Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 271467
Title: Irene M. Webster
Date: 2/8/1946-2/1/2025
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 2/8/1946
Summary: With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Irene Marie Webster (Kjerstad), a devoted wife, loving mother, cherished grandmother, sister, cousin, aunt and dear friend. Irene passed away peacefully on February 1, 2025, at the age of 78, leaving behind a legacy of love, kindness, and unwavering devotion to her family and friends. A funeral service was held February 5, 2025, at First Lutheran Church in Tioga, ND. Burial was at the United Cemetery in Tioga. Born on February 8, 1946, in Williston, North Dakota, Irene grew up surrounded by the beauty of farm life alongside her sisters on the OK Ranch in Dry Fork Township south of Tioga. She learned early on the values of hard work, resilience, and appreciation for the simple joys of nature—including the long walks to country school that she often reminisced about. Her love for the outdoors remained with her throughout her life; she had a natural green thumb, tending to her garden with care, and was an expert fisherwoman, always eager to catch the first fish. Irene was the heart and soul of her family, a true matriarch who found her greatest happiness when her loved ones were gathered together—especially during Fourth of July celebrations at Parshall Bay. She created a home where everyone felt welcome, embracing her children’s spouses as her own and making sure all who entered felt like family. She had a rare gift of loving people just as they were, celebrating their individuality with warmth and acceptance. Irene shared a beautiful and devoted marriage with her husband, Bill Webster, for 46 years. Bill adored Irene, treating her like a queen and making her the center of his world. Together, they built a life rich with love, living in Minot, Fargo, and ultimately Bismarck, where they formed many lifelong friendships. Beyond her family, Irene lived a life of purpose and passion. She dedicated many years to managing thrift stores across North Dakota in support of the Dakota Boys Ranch, a youth home for children in need. Her leadership and dedication helped expand the organization, opening multiple stores and forging lifelong friendships along the way. Irene had an infectious energy that could light up any room. Her warmth, humor, and generous spirit made her an exceptional hostess, always ensuring that any gathering—big or small—was filled with laughter and joy. No birthday passed without the tradition of her famous chocolate cake, a beloved family favorite to this day. She is survived by her loving husband, Bill Webster; sister, Alice Gill (Ron); her children, Scott (Karen), Brad, Bill Jr., Laurie (Rich), Sari (Mike); along with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Olaf and Inga (Kvam) Kjerstad; and sister, Louise Torgerson (Bruce). She leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, and unwavering devotion to her family and friends.
Red ID: FND_I_78956 Image ID: 521606 Image Notes: FND001 271467

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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