Emily (Kraft) Dufner

Emily (Kraft) Dufner was born in Rugby, ND, on September 10, 1928, to Peter and Magdalena (Dexheimer) Kraft. She passed away on January 24, 2021.

She was raised near Granville and attended North Prairie Country School. She lived near Norwich and graduated from Surrey High School in 1946. She also attended Minot Business College.

Emily married Vergil Dufner on June 21, 1949, in Minot. They farmed near Lake Darling and then near Heimdal. After that she lived in Maddock, McVille, West Fargo, and Fargo.

She was a member of St. Henry’s and St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Foxholm, St. Williams Church in Maddock, and Blessed Sacrament Church in West Fargo.

Emily was known for her homemade baked buns, fried chicken, gardening, and canning. She also enjoyed watching “Jeopardy”, completing crossword puzzles, and writing in her journals. She had an amazing memory, and if there was a question about something, she delighted in pulling out a journal to prove you wrong.

Emily is survived by her children Charlene Mardock, Diane Dufner, Kathy Nelson, Patricia Dufner (Bob Felleson), Terry (Donna) Dufner, Sheila (Scott) Billings, and Mark (Sheila) Dufner, son-in-law Les Sigette; grandchildren Tracie Mardock, Troy (Lacey) Nelson, Travis Nelson, Tennille Grier (Ryan Jenkins), Angela (Casey) Erickson, Amanda, Trevor, and Trenton Dufner, Summer Billings (Andy Gjerswold), Spencer, and Sawyer Billings (Jaelyn Spilde); great-grandchildren Kaydence and Stockton Nelson; Bo and Coltay Grier, Aubrey Jenkins, and Saylor Billings; sister Lenora Klein, sisters-in-law Gladys Kraft, Sharen Dufner, Vernita Broderick, Loreen (Mike)  Kiskila, Theresa Bowen, Betty (Ed) Schall, and Ava Dufner; numerous nieces and nephews.

Emily was preceded in death by her daughter Nancy Sigette, Charlie Rich (Char’s partner), parents, former husband, sisters Mary Bloms and Anne Carleno; brothers, Joe, Peter and John Kraft, sisters-in-law Mary Lou Kraft, Marcella Weber, Evelyn Dufner, Delores Routledge, and Donna Roberts; brothers-in-law Edwin Klein, Harry Carleno, Ralph Bloms, Albin, Melvin, and Orville Dufner, William Broderick, Lynn Roberts, Merle Routledge, and John Weber.

A private family Mass of Christian burial will be held at Blessed Sacrament Church in West Fargo with burial later in the spring at the McVille Cemetery. A video of the service will be posted on this webpage.     In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Nancy Sigette Scholarship Fund.

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