Jean Marie Thoemke

Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Sister and Friend to Many

Jean Marie Behlmer was taken to her heavenly home on Tuesday May 20, 2025.  She was born on January 12, 1954, to Norman and Mary Ann (Baker) Behlmer.  She publicly confessed her Christian faith through the rite of confirmation on December 29, 1981.  She will be remembered for her kind heart and the love for everyone she met.

Jean Marie grew up in the Fargo area and graduated from Fargo North High School.  Jean enjoyed Latin, Home Economics, Business classes, Camp Fire Girls and helping her mom with all the small children in daycare.  She started to raise her own family in 1972 while married to Robert Rosenkranz (divorced) and worked for many years in the restaurant industry in the Fargo area.  She attended Interstate Business College in 1972 and 1980, taking general secretarial and accounting courses.  In August of 1981 she married William W. Thoemke (Bill/Bunk) where they made their home in West Fargo ND. They joined St. Andrew Lutheran Church of West Fargo that same year, where she was active in teaching Sunday school, Confirmation classes, Superintendent of VBS, LYF Advisor, LWML Circle Chair, LWML President and served on the church Board of Education.  

Jean worked by Bill’s side in his painting business for many years, before starting at St. Andrew as the church Secretary 1993-2003.  In 2004 she became disabled and started up an in-home daycare and took care of many wonderful children.  2017 she joined the Touchmark Retirement Community as a dining server and found this very rewarding and always loved the senior generation, even when she was one herself.   Volunteering became a passion for her by helping out at church and around the community.  Jean loved to bake cakes and desserts for friends and family and opened her own little business as Goodies Especial’.

She is survived by her husband, William “Bill” Thoemke, Fargo, ND; daughter, Dawn (Timothy) Beedy of Lakeville MN; Grandchildren, Christopher (Emily) Beedy of Cloquet MN, Alexander (Acacia) Beedy of Box Elder SD, and Anne Marie Beedy of Lakeville MN; Great Grandchildren, Emmett Beedy, Devlin and Reiner Beedy; Step-children, William Jay (Bill) Thoemke of Minot ND, Jill Thoemke of Brainerd MN and David (Wendy) Thoemke of Thief River Falls MN; Step-Grandchildren, Erik (Leigha) Thoemke, Aaron Thoemke, Danielle, Desiree and Ricky Thoemke, Jeremy, Shannon and Amanda Western and Patrick Shields; Step-Great Grandchildren, Collins Thoemke, Skye’Auna, Daniesha and Annjolece Thoemke, Devlin and Daveena Thoemke, Denver Thoemke, Glen, Logan and Simon Thoemke; Brother, Jerry (Cheryl) Behlmer and Sister Jennifer (Mike) Mahler; nieces and nephews, Jason and Travers Behlmer, Stacy (Kari) Behlmer and Samatha (Jake) Gaster. 

She is preceded in death by her parents and son Thomas Lee Rosenkranz-Thoemke; Step-daughter Jody Western, Step-son Daniel Shields and Step-grandson Jesse Western.  

Visitation: Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 5 to 7 PM, at West Funeral Home, West Fargo, ND, with a prayer service at 7 PM.

Memorial Service:  Friday, May 30, 2025, at 10:30 AM, at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, West Fargo, ND, with visitation one hour before the service.

Interment: Casselton Cemetery, Casselton, ND.

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

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