Frances Delores Urban

Frances Delores Urban, 85, died peacefully June 2, 2025, in her home on Elmwood Avenue, Fargo, North Dakota, accompanied by her children and the prayers of many. The Catholic faith was central to Delores' life. It is with joyful hope that the Lord welcomes her, saying, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:21).

A Vigil Service, including the rosary, will be take place on Sunday, June 8th at 7:00 pm at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held June 9th, 2025, at 11:00 am at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in rural North Dakota. Rite of Committal will follow at St. Vincent Cemetery.

Delores was born on the family farm near Crown Butte, North Dakota on January 9th, 1940, to John and Florentine (Flora) (Brittner) Boehm. Delores shared memories of milking cows, herding turkeys, and bundling wheat sheaves during harvest with her brothers and sisters. She was no stranger to hard work. She treasured farm life, and from 1974 to 1986, raised her children, grew an unending supply of garden produce, and butchered meat on a farm outside of Richland, Montana - she was a self-sufficient homesteader! After returning to Mandan, North Dakota, hope and perseverance led Delores to purchase the Dakota Maid Bakery in 1993. She was quickly famous for caramel rolls and decorated cut out sugar cookies. Retiring to Fargo, North Dakota in 2012, she became part of first food demo crew at Costco, frying sausage and baking brownies. Her expertise in food service taught many. She thrived at Costco, bringing the love of God to all, and after her second retirement in 2021, continued to be a celebrity! 

If one were to ask Delores her biggest accomplishment, she would have replied, "my children". She didn't appreciate it was her strengths of steadfast perseverance, everlasting hope, and an authentic kindness she modeled and passed down to her children that contributed to their success. She gave her gardening passion and love of food prep to her daughters. Her son acquired the ability to make German strudel and rock babies - something that Grandma never grew tired of. It was the little ones that got her beautiful smile most often. She will be remembered for seeing those in need - whether this was through telephone conversations to the lonely, baking something to share with others, or putting together a Thanksgiving food basket for the hungry. She always put others before herself, and even after being told her medical needs were no longer treatable, told others, "I will pray for you". During Delores' life, she did encounter trials and suffering but remained faithful, loving the Lord without waiver. She'd say, "offer it up" or "well, you can't change it", humbly accepting her cross and encouraging others to do the same.

Delores is survived by three children of whom she thought the world of: daughter Karen Baatz, her husband, Perry, and their son Matthew Baatz of Fargo, North Dakota; son, Eric Urban, his wife, Sarah, and their children, Issac, Elizabeth, and Matthew Urban of Helena, Montana; and daughter Janice Ilecki, her husband, Adam, and their children Bennett and Annabelle Ilecki of Brown Deer, Wisconsin. She is also survived by six brothers and sisters and their spouses: Minnie Geiger, John Boehm, Jim (Joyce) Boehm, Carol (Bill) Hagerott, Mary (Ralph) Fried, Leona (Jim) Ressler and sisters-in-law Elaine Boehm, Beatrice Boehm, and Marlene Boehm. Coming from a larger family, innumerable nieces and nephews adore Aunt Delores, as well as several friends in the community who thought of her as mom or grandma. Her loving mercy to all will be missed.

Delores was preceded in death by her parents, John and Florentine (Flora) Boehm; her brothers Ron, Edward, Joseph, and LeRoy Boehm; her sister Nerina Geiger; brothers-in-law Eddy Geiger and Bill Geiger and sisters-in-law Charlotte Boehm, Patricia Boehm, and Kathy Boehm and her infant granddaughter, Abigail Ilecki.

A special thank you to Hospice of the Red River Valley for making it possible for Delores to be where she wanted to be in her final days. Delores found strength listening to the Eternal World Television Network (EWTN); memorials will be given to EWTN in her remembrance as well as Real Presence Radio.