Funeral Services for Eunice J. (Ensminger) Bond, 77, Almont and a resident of Dakota Hills in Elgin the past two years, will be at 11 AM (CST), Saturday, February 10th at the Almont Lutheran Church. Pastor Van Vechten Crane will officiate and interment will be in the Almont Cemetery.


Special music will be provided by Colleen Reinhardt and Elizabeth Bond.


Serving as casketbearers are Andrew Bond, Peter Bond, John Lauzon, Andrew Thompson, Dale Peterson, and Curt Feland. All friends and family are considered honorary bearers.


EUNICE JUNE ENSMINGER was born on June 6th, 1929 in Elgin, ND. She grew up in Elgin where she attended school and was a cheerleader. When Eunice was in high school, her parents, Oscar and Tillie (Hauck) Ensminger bought the Elgin Hotel where she and her siblings helped out. Eunice had three sisters, Muriel, Beverly, and Nyla, and four brothers, Habert, Howard, Dennis, and Lester "Red."


Following her graduation from high school, Eunice worked as a teacher in country schools around Elgin. In 1954, a great year for Eunice, she was Miss Elgin and also married William Richard Bond on September 7th. Richard and Eunice settled in Almont, ND where they raised their six children, Kirk, Cheryl, Phyllis, Tom, Lynn, and Lee. Richard raised cattle and farmed until his death on December 25th, 2000.


For twelve years, Eunice was Sunday School Superintendent at Almont Lutheran Church. She was responsible for the Vacation Bible School, Christman Program and coordination of Sunday school activities. Eunice also spent many years typing the bulletin for Sunday services each week. She was active in Ladies Aid and Homemakers at Almont. She enjoyed making ceramics with a group of ladies and also enjoyed being her children's biggest cheerleader during their basketball games. Eunice was quite well known for her wonderful cooking and baking. Her baking specialties were Tea Rings, Cinnamon Rolls, Cranberry Pudding, and Sour Cream Raisin Pie.


When Eunice's youngest children were in high school, she was hired as Secretary/Bookkeeper at Almont Public School, where she worked for seventeen years, retiring in 1997. Eunice has enjoyed many years with her ten grandchildren, Andy, Peter and Alison Bond, Elizabeth and Anthony Bond, Alexis and Josi Tappe, Nicole Khansary, and Alycia and Tatyanna Bond. Her grandchildren spent many summer days and holidays at Richard and Eunices's farm outside of Almont and have wonderful loving memories of their grandparents and the fun they had on the farm.


Eunices favorite color was Lavender, her favorite food was French Fried Shrimp, her favorite treats were Sour Cream Raisin Pie and Tootsie Roll Pops. She enjoyed playing bingo and especially enjoyed "Wheel of Fortune" for many years. Her children are sure she would have been a big winner on the show because she could always solve the puzzle before the contestants. Eunice enjoyed her sunset years at Dakota Hills in Elgin the past two years, her hometown where she was born and raised. She was very thankful for the wonderful staff at Dakota Hills who took such good care of her.


Eunice passed from this life on Friday evening, February 2, 2007 at the Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin at the age of 77 years, 7 months, 25 days.


Keeping her in their fondest memories are her 3 daughters and sons-in-law, Cheryl and Andy Thompson, Bloomington, MN; Phyllis and Mark Khansary, San Antonio, TX; Lynn Tappe, Frazee, MN; 3 sons and daughters-in-law, Kirk and Debbie Bond, Quincy, IL; Tom and Darcy Bond, West Concord, MN; Lee and Martha Bond, Summersville, PA; 10 grandchildren; 1 sister and brother-in-law, Nyla and Jack Thatcher, Clovis, CA; 2 brothers and sisters-in-law, Lester "Red" and Marlene Ensminger, Elgin, ND; Dennis and Marcia Ensminger, Meridian, ID; Irene Ensminger, Torrance, CA; Evelyn Ensminger, Napa, CA; and numerous nieces and nephews.


She was preceded in death by her parents, 2 brothers, Habert and Howard; 2 sisters, Muriel Ketterling and Beverly Lukens.


A memorial has been established.