Frieda Diehl

Frieda Diehl, 92, originally from Mandan, died October 13, 2018 at St. Martin’s Serenity Place, Rapid City, SD.

A memorial service will be held at 2 PM on Friday, October 19, 2018 at Mandan United Methodist Church with Rev. Bruce Adams officiating.  Burial will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.  The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.

Frieda was born on February 20, 1926, one of twin daughters to Jacob and Sophia (Sauter) Huber. She was raised and educated in Carson. Frieda and her sisters, Lydia and Ella, went to Portland, OR to work at Jantzen Knitting Mills during the war.

On October 26, 1947, Frieda was united in marriage to Edwin Diehl of Carson, ND.  They settled in Mandan where they raised two sons.  Ed died on July 30, 2005.

When the boys began school, Frieda went to work until she retired at the age of 88.  Fifty of those years she was a seamstress at various dry-cleaning businesses in the Mandan-Bismarck area, most recently at Arrowhead Cleaners in Bismarck.

Soon after Frieda retired she began having health problems which resulted in a move to Rapid City, SD to be near a son.  There she lived in Good Samaritan facilities until her death.

Frieda’s life was focused on her family, her faith, and her work.  In all, she was faithful, loving, and kind.  When it came to her family she was incredibly generous, never forgetting birthdays or anniversaries and filling many bags with groceries for visiting family members.  Frieda was a wonderful cook and is most remembered for her cheese buttons, chocolate chip cookies, and kuchen.  Especially important throughout her life was the bond with her twin sister, Lydia.  Over the years, they spoke by phone nearly every day until Lydia’s death which was heartbreaking for Frieda.

Frieda was a long-time member of Mandan United Methodist Church and the Mandan Golden Age Club.

This kind woman, generous to all and not wanting to be a bother to anyone, will forever be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Blessed to have shared her life were her sons and daughters-in-law, Doug and Dawn Diehl of Rapid City, SD and Greg and Angie Diehl of Fargo, ND; six grandchildren, Dustin (Faith) Diehl, Destri (Jesse) Fagerland and Greta (Jim) Whitefield, Logan Diehl, Dylan Diehl, and Morgan (Christian) May; five great-grandchildren, Josiah, Remington, Skylar, Juniper, and Chamomile; one sister, Ella Rieger, Portland, OR; two brothers, Elmer (Delores) Huber, Tahlequah, OK and Wilbert (Bernice) Huber, Bismarck, ND; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Frieda was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ed; four brothers, Ted (Ruth), Helmuth (Lydia), Carl (Ruth), and Edwin (Leah); two sisters, Edna (Art) Lutz and Lydia (Milt) Berreth; and brother-in-law, Gideon Rieger.

In lieu of flowers the family is establishing a memorial for Mandan United Methodist Church.