Gertrude A. Cicha

Gertrude A."Trudy" Cicha, age 82 of Park River, ND passed away on Saturday, January 8, 2011 at her home in Park River with her family at her side. Gertrude Angeline "Trudy" Cicha was born at Lankin, ND on March 11, 1928 to Mary Rose (MacDonald) and Albert Herda. She was educated in Lankin and married Jerome Cicha on October 30, 1946 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Lankin. The couple moved to Park River in 1947. Trudy was a long time member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and Altar Society, the American Legion Auxiliary and the First Care Health Center Auxiliary. She was also a member of the Valley Czech Singers and Park River Community Choir. She was an incredibly loving and supportive wife and mother and very active community member. She had a strong and trusting faith and attended daily Mass as much as she was able. After Mass she loved to have coffee and laugh with her "Morning Glories" friends. She also loved birds, babies, jumble puzzles, rummage sales, music - especially her favorite polka CDs and Christmas Carols- -and sending and receiving mail. Her family (and fortunate others) all will remember her pot roast, roast pork and dumplings,homemade noodles, poppy seed rolls, divinity, chokecherry jelly and apple cake. She was preceded in death by her husband Jerry, of 59 years, baby daughter Mary Rose, her parents, and brothers: Matthew, Edward, Albert and Peter. She is survived by her children: David (Beth), Overland Park, KS; Vicky (Tom) Larson, Minneapolis, MN; Terri (Glenn) Flaten, Cedar Rapids, IA; Bernadette (Phil) Efron, Annandale, MN; Jerry (Cheryl), Fargo, ND; Julie (Brian) Thompson, Park River, ND; Rosemary (Mark) Veum, Fort Collins, CO; Joe (Karen), Mandan, ND; Greg (Rochelle), Farley, MO; Helen (Tim) Wilberding, Apple Valley, MN; and Mike (Terri), Iowa City, IA; Grandchildren: Christine Cicha, Jared (Lisa) Mountain, Jessica (Steve) Sisson, Aimee (Joe) Fehrenbach, Denise Flaten, Ben Efron, Chris and Chelsea Cicha, Nick, Pat and Tim Thompson, JoAnna (Jeremy) Ness, Marissa, Eric and Josh Veum, John, David and Emily Cicha, Daniel and Andrew Cicha, Gina Durgin, Zachary and Victoria Cicha; six great grandchildren: Alex and Erin Mountain, Ethan and Ava Sisson, Noah and Allie Fehrenbach; Siblings: James (Joyce) Herda, Minot, ND; Frances Vasicek, Grand Forks, ND; Marian Anderson, Lake Havasu City, AZ, Betty Ulberg, Plymouth, MN; Rosalie (Don) Wissbrod, Renton, WA; Joan (Jack) Babinski, Careywood, ID; sisters-in-law: Maria Herda, Grand Forks, ND; Ella Herda, Mandan, ND; Angie Burger, Park River, ND; brothers-in-law: Sylvester (Chieko) Cicha, Seattle, WA; Emmanuel (Donna) Cicha, Grafton, ND. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive. Her gentle spirit and unconditional love will be greatly missed. She ended her 2010 Christmas letter with: "It's been a wonderful ride." Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 10:30 A.M. at St. Mary's Catholic Church of Park River, ND. Her grandchildren will be honorary bearers. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5-7 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Park River. Friends may also call at the church on Thursday for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Calvary Cemetery, Park River, ND.