Paulene Wentz, 90, Bismarck, formerly of Harvey died Sunday, May 21, 2023, at the Baptist Home in Bismarck.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2023 at St. Cecilia Catholic Church with burial in the church cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24 at Hertz Funeral Home, Harvey, ND.

Paulene was born on August 23, 1932 near Esmond, ND to Bernard and Rose (Ripplinger) Wentz.  She attended the Gerard Lake School in Pierce County and the Rich Valley Country School near Esmond.

Paulene spent 36 years working as a cook in Harvey.  She began cooking at the A & W Drive-in from 1965 to 1972. From there she cooked at the Town & Country for ten years. In 1982 she worked at Artos Steakhouse for three years returning to the Town and Country for 16 more years. She also cooked at the St. Aloisius Medical Center in Harvey and was caregiver for her parents allowing them to live in their home until their deaths.  She retired in 2001.  Paulene sold the family home and moved into senior housing in Harvey in 2013.  Due to health issues she moved to Bismarck in 2016 to be with family.

Paulene was a selfless woman who would do anything for anyone.  If she thought someone needed something, she would surely come to the rescue. The most important things to her in life were God and her family.  She remained a member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Harvey.

Paulene enjoyed cooking, baking, gardening, canning and her flower gardens.  Christmas was such a special time for Paulene, and she would work tirelessly putting up her Christmas Village, which somehow seemed to grow bigger every year.

Paulene is survived by her sisters, Bernice Martel of Bismarck, Gloriann Gaarder of Valley City; brothers, Joe (Sandy) Wentz of Bismarck and Gordon (LaDonna) Wentz of Sartel, MN; five nieces and nine nephews, whom she thought the world of; many great-nieces and great-nephews.

Pauleen was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Beatrice Hager and JoAnn Volk; two brothers-in-law, Ramaldus Hager and Peter Volk; one nephew, Dan Hager.