Averiel E. Wood

Due to severe allergies, please refrain from using perfumes and colognes at any of the services for Averiel.  Thank you so much.  

Averiel E. Wood, 102 of Devils Lake formerly of Warwick ND passed away on Friday, March 3, 2023 at Eventide Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake surrounded by her precious family.

Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m.  Funeral Services will be at Warwick Lutheran Church on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Stan Kwiecien officiating.  Burial will be beside her husband Paul at the Crary Cemetery in the spring.

Averiel Evon Fleming, daughter of William and Harriet (Eller) Fleming, entered this world in her grandparents' house in Rock Lake, ND on October 4, 1920. The attending midwife was her grandmother, Elizabeth M. Eller. She moved with her parents and siblings to Newville, ND which was located between Cando and Starkweather. They resided there until 1927 when they moved to Warwick, ND. She started school in Warwick, but the family moved again to a farm south of town and attended the Hillsdale Country School until eighth grade. Her love for learning and reading encouraged her to further her education at the Benson County Agriculture School in Maddock, graduating with the class of 1939. 

Averiel met Paul E. Wood at an annual school play day race in Warwick when she was 13.  They dated for several years and on August 11, 1941, they eloped and were married by Reverend Rude at his house. They lived with his parents north of Warwick for a while until a farm west of his parents' home became available. This became their forever home. 

Averiel and Paul were not only husband and wife for 59 years, but they were also lifelong best friends and business partners. She farmed alongside her husband, raising crops, Hereford and Holstein cattle, sheep, chickens, horses and large gardens, and were blessed with five rambunctious children, Emerson, John, Janice, William and Lois. 

Averiel wore many hats to make their home and farm a success. She was the unpaid secretary for Wood Trucking, took telephone calls for Paul’s fire calls from the Devils Lake Rural Fire Department, and an excellent cook, inviting whoever came to their house for a meal. Her specialties were canning a huge variety of pickles and other bounty from the garden, butterscotch brownies, potato salad, and whatever meals Paul and the children were hungry for.  

Averiel was a member of the Warwick Lutheran Church, Sunday school teacher, WELCA member, homemakers club, bowling league, and a Girl Scout leader. 

Averiel is survived by her son William (Val) Wood of Warwick and her daughters Janice Myers of Jamestown and Lois Wilhelmi of Devils Lake; daughters-in-law Lynette Wood and Sharon Wood; 15 grandchildren and 1 grandchild’s spouses: Rodney Bischof, Bradley (Michelle) Wood, Brian (Margaret) Wood, Lisa (Brian) Schmidt, Tim (Beth) Wood, Lonnie Rotenberger, Melody (Doug) Sowders, Shelley (Tracy) Aabrekke, John Allan Wood, Denise (Curt) Waldie, Jessica (Matt) Herrick, Kristin (Matt) Brodell, Evan (Morgan Brandt) Wood, Nichole (Bill) Olson, Miranda (Jon Fuchs) Mathison, Scott (fiancée Chelsea Rallo) Miller; 36 great grandchildren and 11 great-great grandchildren; Also surviving are sisters Muriel (Don) Stilwell and Glena Gjestvang; sisters-in-law Marlyss Fleming and Cleo DePlazes, and many nieces and nephews. 

Those preceding her in death, her husband Paul E. Wood Sr. on July 13, 2000, her parents William and Harriet Fleming, sons Emerson Wood and John Wood, son-in-law Alvin Myers, grandsons Mathew Wood, Brandon Wood, David Rotenberger, granddaughter Laurie Bischof, siblings Herman (Jen), Norman (Emma), Willard, Gaylen (Opal), Jerry, Gene Fleming, sister: Vonnie (Richard) Weisenberger. 

The family would like to thank the staff of Eventide, Good Samaritan and Odd Fellow’s Home, and hospice team for our mother’s care. 

Memorials may be directed to the Warwick Lutheran Church or the Salvation Army. 

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