Josephine Bellanger

Josephine Bellanger

December 07, 1945 - October 01, 2020

Josephine Bellanger, age 74, of Detroit Lakes, MN, (formerly Hendrum, MN), died Thursday, October 1, 2020, at Essentia Health in Fargo, ND.

Josephine Bellanger was born December 7, 1945, in White Earth, MN, the daughter of Wilfred and Eulalia (Brisbois) LaFriniere. She grew up in the Roy Lake area, attending Mahnomen Public School. After graduation, she met Kenneth Bellanger and the couple was united in marriage in 1965. They made their home in Milwaukee and were blessed with 3 children: Michelle, Rebecca, and Wayne. After Kenneth's death in 1972, she and her young children moved back to Minnesota to be near family. She met Timothy Villabrun and they were blessed with one daughter: Courtney. She later met Ernest Miller, and they were blessed with 2 more children: Liza and Andrea. The couple enjoyed many wonderful years together. In 1985, they moved to Hendrum, MN, where she was employed for the US Postal service. Josie served as Postmaster of the Hendrum Post Office for many years. She met many wonderful people and created lifelong friendships during her years of service as Postmaster, before retiring in the early 2000s. Ernest died in 2018, but Josephine always kept busy. She continued to make her home in Hendrum until June 2020, when she moved to Detroit Lakes, MN.

In her spare time, Josephine enjoyed sewing, traveling, trips to the casino and going to garage sales. She cherished her time with family and was always filled with so much laughter. She was an inspiration of patience, love and perseverance. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Josephine is survived by her daughters: Michelle Bellanger (Mike Podany) of Burnsville, MN, Rebecca Bellanger of Detroit Lakes, MN, Courtney (Duane) Werk of Donnelly, MN, Liza (Brian) Ruud of West Fargo, ND, and Andrea Schlepp of Moorhead, MN; her grandchildren, Melissa Lepper, Tara Gilbert, Brittany Azure, Dante Fornizy, Deandre Fornizy, Dakari Anderson, Haley Werk, Akayla Werk, Riley Ruud, Jennifer Schlepp, Kara Schlepp, T.J. Schlepp, and Grady Schlepp; 12 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Dave (Judy) LaFriniere and Bert LaFriniere, both of Mahnomen; five sisters: Mary (Buck) Tibbetts of Naytahwaush, Carrie Graham of Naytahwaush, Carol Mathre of Laporte, MN, Jennifer (John) Uruo of Detroit Lakes and Melody (Gary Butenhoff) LaFriniere of Apache Junction, AZ; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Kenneth Bellanger and Ernest Miller; parents, Wilfred and Eulalia; son, Wayne; two brothers, Wilfred (Putt) and Glenn; and sister, Marge.

An Outdoor Memorial Mass will be held on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Anne's Catholic Churchyard in Naytahwaush, MN. The service will be outdoors, all are welcome to attend and encouraged to bring a chair. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 6, 2020, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at the Anderson Family Funeral Home in Mahnomen. Inurnment will be in St. Anne's Catholic Cemetery in Naytahwaush.

Following all Covid-19 safety protocols, social distancing will be practiced, and all must wear a mask to participate.

Visitation

Anderson Family Funeral Home of Mahnomen

Tuesday, October 06, 2020

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

719 N Main Street

Mahnomen, MN 56557

Memorial Mass

St. Anne's Catholic Church

Wednesday, October 07, 2020

2:00 PM

County Road 4

Naytahwaush, MN 56566