Madella J. (Kisse) Schaper

Madella “Della” JoAnn Schaper, 80, of Beulah, ND passed away Saturday, March 17, 2018 at Sakakawea Medical Center, Hazen. Services will be held at 10:30 AM CDT on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Beulah with Pastor Kent Sperry officiating. Burial will follow at Spring Creek Cemetery, Halliday.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM CDT on Tuesday at Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah.

 Della was born in 1937 to Adolph and Esther (Koehler) Kisse in rural Halliday on the family farm. She was the oldest of six children. She was confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Halliday. Della attended rural school through the eighth grade and then moved to Halliday where she completed high school by the age of 16. Following high school, she attended Teacher’s College, (which is now Dickinson State University) where she obtained her teaching certificate. Della taught grades 1-8 in rural schools for two years. In 1956, she married Wilfried “Willie” Victor Schaper. They made their first home in Halliday, but soon moved to Moorhead, MN while Willie attended Barber School. Their first child, Brenda, was born in 1957. The family moved to New Rockford and then to Killdeer. Their second child, Douglas, was born in 1959. The family moved back to Halliday where four more children were born, Robert in 1961, Rhonda in 1963, Steven in 1964 and Rodney in 1966. Della spent her time as a housewife, raising her children, gardening and helping on the family farm. For a few years she could be found in the ticket booth at the theatre in Halliday on Saturday and Sunday nights. In 1979, Della and Willie moved to Beulah and she worked in the office at Roughrider Mobile Homes until they retired.

Della enjoyed camping out with her family, fishing and boat rides. Every fall there was a road trip to look at the fall colors. She enjoyed her trips with Willie. The couple went to the Hawaiian Islands twice, as well as visiting Switzerland, Italy, and Acapulco and made a road trip to Alaska in their camper. Della was currently a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Beulah.

Della is survived by her husband of 61 years, Willie; her children, Brenda (John ) Fulwider, Robert (Janelle) Schaper, Steven (Connie) Schaper, and Rodney (Paula) Schaper; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two sisters, Bernice Fredericks and Linda (Keith) Perhus; two brothers, James Kisse and Adolph (Marilyn) Kisse, Jr.; and many extended family.

She was preceded in death by her children, Douglas and Rhonda; her sister and brother-in-law, Yvonne (Myron) Glatt; and her parents, Adolph Sr. and Esther Kisse.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to SMC Hospice, Hazen.

Arrangements are conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah and Hazen.

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