Fern Mae Leintz, 81, Harvey, died Monday, September 16, 2019 at the Altru Hospital after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Fern will dearly be missed but in our hearts forever.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 21, 2019 at First Lutheran Church, Harvey, ND. Visitation will be Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a prayer service beginning at 7 p.m. at Hertz Funeral Home, Harvey, ND. Burial will be in the Sunnyside Cemetery, Harvey, ND.

Fern was born April 13, 1938 in Harvey, ND to Bill and Erna (Hoffman) Dompier. She was raised in Harvey along with her two sisters, Gloria and Wanda. Fern graduated from Harvey High School in 1956. To earn her way to college, Fern worked at the Harvey Herald Newspaper. Then, a year later, she attended the University of North Dakota where she enrolled in business courses. At UND, she was active with the Madrigal choir and was a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority. After UND, Fern moved to Bismarck where she worked in the Division of Vital Records department at the North Dakota State Capitol from 1958 to 1962.

Fern married the love of her life, Richard Leintz on April 13, 1962 at the St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Harvey surrounded by family and friends. Fern and Dick made their home on the Leintz family farm 5 miles northeast of town; farming several acres, raising cattle and a few horses. They were blessed with two children, Stephanie and Susie. In the mid-70's, Dick and Fern moved into Harvey and lived on Harvey Avenue. Through the years Fern worked at the Herald Press assisting visitors, processing billing paperwork and other miscellaneous duties. She enjoyed working at the Herald Press and the time spent with her co-workers. Fern was a long-time member of the United Methodist Church in Harvey and was strong in her faith. For many years, she sang in the church choir, belonged to the church women's circle and several other church activities. She was also one of the original founding members of the Harvey Friendly Neighbors Homemakers Club attending monthly meetings for several years. Fern had a beautiful voice and was asked to sing for many weddings, funerals and other events.

Fern's passions included growing flowers, gardening, playing cards, cooking and baking and most of all, spending time with her family and grandchildren. Over the years, Fern grew some of the most beautiful flower gardens in their backyard on Harvey Avenue. She loved all flowers but sweet peas were her favorite. Fern also enjoyed gardening and had a large garden on the family farm as well as a smaller garden in the later years at their Harvey Avenue home. Fern was always up for a card game. She most enjoyed playing cribbage and Zioncheck. Playing a game of Zioncheck was a tradition she passed along to her children and grandchildren and was played whenever family came together. Over the years, Fern was instrumental in pulling together the family for the holidays and other family gatherings. She cooked countless wonderful meals and loved seeing family around her table. Fern's real passion was her grandchildren. She always looked forward to seeing them and was very much a part of their lives. She and Dick closely followed each of their grandchildren's activities over the years and spent countless hours at dance recitals, basketball games, piano recitals, band and choir concerts, and football games. Fern was a big supporter of whatever her grandchildren did and always encouraged them to go that extra length to succeed at whatever they would do. Great grandchild, Addie Leigh, was the apple of Fern's eye and they face-timed whenever they could.

Fern was a compassionate and caring person and she will be deeply missed by her family. Her children will miss their weekly and recently daily phone calls. Her grandchildren will most notice the absence of Grandma at family gatherings, especially the holidays.

Fern is survived by her husband of 57 years, Dick; two children Stephanie (Steve) Christian, Grand Forks, ND and Susie (Bruce) Mack, Minot, ND; five grandchildren, Emily (Kyle) Herauf, Boise ID; Abby (Jace) Helman, Boise, ID; Nicholas Christian, Grand Forks, ND; Tyler Mack, St. Paul, MN; Alex Mack, Minot, ND; and one great grandchild, Addie Leigh; sisters: Gloria (Dewey) Walsh, Crookston, MN and Wanda (Gary) Bunce, Winona, MN and several nieces and nephews.

Fern was preceeded in death by her parents, William and Erna Dompier.
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