Funeral services for Emma Sprenger, age 93 of Bismarck, formerly of Elgin, will be held at 11:00 AM CST, Saturday, January 26, at the Baptist Home Chapel in Bismarck. Chaplain Clyde Leimberer will officiate with burial at 3:30pm MST in Hope Congregational Cemetery at Elgin.


Special music will be provided by Eleanor Kitzan, organist. Rodney Frey will sing, "What A Day That Will Be" and "The God On The Mountain". The congregation will sing, "What A Friend We Have In Jesus", and "Blessed Assurance".


Serving as casketbearers are Janette Sprenger, Todd Sprenger, Shannon Kolb, Kevin Heinle, Kent Heinle, Kem Heinle, Kristi Senger, and Chuck Brockman Jr. All Baptist Home Caregivers on Three North are considered Honorary Bearers.


EMMA OTTO was born January 12, 1915 to John and Anna (Schmidt) Otto in Stutsman County near the Cleveland/Gackle, ND area. She received her formal education up to the eighth grade in the rural area. She was united in marriage to Arthur W. Sprenger on December 29, 1935 in Medina, ND. Emma and Arthur farmed the Sprenger family homestead located seven miles north of Elgin. They moved into Elgin in 1972.


At the time of her death, she was a member of Hope Congregational Church in Elgin. The church was an important part of Emma's life. She was the first president of the Progressive Circle of the Ladies Aide of Ebenezer Old Leipzig Congregational Church. She also taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for many years. Emma's other interests included gardening, flowers, canning, and reading. She was impressed with nature scenes, especially the picturesque beauty of "frost on the trees." She enjoyed listening to her children and grandchildren singing gospel songs around the piano and for special occasions. Her children and grandchildren remember her best for her homemade buns, kuchen, and other German foods.


Emma passed from this life late Tuesday evening, January 22, at the Baptist Home at the age of 93 years, 10 days.


Surviving family members include her two sons, James (Maridel) Sprenger, Spearfish, SD; Robert (Margo) Sprenger, Colorado Springs, CO; two daughters, Mary Jean (Wellde) Heinle, Bismarck, ND; Elizabeth (Leon) Schacher, Colorado Springs, CO; eight grandchildren, Janette Sprenger, Spearfish, SD; Todd (Kriss) Sprenger, Burnsville, MN; Shannon (Mark) Kolb, Maple Grove, MN; Kevin Heinle, Hutchinson, MN; Kent (Deb) Heinle, Mandan, ND; Kem (Shelly) Heinle, Rogers, AR; Kristi (Chris) Senger, Dickinson, ND; Chuck (Kim) Brockman, Colorado Springs, CO; fifteen great grandchildren; as well as step grandchildren; step great grandchildren; step great great grandchildren; three sisters, Bernice Miller and Polly (Arnold) Wahl, both of Jamestown, ND; Tillie Seher, Vancouver, WA; one sister-in-law, Rina Otto, Spokane, WA; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.


Emma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Arthur on December 30, 1998; two daughters-in-law, Marion (Wallendar) Sprenger, and Beatrice (Johnson) Sprenger, four brothers, Henry, Ray, Ted, and Edwin Otto; four sisters, Esther Gross, Christine Lorenz, Edna Ingraham, and Alvina Walker.


A memorial has been established to the Baptist Home Chapel Fund.