Billie German

Minot

Billie German, 99, Minot, ND, died Tuesday, December 24, 2024, at Elison Assisted Living in Minot.

Billie Woods was born July 4, 1925, the daughter of Charles and Emma (Gilchrist) Woods, in Eckman, North Dakota. She was one of seven children. She grew up during the Dust Bowl years under challenging circumstances, and when her mother passed away, she was raised by her older sister, Elvie. Billie attended rural schools in the Glenburn area and graduated from Glenburn High School in 1942 and Minnesota School of Business in 1943. She began working at Northern Pump Ordnance Munitions Factory in Fridley, Minnesota, during WWII, assembling gun mounts for naval destroyers. When the foreman learned that she could write shorthand, she became the company secretary and bookkeeper and used one of the first IBM Electromatic typewriters.

After the war, Billie married her high school sweetheart, Clarence German, on February 15, 1946, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They lived in Perham, Minnesota and Garrison, ND. They moved to Minot in 1955 and raised their daughters, Kathleen, Carolyn and Connie.

Billie began a career as a secretary in 1966, working for Rued Insurance, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and Longfellow Elementary School. She was the secretary for the assistant superintendent of Minot Public Schools for 25 years.

In 1976, Billie and Clarence moved to a 40-acre hobby farm. She was gifted an expectant ewe, which led to her eventually raising an average of 150 Suffolk sheep every year for over 30 years. She developed several devices related to sheep and lamb care and had articles published in national ranching magazines. She sold patterns of her inventions to ranchers in Australia, Europe and South America.

Always a hard worker, Billie helped Clarence with annual haying. She drove the tractor and cut and stacked hay bales. Together they built their own homes, garages, shops and barns. She studied electrical wiring and then wired all of the buildings, which passed inspection.

One of Billie’s greatest enjoyments was being outdoors on her farm. She planted over two thousand trees over the years and was honored with the award of Citizen Forester of the Year at a ceremony at the Fargodome in 1996.

Billie was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church for almost 70 years. She was active in Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and many other groups and committees. She taught Sunday School for over 30 years and directed Vacation Bible School. She supported her children’s activities as well and was a Room Mother, served as PTA secretary and led 4-H and Brownies groups.

Billie was an avid reader, finishing 3-4 books a week after she retired. She especially liked military history books and biographies. She enjoyed lively discussions on a myriad of topics and had a quick sense of humor. She was also an expert seamstress and sewed most of her family’s clothes, ballet costumes and wedding gowns. She embraced new technology and at the age of 90, began using an iPad to keep in touch with her Facebook friends and to Skype with her grandchildren. Billie was interested in genealogy and with the help of her sisters was able to trace her maternal (Morton) line to American pilgrims of 1623.

Billie was concerned about animal welfare and cared for many stray cats and dogs abandoned on her farm. She adopted senior dogs from the shelter in order to give them a good last home. Billie passed on her love of animals to her daughters and grandchildren who are all involved in animal rescue projects.

Billie’s husband, Clarence, passed away in 2004, but with the help of her son-in-law, Gary, and family friend, Dave Bucknall, she was able to live on her farm until she was 98. Billie’s family would like to thank the outstanding staff at Souris Valley Care Center of Velva, Elison Assisted Living, Caring Edge Hospice and Pastor Beyersdorf.

She is survived by her daughters, Kathleen (Jerry Fairchild) German, Eaton, Ohio, Carolyn (Steve) Blechschmidt, Pagosa Springs, Colorado, Connie (Gary) Bjornson, Minot; grandchildren, Mark Bjornson, Mia (Charles) Jurgel, Nathan (Jamie) Black, Jessica (Jason Bellegarde) Blechschmidt; and her faithful dog, Eddie.

Billie was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 58 years, Clarence; sisters, Elvie Peterson and Betty Young; brothers, Charles Woods and Mark Woods; infant twins, Audrey and Adrian Woods.

Memorial Service: A memorial service is planned for Billie’s 100th birthday in the summer of 2025.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, she wished donations in her memory be given to TMAR, PO Box 896, Rolla ND 58367. Billie especially valued the work of the Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue in Rolla, which she visited a few years ago.

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).

Published by The Minot Daily News, December 28, 2024.