Pauline Heim

A Private Family Service for Pauline W. Heim, 105 of New Leipzig, ND was held at 1:30 p.m. MT on Sunday, May 22, 2022 at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Elgin. Pastor John Amundson officiated with burial in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery at New Leipzig.

Serving as casketbearers were Brandon and Jordan Lee, Arin Schatz, Evan Briese, Virgil Stern, and Clarence Roth, Jr.

All of Pauline’s great and great great grandchildren were considered honorary bearers. Pauline Wilhelmina

Pauline Wilhelmina Stern was born on February 21, 1917, to Christian and Louisa (Kranich) Stern at the Stern farmstead two miles northeast of Elgin, ND. She attended school at Elgin for 3½ years. The family moved south of Elgin and Pauline continued her education at the Fleak School until she completed the eighth grade. She worked for relatives in the summer helping with harvesting or doing housework. Otherwise, she was helpful on the farm helping out her parents. They raised a big garden and there was a lot of work to be done and Pauline helped where she could.

Pauline met Emil Heim at a wedding where they both were attendants and before long, they planned their own wedding which took place on October 25, 1935, at the Immanuel Lutheran Parsonage. After the wedding the couple lived on the Heim homestead where they lived for four years and raised their two daughters, Shirley and Jean. Later, the family moved southwest of New Leipzig on the William Oelke farm for two years. With the depression and trying to survive with much struggle to make ends meet, they planned, saved, worked hard, and kept their faith in God daily. The couple was fortunate to be able to purchase a farm one mile north of New Leipzig where they farmed and worked together during haying and harvesting, along with the help of their daughters, until their retirement in 1972. They continued to reside on the farm, enjoying life which they loved, Emil working on old machinery to restore and Pauline with her gardening and other hobbies. They especially enjoyed the time they could spend with their grandchildren and great grandchildren that were very special to Pauline. She also enjoyed the many times that friends and neighbors got together to celebrate each other’s birthday.

Pauline was a long time active member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church at New Leipzig. She served on church committees, was a member of the Ladies Aid, Women of the Church, taught Sunday School and DVBS. Pauline enjoyed the projects of the church organizations, a wonderful way to reach out to others.

Pauline had a love for her flower garden that she had each year and also kept on with gardening that she continued through the years. She loved to bake the families favorite, kuchen and cinnamon rolls as well, as many other favorite family dishes. In their retirement years, Emil and Pauline had taken a number of trips throughout the United States and elsewhere, which included two trips each to Hawaii, Canada, and Germany. Pauline took time out to make quilts, homemade soap, and do word search when time allowed. After she got macular degeneration, she discontinued all fun things she so enjoyed. Pauline stayed on the farm after Emil’s passing, until life changed for her. Due to health issues, Pauline spent from August 2014 to November 2019 at Dakota Hill Housing. After this time, Pauline moved in with her daughter, Shirley on the Heim farm. Pauline resided there until health issues brought her to the JMHCC on May 14, 2022. Pauline was alert until her dying day on May 18, 2022.

While Pauline lived with Shirley, Shirley read to her frequently, and shared many a book, Heritage Review Publications and other reading resources that were of interest to Pauline, including devotions of various kinds and stories of the early years. It was a time when she asked, “Isn’t it time to read?” All work laid aside and reading was carried on for lengthy times each day. Pauline so appreciated the many, many times that she received cards and letters to enjoy! Due to the pandemic, visitors were few. But those times where visitors came, she enjoyed the time with them and they with her, being she could communicate quite well up to her final days. Truly a blessing to everyone! Pauline enjoyed life as much as she could and treasured those precious moments with her family when they took place.

Surviving family members are daughter, Shirley Greubele, New Leipzig, ND; son-in-law, John Jacobsen and three grandchildren, Karen and Lynda, Bismarck, ND: and Brian (Tracy) Fargo, ND; five great grandchildren, Brandon Lee, Jordan (Alexis) Lee, Brittany (Evan) Briese, Arin (Maddy) Schatz, and Jackie (Nick) Giobres, great great grandchildren, Tytus Lee, Posey Lee, Kailee, Aiden, Sophee, and Blaise Briese, Aloy and Emmett Schatz, and George, Alex, and Sophia Giobres, and Haley Knaus. She also has several surviving nieces and nephews.

Pauline was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Emil, daughter, Jean, son-in-law, Edmund Gruebele, and great granddaughter Kirsten Knaus. Pauline’s siblings were Dan, Fred, Ted, Arthur, Emma Strohchein, Martha Stern, Hilda McMorran, and several nieces and nephews.