FREDA LABER

Freda Mathilda Anastasia Hammes Laber, 98, passed away on November 21, 2018 at Griggs County Care Center in Cooperstown, ND.  Freda was born December 30, 1919 to Emma and John Hammes in Sykeston, ND.  She moved with her family to Jamestown when she was five and attended school there until her father passed away in 1927.  She then moved back to Sykeston where she graduated from High School in 1938.  Freda attended business college in Jamestown, and began working in Ashley, ND as a secretary for the Farm Security Administration.  She loved her job and the adventures she had. 

In 1941, she married Mike Laber and moved back to Sykeston to start a new life.  She and Mike raised five children on a farm outside of town.  In addition to raising her family, she served as president, vice president, secretary and treasurer of the St.  Elizabeth Society and was very active in her church.  In 1969, she started working at the local bank, and continued until she retired at the age of 70.  Freda was an amazing card player, and spent many happy hours with her friends and family playing pinochle, whist and ramsel.  When Mike passed away in 1991, Freda moved to Cooperstown, ND to be closer to family. 

She loved helping with her great grandchildren and became an active member of St. George’s Catholic Church in Cooperstown.   She lived independently until the age of 92 when she sustained an injury that led to her residing at Griggs County Care Center.  She maintained a wonderful attitude throughout the trials of failing eyesight and hearing, and found strength in her faith through it all. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, Emma and John Hammes, her husband Mike, brothers Eddie (Betty) Hammes, Johnny (Alvina) Hammes, sisters Catherine (Magnus) Sondag and Margaret (Clifford) Hagel and a great grandchild, Jordan Fiebiger. 

She is survived by her children Ruth (Lawrence) Fiebiger, Mary (Lee) Watson, Michael (Linda) Laber, David (Suzy) Laber, Susan (Tim) Swanson, grandchildren: Debra (Myron) Eslinger, Brian (Sherri) Fiebiger, Greg (Sharon) Fiebiger, Robert (Allison) Fiebiger, Corinne (Bill) Engelman, Michelle (Matt) Solensky, Cheri (Randy) Prince, Kayla Swanson, great grandchildren Michael (Kristi) Eslinger, Phillip (Tiffany) Eslinger, Ashley Fiebiger, Brook Fiebiger, Karissa Fiebiger, Kylee Fiebiger, Megan (Ross) Bendewald, Graham Fiebiger, Acadia and Dillon Engelman, Teddy and Ryan Solensky, Kailey Prince, Rylan Dahl and six great-great grandchildren, Audrey, Easton, Beckett, Lauren and Harper Eslinger and Rhett Bendewald.  She was a blessing to us all and will be missed.

Visitation will be 5-7 PM on Friday, November 30, 2018 at St. George Catholic Church with a Liturgical Wake Service at 7 pm.  Visitation continues for one hour prior to Mass at the church on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 10:30 am.  Interment will be Saturday December 1, 2018 at 2:00 am, in St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Sykeston, ND.