Eleanor Wetsch

Eleanor Wetsch, 88, Bismarck, formerly of Mandan, passed away January 31, 2023, at CHI St. Alexius in Bismarck.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 AM on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Bismarck, with Fr. Logan Obrigewitch officiating. Burial will be at 1 PM at Mandan Union Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4-7 PM on Monday, February 6, 2023, at Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, Mandan, with a Rosary and Vigil service at 7 PM.

Eleanor was born June 10, 1934, in Rosebud, ND to Peter and Mathilda (Kautzman) Hopfauf. She attended country school before the family moved to Mandan while she was in grade school. Eleanor worked as a waitress and at the drive-in movie theatre in her younger years.

She met Leo Wetsch in St. Anthony while he was shooting pool. On June 8, 1953, the two were married in Mandan. Together they raised their family of nine children. In their later years they bought, restored, and flipped many homes in the area.

Eleanor enjoyed cooking and entertaining for as many people as she could. There were times they had 20-30 friends and family over for meals and then the ensuing pinochle games! She also loved taking flights to Minneapolis by herself, getting to the Mall of America and spending the entire day shopping before getting together with her family. Most of all, her love for family was unmatched. Her greatest joy was raising her nine children and spending time with her grandchildren.

Eleanor is survived by her children, Cindy (David) Hilling, Gary Wetsch (Roxanne Jacobson), Sandy Sutton (Jose Chapa), Sherry Wetsch, Ronald Wetsch, Robert Wetsch, Richard Wetsch (Robin Oxley), Chrissy Berger (Doug Kocher), and Rodney Wetsch; 15 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and her sister, Marlene (David) Sautner.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leo, in 2022; and nine siblings.