Julia Tiedman

Minot

Julia Ann (Zauss) Tiedman, 81, Minot, died February 25, 2024, at the Trinity Nursing Home in Minot. A Funeral Mass will be held at St Leo’s Catholic Church, Minot on Friday, March 8, at 10 a.m. Burial will be later that afternoon at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan at 3 p.m.

Julia was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on December 13, 1942, to Joseph and Eileen (Walsh) Zauss. She attended school in Indianapolis and graduated from Scecina Memorial High School in 1960. She then attended Marian College, graduating in 1964. After college, Julia taught home economics at Bishop Chartrand High School in Indianapolis. Later, she took a position in the finance department at Fort Benjamin Harrison.

While working at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Julia met her future husband Dennis Tiedman, who was stationed at the base as a cryptographer for the U.S. Army. On June 18, 1966, Julia and Dennis married in Indianapolis. They made their home in Bismarck, North Dakota, raising two sons, Douglas Michael and Stephen Paul. Julia worked for FEMA, and later worked for a local insurance agency that allowed her the opportunity to travel to Australia for an insurance conference.

Julia was a master seamstress, making clothing for herself and her children, and performed alteration work for customers by word of mouth. She was affectionately known to some as “The Doll Lady,” because she spent countless hours making soft sculptured hand sewn dolls that were sold at street fairs, as well as custom orders for local cheerleaders, athletes, and anyone wanting a doll in the likeness of their child or grandchild. Julia also used her talents to create hand woven artwork incorporating yarn and driftwood found on the banks of the Missouri River and Lake Sakakawea. Later in life, Julia knitted Afghan blankets that were given to newborn babies at church and sewed custom Halloween costumes for each of her granddaughters.

Julia was a breast cancer survivor and attended Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure events in Indianapolis in remembrance of her sisters who unfortunately succumbed to the disease. Julia also survived an accident involving an incorrectly parked vehicle that rolled down a hill, striking her from behind while she was walking near her home in Bismarck. Julia spent months in the hospital recovering from brain injuries resulting from this accident.

Julia was a member of Corpus Christi Church in Bismarck. She was an enthusiastic collector of antique glassware, visiting antique stores in every town she visited. Julia tolerated camping with her family and especially loved trips to the Colorado Rockies, as well as local treks to Lake Sakakawea State Park.

Julia is survived by her sons, Douglas (Kim), Minot, and Stephen (Lynnae), Fargo; her grandchildren, Madison, Hannah, Elle, Emily, Katelyn and Olivia; her sister, Mary Lynn (Zauss) Callahan (Brian) of Indianapolis, IN, brother Charles Joseph Zauss (Teresa) of Plainfield, IN, four nieces and four nephews, and numerous great nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by both her parents, her husband Dennis Trevor Tiedman, and three sisters, Paula Marie (Zauss) Kendrick, Joan Cecile (Zauss) Fuller, and Anne Teresa (Zauss) Brown.

Arrangements are with Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, 21 3rd Ave. Southwest, Minot, ND 58701. The service will be livestreamed and accessed by going to her webpage atwww.thompsonlarson.com

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Published by The Minot Daily News, March 2, 2024.