Baretta Lindell

Baretta Lindell, age 80 of Escanaba, MI and formerly Park River, ND passed away on Sunday, April 6, 2025 at St. Francis Hospital of Escanaba, MI.

Baretta Elaine Lindell “Boo” was born on November 2, 1944 in Great Falls, Montana to Harley and Thelma (Blom) Larson. She was one of nine children!

She grew up in the Lignite area and resided there until she married Ellsworth Enget in 1961; they then moved to Powers Lake, ND, where they lived and worked on the family farm.  To this union four children were born: Steve, Debbie, Tracey, and Wanda. They later divorced and she married George Lindell on December 16, 1981.  George and Baretta lived in Wheelock most of their married life, up until they moved to Park River around 2014.  After George passed away in January of 2024, she lived on her own for a few months.  As her dementia got worse, she went to live on the farm with her daughter Debbie and later she moved in with her granddaughter, Desiree Shaffer and family in Escanaba, MI.

Boo loved to care for others, so she became a CNA, working with the elderly and those with special needs.  She worked as a caregiver for many years in the nursing homes around the area, including Bethel Home, Good Samaritan, Opportunity Foundation, and the Grafton State School.

If Baretta wasn’t at work, you could usually find her at the kitchen table doing a crossword or working on a puzzle.  More than likely some good ole country music would be playing on the record player or the radio.  She loved her some George Jones. It would never fail to put a smile on her face and before you knew it her foot would be tapping to the beat.  During her younger days, you would often see her with a pen and notebook, in hand, writing down the lyrics to the songs she loved most.

She loved her kids and grandkids a lot.  She became known as “Boo”, when she would hide around the corners and jump out and yell “BOO” when Don was just a toddler.  You would often see her around with her kids or grandkids in tow, as she loved spending time with her family.  They were the highlight of her life.

Boo also loved traveling, especially to warm places.  Her favorite was Tombstone, AZ.  She also loved her puppy Rascal.  He was the joy of her life and her baby – He went everywhere with her.  Her faithful lap dog and companion!

Her memory will forever live on through the smallest of details like Cheetos, a Diet Mountain Dew, Hard Candy, a Drumstick Ice Cream Cone and POPTOPS!

She is survived by daughter Debbie (Dave) Lindell of Edinburg, ND; their children: Donovan (Natalie) Lindell, Dominick Lindell, Desiree (Douglas) Shaffer and Danita (Joe) Webb.  Her son Tracey Enget of Williston, ND; his children: Kirsten (Ashley) Johnson, Kendra, Larissa, and Lizzy Enget.  Her daughter Wanda (Nathan) Thome, Williston, ND; their children: Drake, Tyler, and Natalie Thome, and Sophia (Ben) Verespe. Her grandchildren: Waylon and Riley Enget, 20 great grandchildren and daughter-in-law Linda Enget, and sister-in-laws: Margie, Ardis, and Betty Larson.

She was proceeded in death by her parents Harley Larson, Blanchard (Thelma) Lien; husbands: Ellsworth Enget and George Lindell; brothers: Darvin, Paul, Elton, Douglas, Larry, Leonard, and Jerry Larson; sister: Doris Smith; sister-in-law Janet Larson; brother-in-law Gordon Smith, son Steven Enget and granddaughter Lydia Rose Enget.

Funeral Services will be Tuesday, April 14, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at the Apostolic Faith Church of Grafton, ND.  Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church.  Interment will be at St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery of rural Park River, ND, in the spring.