Irene J. (Ness) Lehmann, the daughter of John G. and Ida (Saude) Ness was born in the rural Barton, North Dakota home of her parents on March 6, 1928.  She died at the age of 89 years on Saturday, May 27, 2017 at the Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby, North Dakota.

Irene was reared in the rural Barton home of her parents, baptized on June 3, 1928 at the Barton Lutheran Church, attended country school near her home and graduated from Barton High School, the class of 1946.  She completed her education at Minot State College earning her teaching certificate of education and taught in the rural school system for 3 years following her graduation.  On January 15, 1949, she was united in marriage to Norman Lehmann in the home of her parents.  The couple made their home, raised their daughter, farmed and ranched their entire married life near Willow City.  She was a former member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Willow City until its closing, a former Sunday School teacher, a former 4-H Leader for many years and enjoyed belonging to the Good Neighbors Club and the Willow City Seniors Club.  At the time of her death, Irene was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Rugby.  Norman died November 14, 1993.  Irene continued to live on the farm following his death and later moved to the Haaland Manor apartments in Rugby.

She is survived by her daughter, Debi Hartvikson and husband, Lowell of Willow City and Arizona; 7 grandchildren, Jeremy (Brandi) Flom, Michelle (Cole) Watson, Kelly (Shawna) Flom, Ashley Flom, Stuart (Anja) Hartvikson, Sharla (Norman) Mendoza and Shelee (Michael) Swayda; 16 great-grandchildren, Brayden and Taylor Flom, Jesse & Shelby Flom, Jemma Watson, Peyton, Gage, & Cooper Flom, Parker Kresbach, Zackary, Justin, Aiden & Bayley Mendoza, Trystan & Chloe Swayda; brother-in-law & sisters-in-law, James (Hannah) Lehmann of Bottineau and Merle Ness of Towner; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.  She was preceded in death by her husband; brothers, Jennings, Lyle, Kermith and James Ness; sisters, Olga Larvick, Delores Broe, Gladys Strand, Aleda Fosness, Ruth Fosness, & a sister in infancy; and her parents.   

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 1^st at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Rugby with a 1:00 p.m. burial in the Willow City Memorial Park Cemetery.  Pastor Joshua Reimche, presider.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Rugby and will continue for one hour prior to the time of the service on Thursday in the Church.