Funeral services for Muriel L. Sept, age 101, longtime Leith/Carson ND resident, will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 14, at the Bethel Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Carson. Pastor Vern Picknally will officiate with burial in the Leith Cemetery.


Special music will be provided by Duane and Franklin Emch, Muriel's brothers.


Serving as casketbearers are Duane and Franklin Emch, Howard Johnson, Larry Kamrath, Clayton Zacher, and Stephen Sturlaugson.


MURIEL L. EMCH was born February 15, 1905 to Frank and Lucy (Fahnestock) Emch in Carrol, NE. As a small child, she moved with her family to North Dakota in 1907. She grew up on their farm 3 ½ miles southwest of Leith. Muriel attended a rural and a consolidated school there.


Following her mother's death in 1918, she helped her father care for her siblings. On November 5, 1925, Muriel was united in marriage to Fred Sept at Carson, ND. For 40 years, they were in the retail grocery business at Brisbane and Leith. Her husband Fred died April 29, 1983, after 50 years of marriage. Muriel continued to live in their home at Leith. She then moved into the Carson Manor and at age 100 moved into Dakota Hills in Elgin.


Muriel was a past member of the Royal Neighbors of America and Leith Civic Club, and a lifelong member of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. For many years she served her community and church with her musical talents and played alto sax in the Leith Concert Band. She was a member of the church choir, a church mixed quartet and served actively in church women's groups. She will be remembered for playing the piano for recreation at Dakota Hills and Jacobson Memorial Care Center. In her later years she spent many hours sewing patchwork quilts and crocheting clothing hangers many of which became gifts to family and friends.


Muriel passed away early Monday morning, September 11, at the Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin at the age of 101 years, 6 months, 26 days.


Surviving family members include her 3 half-brothers, Frank Emch, Belfield, ND; Duane Emch, Sherwood Park, Alberta Canada; Don Emch, Hill City, SD; 2 step-sisters, Dorothy Dunning, Davis, CA; Faith Beasley, Galt, CA; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.


She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Fred, 4 sisters, Forest Flemming, Eunice Cain, Wilma Reicker, Opal Holtan, 2 brothers, Rollie and Perry Emch, a half brother, James Emch, a half sister, Mary Ann Emch; 3 step brothers, Robert, Harold, and Carl Wachsman.