The funeral will be streamed live on the church facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/martinbaptistND2021/

The funeral was recorded and available to few at the following link: https://youtu.be/nluQoN7ZpC4

Candice Lesmeister, 68, Harvey, ND died on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at her home with her family at her side.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at the Martin Baptist Church, Martin, ND.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be Monday, April 6 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a prayer service following at 6 p.m. at Hertz Funeral Home, Harvey, ND.

Candice was born on July 16, 1957, in Harvey, ND.  She was the daughter of LeJune and Aleta (Froehlich) Kost.  Candice lived on the family farm on the east side of Martin before moving into town. She attended Martin Public School and graduated from Harvey High School in 1975. During her high school years, she was part of the Harvey High School Choir that toured Europe and included a performance in Eastern Europe even performing behind the Iron Curtain. After graduation, Candice received her associate business degree from Bismarck State College.  She returned to Harvey and worked as an assistant in the Respiratory Therapy Department at St. Aloisius Hospital in Harvey.  Candice married Kent Lesmeister on July 9, 1976, at the Martin Baptist Church in Martin. Together, they raised two sons, Scott and Kelly. They lived briefly in Harvey before moving to the Lesmeister family farm west of Selz. After a house fire in 1997, they relocated back to Harvey.  She worked as a bookkeeper at B & M Steel and later at Capital RV, in both Harvey and Bismarck. In 1990 she joined Ripplinger Motors in Harvey as the office manager continuing through its transitions of Drive Chevrolet and eventually Brandjord Chevrolet where she devoted 35 years.

Candice was baptized at Martin Baptist Church in Martin where she was a lifetime member. She served as Bible School and Sunday School teacher, was active in the church choir participating in many cantatas and contributed to numerous committees over the years. Candice's greatest joy was supporting her children and grandchildren. Whether it was a school program, a sports game or skating performance, she was always there – smiling, cheering and beaming with pride. No distance was too far when it came to her grandchildren, whom she loved dearly.  She also enjoyed riding horses, camping with family, crocheting and working on puzzles.

Sharing in Candice's life: her husband, Kent of Harvey, Sons, Scott (Kari) Lesmeister of Columbus, ND, Kelly (Kari) Lesmeister of Williston, four grandchildren, Mason, Brynlee, Berkley, and Greyson; brothers, Kenneth (Annette) Kost of Bismarck and Greg Kost of Chandler, AZ.

Candice was preceded in death by her parents, LeJune and Aleta Kost, stepmother, Delma Kost; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Clarence and Idell Lesmeister.

The funeral will be recorded and a link uploaded here within 48 hours after the service.