Elda (Slagg) (Drath) Baisch

Elda Baisch, 84, of Hazen, ND passed away Saturday, October 20, 2018 at Sakakawea Medical Center, Hazen. Services will be held at 10:00 AM CDT on Wednesday, October 24, 2018 at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Hazen with Pastor Kirk Peters officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM CDT on Tuesday, October 23 at Barbot Funeral Home, Hazen and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Elda was born on February 9, 1934 in her rural farm home west of Washburn to Ernest, Sr. and Ella (Doepke) Slagg. She attended the rural Conkling grade school and graduated from Washburn High School in 1952. Elda was united in marriage to Solomon (Sammy) Drath on June 9, 1956. Sammy passed away on August 7, 2000. She married Walter Baisch on May 10, 2003. Walter passed away on August 30, 2014.

Right after high school graduation, Elda was employed by the Farmer’s Home Administration in Washburn. She transferred to the Hazen office in 1954, where she was continuously employed until her retirement in 1989.

Elda was involved in many activities in her church, including teaching Sunday school, choir, LWML, church council, quilting and braille. Her community was also important to her. Elda was a long time member of the Hazen Hospital Auxiliary, a Hospice volunteer, on the Concert Series board, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and VFW Auxiliary, and a charter member of the Knife River Chorale, having participated for 55 years. She also provided piano accompaniment for various singing groups over the years.

The quilting frame, oven and sewing machine were her favorite gadgets around the house and tending to her house plants, garden and flowers were a delight.

Elda loved the color purple. If you would like to wear purple in her honor at the service, please feel free to do so.

Elda is survived by her son, Mick (Carla) Drath of Eugene, OR; two grandchildren, Jalen and Connor Drath, of Eugene, OR; one step-son, Scott Baisch of Hazen; two sisters, Carolyne Currier of Shoreline, WA and Adeline Slagg of Beulah, ND; one brother, Ernest Slagg, Jr of Washburn; four sisters-in-law, Irma Drath of Hazen, Marlene Slagg of Washburn, Orgena (Walter) Schramm of Bismarck and Carol Butts of Hazen; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her two husbands; one son, Jay; and three brothers, Wallace, Marvin and Lawrence.

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

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