Geraldine “Babe” McKenna Belzer

Geraldine “Babe” McKenna Belzer, 86, of Cando, ND, passed away on Friday, July 22, 2022 in Bismarck, ND.  Mass of Christian Burial will take place at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Cando with Fr. Daniel Musgrave, celebrant, on Saturday, July 30, 2022 at 2:00 pm. An open house visitation wake will be held at the Belzer family home on Friday, July 29, 2022 from 6 pm to 9 pm. Babe’s funeral Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Saturday, July 30, at 2 pm at the church with visitation one hour prior to the service.  Burial will follow at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Cando, ND.
Everyone is welcome to stream the service through the Dunnigan-Dix Facebook Page.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Cando Audi Theatre, P.O. Box 368, Cando, ND 58324, or a charitable fund of the donor’s choice.
Geraldine was the name given to her by her maternal grandfather, William Byrne.  He requested she be named for her mother, Geraldine Byrne McKenna.  For many years she was called Baby G and finally, it was shortened to Babe.
Babe had good memories of living in Brocket and Lakota, ND, where her dad, MJ McKenna, worked for the Great Northern Railway as a depot agent.  However, her favorite town to live in has been Cando!  She and her family moved to Cando in 1946, when Babe was ten years old and entering the 6th grade.  She claims to have “fallen” for Terry Belzer that year!
Babe graduated from Cando High School in 1953 and began training with the Sisters of St. Joseph School of Nursing that same year.  She graduated in August 1956 and worked briefly at the hospital in Cando as an RN.
Terry and Babe were married November 17, 1956 and became farmers with Terry’s parents, Julianne and Phil Belzer.  Terry built two houses for their family of eight children during their life together.  Besides tending to her motherly duties, Babe enjoyed time with her friends and had many hobbies: painting, doll making, trunk refinishing, wreath creations, quilting, writing and publishing two children’s books and music for the community and their church.  In some of these endeavors, the help of Terry was essential (trunks)!  He was known to exclaim, “This is no five-minute project, Babe!” 
Babe is survived by her five sons, Bruce (Suzan Houtz), Tom, Pat (Kim Neumann), Paul (Heather Kuklok), Dan (Tony Williamson) and three daughters, Tami (Dave) Gunter, Bernie (Dave) Tschider, Gretchen (Bill) Curl, son-in-law Tony Allmaras, and twenty-one grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, one brother Terry (Mary Ann) McKenna, and many beloved nieces and nephews.  Preceding her in death were her parents, MJ and Geraldine McKenna, her husband Terry and their infant son Kelly John, grandson Philip Belzer Tschider, sister Trudy Nygaard, sister Beverly Sundahl, and Phil and Julianne Belzer.  She also loved and “lost” many dogs; her favorite dog was Maggie May!

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