Wilma Flakoll

Wilma Jean Flakoll, 89, of Forbes, ND, passed away Sunday, July 16, 2023, at the home of her son, embraced with the love of her family and friends and the assurance of her new heavenly existence.

A Funeral Service for Wilma will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Forbes, ND. Interment will follow at the Aurdal Cemetery in rural Forbes, ND.

Visitation will take place in Aberdeen, SD, at Carlsen Funeral Home (1708 8th Ave NE, Aberdeen) on Monday, July 24, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. with a 6:00 p.m. prayer service. There will also be visitation one hour before the funeral at the church on Tuesday.

Carlsen Funeral Home and Crematory, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.  Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.aberdeenfuneralhome.com.

Wilma Jean (Wolff) Flakoll was born at the home of her parents George A. and Lydia (Balliet) Wolff in Forbes, ND on March 2, 1934. Wilma was baptized, confirmed, and a lifelong member at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Forbes, ND. She graduated from Forbes High School.

Wilma married her high school sweetheart Alden J. Flakoll on June 27, 1954, and they recently celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary and they adored each other.

Three children were born to that marriage and given unconditional love and support beyond measure; Paul, Tim, and Joan. They made their home on their farm/ranch in McPherson County, SD near Forbes, ND.

God gifted Wilma with many attributes, but first and foremost as a loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and genuine friend to countless people.

She was a woman of grace and dignity who was beautiful inside and out. She had a magnetism that drew people to her and she enjoyed making new friends or spending time with long-time friends. Wilma was genuine, loyal, quick-witted, competitive, funny, and a loving Christian.

Wilma loved spending time with family and friends, singing, reading and hearing God’s word, sports, board games, playing card games, was a fantastic whist partner, and she was the official family speller and grammarian. She loved animals, the beauty of the prairies, grain crops, and the land. Politeness, kindness, humor, and finding the best in everyone and every situation mattered to her. Her family was fortunate in that they knew for decades what a great treasure she was and they wrapped her in love.

Living a Christ-centered life was important to her. Wilma was the church secretary for Bethlehem Lutheran for 40 years, worked in the People’s Store in Forbes, worked at Bell Telephone in Fargo, and helped on the family farm. She was editor of both the Forbes Diamond Jubilee and Forbes Centennial history books. She was active in many organizations including the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML).

Wilma was preceded in heaven by her parents George and Lydia Wolff; son Paul; and all of her siblings Herbert and Elmer Wolff, Lenora Chappelear, Florence Skutevik, Edna Nadeau, and siblings Eldora and James Leroy who died in infancy. She was also preceded by her father-in-law Tony Flakoll, mother-in-law Minnie Flakoll and sister-in-law Linda Flakoll.

Wilma is survived by her husband and life partner, Alden; son Tim of Fargo, ND, and daughter Joan (Carl) Eliason of Grand Island, NE; daughter-in-law Candace Flakoll of Ames, IA; grandchildren Michael (Audrey), Andrew, Isaac (Sarah) and Lydia (Matt Berry); great-grandchildren: Brayden, Elaina, Connor, Carley, Kaitlyn, and Grady; sister-in-law Renee (wife of Elmer) Wolff; brother-in-law and sister-in-law David and Marsha Flakoll, brother-in-law Tom Flakoll; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

She held our hands briefly but will hold our hearts for eternity.

As she lived her Christ-centered life, she left lamps of love in the hearts of people, and happiness along the way. People will always be able to find the path to heaven by the lamps lit along the way.

Sympathy cards or letters can be sent to: The Family of Wilma Flakoll, 1350 2nd Street North, Fargo, ND 58102. Emails can be sent to Aflakoll@drtel.net.

In lieu of flowers, you may send donations to the Fargo Hospice House that is being built, Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Ministries, Homeward Animal Shelter of Fargo, or the organization of your choice.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Wilma Flakoll, please visit our floral store.