Amelia Bachmeier, 104, of Esmond, ND died on Thursday, October 24, 2019 at the Evantide Care Center in Fargo.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, October 28, 2019 at the Hertz Funeral Home in Harvey.  The visitation will continue that evening at the St. Boniface Catholic Church beginning at 6 p.m. with a Rosary and Prayer starting at 7 p.m. on Monday at the church.

The Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Esmond, ND.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Amelia Clara (Leier) Bachmeier was born on January 22, 1915 at her family farm south of Esmond. She was the daughter of Catherine (Marthe) and Ignatius (Ned) Leier.  Catherine and Ned were Germans who immigrated from Russia. Amelia was the fifth of 12 children. She attended country school in East Fork township through the eighth grade.

Amelia met Albert Bachmeier at one of the many barn dances they attended in the area. They married on October 7, 1936 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Esmond. The following spring, they moved to Sacramento, CA to pursue job opportunities. In 1941, they returned to North Dakota to purchase and operate a farm outside of Esmond in Rich Valley Township. Albert and Amelia had four children, all sons. They took great pride in raising their children and watching them excel in sports. Amelia continued to support her grandchildren in their own sporting event activities through the years.

Albert and Amelia were married for 38 years. After Albert passed away in 1974, Amelia spent time exercising, walking several miles a day and running on her treadmill until she was 85.  She bowled on two different bowling leagues in Esmond. She frequented Spirit Lake Casino with friends for bingo and enjoyed playing cards, recently playing pinochle with her family. She enjoyed traveling to visit family and friends. She attended Mardi Gras, visited Hawaii and Niagara Falls, went on a cruise, and visited California several times to see her sisters. Amelia was an excellent cook and baker, known for having her freezer full of homemade baked goods. She was an exceptional host at family holidays.  Amelia loved baseball and was an avid Minnesota Twins fan, watching nearly every game on TV in her later years.  She often spoke of being frustrated having to watch the Twins lose.

Amelia moved to St. Aloisius Long Term Care in Harvey in 2007. Amelia was always a devout Catholic. She spent her time at the nursing home praying, attending mass, reading, and visiting with family and friends. She continued to pray the rosary through her last days. Amelia had a remarkable memory and remained sharp into her 100s. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren looked forward to visiting and hearing stories from her past as she shared her wisdom. Amelia's family will remember her as hard-working, intelligent, resilient, and independent, as these traits showed true in her years spent without Albert.

Amelia was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Esmond. She was active in Christian Mothers and Ladies Aid at St. Boniface and was a loyal and dedicated CCD teacher to children at the church in Esmond for many years. She was a member of Esmond Golden Age Club as well.

Amelia's greatest pride and joy were her children and grandchildren. She is survived by three sons, Kenneth (Susan) Bachmeier of Esmond, ND, Stanley (Bonnie) Bachmeier and Rodney (Lori) Bachmeier both of West Fargo, ND; daughter-in-law Mary (late Bradley) Bachmeier of Harvey, ND; 13 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren, and one sister, Arlene Johnson of Fargo, ND.

Amelia was preceded in death by her husband, Albert; son, Bradley; parents, Catherine and Ignatius; great-grandson, Andrew, and 10 siblings.