Mass of Christian Burial for Caroline Ehleringer, 88, of Hettinger, ND will be Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Hettinger. Fr. Joseph Chipson will officiate and burial will follow at the Hettinger Cemetery. Visitations will be from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 7 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger and one hour prior to the services at the church on Saturday morning. A Rosary/Vigil will be on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. at the Catholic Church in Hettinger.

Caroline Wieland was born to John and Anna (Koeller) Wieland on February 7, 1922 on the family farm south of Regent, ND. She grew up in a family of two brothers and 4 sisters. She attended a country school through the eighth grade and two years of high school at Regent. As an adult she continued her schooling earning her high school GED. In her early years she worked for the Arneson and Nelson families as well as a grocery store in Regent.


In 1939 she married William Ehleringer. Three children were born to this union; Connie, Leland and Leon. The family lived outside of Regent until 1950 when they moved to Hettinger.


Caroline was an accomplished barrel racer, winning most races she entered. She also was named Rodeo Queen at several events. In Hettinger, she worked for several businesses including Dale Quickstad Variety, J.C. Penny Co. and Midway Bar. In 1958, she was hired as a part-time postal clerk eventually working her way up to a full time position. Following the death of Charles Bartling, she was appointed Post Master in 1974. After 24 years of postal service she retired in 1982.


Caroline enjoyed traveling, especially to visit her children and grandchildren. She continued to travel alone to CA even after glaucoma took her eyesight. She never complained or questioned why she lost her sight but continued to remain active and positive. She commented that one thing about being blind was that no one aged, but remained as she remembered them when she had her sight. She thoroughly enjoyed visiting with family and friends. She looked forward to joining the ladies every Thursday, fixing hair at the nursing home; being content to hand the curlers to her good friend Henrietta LeFebre and chatting with the residents. Caroline was a faithful member of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church and member of the Altar Society.


Caroline passed away on Monday evening, May 3, 2010 at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger. For the past six months she has been in the nursing home in Lemmon and Hettinger.


Caroline is survived by her daughter; Connie Laxague, Wilton, CA; Sons; Leland, Hettinger, ND and Leon, Standish, CA; grandsons; Bryan Kingston (Helen), Kyle Kingston (Elizabeth), Wm. Ehleringer (Natalie); granddaughters; Korlyn Nissen (Erik), Michelle Brooks (Jack), Sara Cain(Doug), Jody Colling; 17 great grandchildren; two sisters; Leota Lien, Hettinger, ND; Donalda Oberlander, New England, ND; and two sisters-in law; Leah Wieland, Hettinger, ND; and Helen Welsh (Lyle), Rapid City, SD. Numerous nieces, nephews and friends also survive.


Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, William; three brothers; Ed and Ernest and Leonard in infancy; two sisters; Frances Thomson, and Dorothy Mae Strand, two sisters-in-law, Josephine Zeren and Mabel Dutton; 5 brothers-in-law; Ted Strand, Oscar Lien, Bennie Oberlander, Vetz Zeren and Marvin Dutton.