Irene (Eberle) Voeller, the daughter of Jacob and Mary (Lesmeister) Eberle was born on February 21, 1925 in Detroit, Michigan.  She died at the age of 92 years on Sunday, March 26, 2017 at the Trinity Medical Center in Minot, North Dakota.

At the age of 4 years, the family moved from Detroit to a farm northwest of Esmond, North Dakota where she attended 7 years of country school.  In 1937, the family moved to Baker, North Dakota where she attended 3 years of school there and graduated from Knox High School, Salutatorian of her class.  Following graduation, she worked at the Rugby Bakery until October 25, 1943 when she was united in marriage to Pius Voeller at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Knox.  While her husband was participating in World War II, Irene completed her education at Minot Normal School, earning her teaching certificate.  She taught in rural schools near Orrin and Harvey.  Following Pius’s discharge and return in 1946, the couple moved on to a farm northeast of Knox and later to farm just north of Knox where they farmed and raised their family of 5 children.  A loving wife, mother, grandmother, farmer and homemaker, Irene also worked outside the home working from 1966 to 1968 at the Lee Store (later called Ben Franklin), from 1968 to 1988 as a secretary and broadcaster for the Rugby radio station.  In 1975, the couple moved into Knox where they owned and operated the “Friendly Bar” for 10 years. Pius died suddenly on November 24, 1987.  After his death, she spent 2 years as a Nanny for a family on the East Coast.  In 1991, Irene moved to Rugby where she promptly started working at the Haaland Estates as an activities assistant, until retiring.  Later, Irene made her home at Haaland Estates and at the time of her death, she was living at the Heartland Care Center in Devils Lake.

Irene was a long-time member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Little Flower Catholic Church, Christian Mother’s, Catholic Daughters, Knox American Legion & VFW Auxiliaries, St. Mary’s Church Council, Knox 55 Club, a religion education teacher, Knox City Auditor, the Busy Bee & Rush Lake Homemakers Clubs, a Farmers Union Camp counselor and 4H Leader, a precinct voting judge, enjoyed bowling league and a dear friend to many. . .just to name a few.

Survivors include one son, Sheldon (Janet) of Rugby, four daughters, Sharen (Keith) Bird of Minot, Shirley (Rodney) Pederson of Knox, Sheila (Tom) Acheson of Bottineau and Lynette (Jeff) Walsh of Wolford; 16 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; 1 sister, Alice (Adolph) Lorz of Harvey; two brothers, LeRoy (Connie) Eberle of Minot and Harold Eberle of Arizona; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.  She was preceded in death by her husband; two grandchildren, Dexter Voeller & Amanda Sather; a great-grandson, Tanner Jespersen; 3 sisters, Eleanor Fingers, Helen Brunner & Bernice Schindler; and her parents.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 31^st at the Little Flower Catholic Church in Rugby with spring burial in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Knox.  Father Tom Graner, Celebrant

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday with a rosary & prayer service beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home in Rugby.  Visitation will continue from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Friday in the funeral home.  There will be no reviewal in the Church