Theresa (Malsam) Wasem

Theresa Catherine (Malsam) Wasem died peacefully on July 1, 2026 at the Knife River Care Center in Beulah, ND. Services will be held Friday, July 24, 2026, at 10:00 AM CT at Barbot Funeral Home in Beulah, ND with Tyler Haag officiating. Burial will follow at the Halliday Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

Theresa was born July 26, 1927, in Beulah, North Dakota to Pete and Marion (Zahn) Malsam. She was the oldest of four children.  Theresa was baptized into the Catholic church in 1927. She attended school in Dodge, ND and graduated from Dodge High School. Theresa went on to get her Nursing Degree and became an OBGYN and Ped’s nurse. She met the love of her life, Maurice Wasem Jr. in Dodge. They were married on January 3, 1948.  Their marriage lasted almost twenty-five years as Maurice lost his life to heart disease. From their marriage, seven children were born.

After Theresa retired, she spent much of her time reading, watching baseball and football games on tv, and crocheting. She made hundreds of Afghans and hand towels, many of which are still used by family and friends still. She was also known to enjoy schnapps with visitors and with friends that would drop by. Theresa and her sister, Rosemary, took a liking of schnapps. No matter how many they drank it was” we have only had 1”.

Theresa fell in 2020 and could not be alone anymore, so she went to live with her daughter Bobbie in Hazen. She loved to look out the window and watch the cottonwood trees as they were shedding, and she always thought it was snowing. On her birthday every year, the family would all get together to celebrate. You never knew what to expect from her gifts, but she loved them all. In 2024 Theresa resided at the Knife River Care Center in Beulah, ND.

Theresa had a heart that was full of love. She loved spending time playing cards, casting a fishing line, and sharing laughter with the people she loved. She had a mischievous sense of humor that kept everyone smiling.

The memories she gave us are gifts we will carry forever. Though we will miss her deeply, we find comfort knowing her love, laughter, and gentle spirit will live on in each of us.

Mom, grandma, thank you for the joy you brought into our lives. You will always be loved, forever missed, and never forgotten.

Theresa is survived by her children, Jeri Aguilar of Albuquerque, NM, Bobbie Wagner, Hazen, ND, Jackie (Earl) McMahen of Mesa, AZ, Maurice J. Wasem of Bismarck, ND, Mark (Juliene) Wasem of Hazen, ND, and Brent (Nancy) Wasem of Fargo, ND; her son-in-Law, Harlin Gilje of Manchester, IA; her sister, Rosemary Vranna of Dickinson, ND; 21 grandchildren; 54 great-grandchildren and 33 great-great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Maurice; her daughter, Sandy Gilje; her grandsons, Kevin Gilje and Chris Aguilar; her great-grandson, Louis Chavez; her sons-in-law, Manual Aguilar and Ronald Wagner; her brothers, Ralph Malsam and Adam Malsam.

The family would like to thank KRCC for the care that Theresa was given while she was there.

 In lieu of flowers, Theresa would love any donations to be made to the Sunshine Club of which she was a charter member.  

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

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