to Ray, where they raised their children. Don worked at the Farmers Union Elevator, and they also owned the Ver-Von Motel for several years. Along with being a wonderful wife and mother, Alice had a variety of jobs over her long life, including cooking at the school in Ray, re-upholstering and refinishing furniture (with her big sister Jennie Solberg), making lefse and working at Tioga Air Heaters along with her lifelong friend, Phyllis Thoreson. Alice moved to Williston in 1999. Beginning in her late 70s, Alice became part of the Senior Companion program. She provided companionship and respite care to many people in the area, some of whom were much younger than she was. She loved seeing her "clients”, found great joy in being of service to others, and loved going to classes and getting paid to do that! Alice loved music and was truly gifted. She could play most anything after hearing it once. Along with playing piano, she played the organ and the accordion. She could transpose a song from one key to another with ease, and do all of this after having only a few piano lessons as a child. Alice's Mom, Beret, sold eggs to pay for the lessons. It took about two dozen eggs to pay for a lesson, which cost 50 cents each. Alice could sing many parts, and taught her children and grandchildren to sing in parts as well, which allowed her to have her own family choir! Some of the family's fondest memories are of singing together at home or at church. Mom was the church pianist for 65+ years, finally retiring from that job at the age of 93! Alice began her Christian path in the Lutheran Church in Temple, ND, but during her childhood, the family became members of the Church of the Nazarene in Ray. Alice continued as a member of the Nazarene Church in Sawyer, Ray, and Williston her entire life. Alice loved God, even if she didn't always understand or agree with his plan. She communicated with God throughout each day, and prayed for her children as well as many other people. She never feared death, and was absolutely ready to be with Jesus, her Savior! Alice loved great food and was an incredible cook and baker! As kids, we were spoiled and at the potluck events at church and would not eat something unless we knew who made it, or asked “Mom, did you make this?” She created amazing Scandinavian delicacies, krumkake, beautiful pies and cakes, doughnuts, fudge and other candies, great breads and cookies. When we were growing up, I don't know that we were truly able to appreciate having homemade fresh bread, rolls, and caramel nut rolls! Mom used to can a variety of fruits and vegetables from our garden, until she got into freezing, which she decided was much easier. Alice gave cooking and baking lessons to her family members, and her tips are invaluable in trying to recreate her recipes. Alice is survived by her children Gary (Audrey), Ron (Mary), and Donnie (Diane), all of Williston, Loren of Ray, and Joyce (Marcel) of Santa Monica, CA; and her son-in-law Dale Shearer of Aberdeen, SD; sister-in-law Mavis Foss, 19 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Alice was preceded in death by her parents, Bernt and Beret, and all her siblings, Ole, Ida, Alvin, Bennie, Jennie, Marion, Emil, Ruth, and Morris. Her husband, Don, passed away on November 8, 1987. She was also preceded in death by her daughter Caryl (Nieuwenhuis) Shearer, son-in-law Lyle Nieuwenhuis, daughter-in-law Michelle Reinholdt, grandsons Bryce Reinholdt and Joey Loveless.
  Person ID	I34263	Don Carlson's Tree
  Last Modified	2 Mar 2022

  
  

  Family	Donald Leroy REINHOLDT,   b. 25 Sep 1907, North Dakota d. 8 Nov 1987, Ward County, North Dakota (Age 80 years)
  Family ID	F15767	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	13 Jun 2022