Stella M. Eisenbarth, age 75 of Elgin, passed away on Monday, March 2, 2009 at the Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin.


The Rosary Service for Stella will be held at 1:00 p.m. MT Friday, March 6, 2009, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 1:30 p.m. MT, all at St. John's Catholic Church in New Leipzig.


Fr. Charles Zins will officiate with burial in Zion Lutheran Cemetery at Elgin.

Serving as casketbearers are her grandsons, Brad Braun, Ryan, Gary, and Jesse Eisenbarth, Cody and Lonny Bauer, and Dakota Eisenbarth. All granddaughters and great grandchildren are considered honorary bearers.


STELLA MARIE BENDER was born December 12, 1933 southwest of St. Anthony, ND. Stella was the fifth of twelve children born to George and Emma (Stein) Bender. Stella grew up on the family farm and attended school in a little country school near her home and a Parochial School in St. Anthony, ND. Following her graduation, she worked at the Mandan Hospital for a year and also did domestic work and babysitting for several families.


Stella was united in marriage to Otto Eisenbarth on April 16, 1953 at Bismarck, ND. Together they worked the field's custom combining, starting first in northern Oklahoma and working their way north into southern Canada. They moved to Washington in 1959 where Otto worked construction and Stella was a fulltime stay at home mom. Following the death of Otto's father, The Eisenbarth's moved their family back to North Dakota where they constructed a home on some land and began farming and raising livestock. The Eisenbarth's farmed and ranched there until semi-retiring in 1994 and moving into Elgin. Otto passed away on December 8, 1998. She continued to live in Elgin.


She loved to cook, bake and enjoyed going to rummage sales. Stella and Otto both enjoyed music, attending many dances and winning several dancing contests. She also enjoyed visiting, especially over a good cup of coffee. But most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.


Surviving family members include her three daughters, Annette (Dennis) Braun, Mandan, ND, Darla Bauer, Bismarck, ND, Glenda Eisenbarth, Bismarck, ND; daughter-in-law, Sharlene Eisenbarth, Elgin, ND; nine grandchildren, Brad, Ashley, Ryan, Gary, Jesse, Belinda, Cody, Lonny, and Dakota; four great grandchildren, Eli, Brody, Briana, and Jakob; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Clarence and Millie Bender, Billings, MT, Ken and Winetta Bender, Billings, MT, Gary and Margie Bender, New Ulm, MN; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Dolores Scott, Forsyth, MT, Evelyn Phelps, Bismarck, ND, Eugene Schantz, Glen Ullin, ND; and numerous nieces and nephews. Also surviving Stella on Otto's side of the family are a brother-in-law, Henry (Evelyn) Eisenbarth, Elgin, ND; two sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Eisenbarth, New Leipzig, ND, and Irma Birdsall, Bismarck, ND.


She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Otto on December 8, 1998; a twin daughter Belinda at birth, a son Myrol Eisenbarth on April 11, 2008; one great grandson Peyton Eisenbarth; four brothers, Leonard, Leo, Urban, and Vernon Bender, two sisters, Irene Schantz and Phyllis Birkes.


Visitation will be Thursday 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. MT; Friday 9:00 to11:00 a.m. MT at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Elgin and one hour prior to services at St. John's Catholic Church in New Leipzig.


In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established.