Carol Erbstoesser

My sister, Carol Ann Erbstoesser, was born to John and Alice Groth Erbstoesser on December 26th, 1941, which was also her mother’s 28th birthday.  We lived in Enderlin a number of years, then moved to the Kathryn, ND area where our family farmed with Alice’s uncle. Several years later, we moved back to Enderlin where we went to school, Alice worked at George’s Diner, and John became a police officer.

When she was 4 years old, Carol contracted polio.  This disease left her unable to use the muscles in her legs. She spent a year at the Anne Carlson School in Jamestown, as that was the only place to receive therapy in those days. She learned to walk using braces and canes, and never let her condition impede her life. Although her life was permanently affected by polio, she was fiercely independent and made a successful life for herself despite the hardship.  This disease can be prevented- vaccinate your children. 

When her first niece was born, our Dad told her, “Now you’re a Tante!” (German and Norwegian for ‘aunt.’)  From that day on, she was affectionately known to many as “Tanta.”

Carol graduated from Enderlin High School in 1959 as valedictorian of her class. She attended college at NDSCS, graduating with a degree in secretarial studies. Her first job was at Blue Cross and Blue Shield when the offices were on 8th Street in Fargo.

Tired of using taxis, she decided to buy a car. So we went to the Anderson Chevy dealer in Enderlin and she picked out a car. When it came in, she had hand controls put in in order to drive. Now, she said, “You teach me to drive.”  So I put 4 kids in the car and we used the back roads of Enderlin and Sheldon for practice.   After about 2 months, she drove herself to Lisbon and proceeded to get a license.  She came home to Mother and Dad’s, packed her clothes and waved her license in the air.  The kids and I clapped and Mother cried.

At BCBS, she started as a stenographer, eventually working her way up to head of the Word Processing Department, completing over 30 years with that company.  After retiring from Blue Cross, she was bored in retirement and became the secretary for Lutheran Church of the Cross in West Fargo.  After a few years of that, she decided to retire again.  Still bored, she finished her working years as a customer service representative at US Bank. She enjoyed all those jobs and excelled at each one. 

You could never call her disabled.  She owned her own homes, both in West Fargo. My kids and I enjoyed visiting her often. Garage sale-ing was fun for us all and she always treated the kids to McDonalds. She loved my kids as her own, laughing at and scolding them at the same time.

She was a fan of reading (mystery novels), sewing and quilting (she bought much fabric but only made one quilt!), and PBS tv. For a time, she taught reading to adults who never learned how. She volunteered during elections at the polling centers.

She opened her home to my kids needing a place to live during college breaks, and was the best aunt to them. She never forgot a birthday, even when those nieces and nephews married, moved away and had their own kids. My daughters and I enjoyed many musicals in the Cities with her. We spent many fun weekends with our Groth cousins at Lake of the Woods. 

Carol suffered a stroke in 2019, and then became a resident at St. Catherine’s South (formerly Villa Maria). She received great care there and enjoyed getting to know the caregivers and staff and their families. 

Carol (Tanta) was humorous, stubborn and my best friend and hero.  She is survived by me, Connie (Ralph) Bartholomay, and nieces Angie (John) McCroskey and Chris Kotschevar, nephews Stephen (Denise) Bartholomay and Scott (Linda) Bartholomay, and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews.  

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Alice, and a nephew, Joel Kotschevar. 

Memorials may be directed to organizations she supported: The Anne Carlson School, Prairie Public TV, NDSCS, The Great Plains Food Bank, or Hope Blooms.  

   A private family graveside service will be held at the Enderlin City Cemetery, Enderlin, ND, at a later date.

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

westfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Carol Erbstoesser, please visit our floral store.