Colleen Eresman passed away June 26th, 2026 at Maple Manor Care Center in Langdon, ND under HIA hospice care with family at her side.

There will be a gathering of family and friends on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 6:00 p.m.  The Rosary will be led by Catholic Daughters of the Americas and the Scripture Service will be led by Reverend Mr. Ken Severinson, Deacon. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, July 30, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with burial in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Devils Lake. 

Colleen was born in Devils Lake, ND on September 30th, 1930 to Leo and Margaret (Ziegler) Eresman. She was raised in Devils Lake with her sister Shirley. She had many fond memories of growing up among a large extended family with many uncles, aunts and cousins close by. She attended St Mary’s Academy in Devils Lake, going on to attend the then Devils Lake Junior College and Business School. After completing college she held clerical jobs including at the Central Telephone Co. as a switchboard operator. She remembered this as one of her favorite jobs. She liked the girls she worked with and made many friends there. She went on to begin her 34 year career with St. Joseph’s Catholic Church as Church Secretary. She had many duties as Church Secretary, working for many priests over the years. She held a wealth of knowledge about the church. She enjoyed serving the members of the parish and her work was very much appreciated. Colleen was a 71 year member of the Catholic Daughters Court of Devils Lake.

Colleen was interested in family history and worked to collect, preserve and share it, keeping in touch with many relatives. She had a great interest in Germany and German culture and was able to travel and visit family there.

She traveled to the Holy Land, visiting the Garden of Gethsemane, Bethlehem, Nativity Church and Grotto of the Manger where her group sang Silent Night together. This was an experience that stayed with her the rest of her life.

She loved working in her yard and tending her flower beds and many pots of beautiful flowers. She enjoyed taking photos and was the photographer for all her family. If not for Colleen there would not be photos capturing all those memories over the years.

Colleen was an important part in the lives of her nephew and nieces. Aunt Colleen, or Colly as she was affectionately called, was a steady presence, always there to listen. Never judgmental and never taking sides. As they grew up, she helped look after them, and they always felt a little spoiled by her.

Some of those many memories of time spent with Aunt Colly include gathering around the kitchen table and sharing a cup of tea or a meal and visiting. Going to her house to watch the Miss America pageants, talking about Germany and reading German cards together, listening to old records and working on hooked rugs. A favorite activity was sitting at her vanity and being allowed to try on her make up. She had a marvelous closet with exotic hanging strands of colored glass beads in place of a door. She had great taste and so many interesting and beautiful clothes. As children it was lots of fun trying on her clothes and doing fashion shows.

She made wonderful cherry cheesecake and lemon bars which she brought to family gatherings and there were her Rosette cookies she would bring every Christmas in a shoebox lined with tissue paper.

In more recent years we remember quiet holidays together with those of us who could come home to Devils Lake, spending time with her talking about family history, and many trips to Langdon to visit her at Maple Manor Care Center where she resided the last few years.

For all these things and many more we will remember and miss so much our Aunt, Great Aunt and Great-Great Aunt Colleen, her quiet strength and unwavering support.

Loving Family include nieces Celeste M. (Robert) Barfield, Mandan, ND, Felise M. (James) Baer, Fergus Falls, MN, Allison S. (Kenneth) Scaletta, St. Paul, MN and Amy L. (Brent) Lindahl, Two Harbors, MN; Great nieces and great nephew Josie Uthke (Michael Jordan ) Manvel, ND, Jemma Engelhardt (Jordan), Mandan, ND, Wendy Scaletta Gonzales(Andy Gonzales-Galindo), Sophia Scaletta and Kaia Scaletta, St. Paul, Jace Fink and Marti E. Lindahl, Two Harbors, MN; Great great nieces and great great nephews Sam Faul, Mikey Jordan, Leslee Gustafson, Maverick Gustafson, Dev’Ron Barfield , Olive Gustafson and Jianna Engelhardt.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister Shirley and brother-in-law Wendall Uthke, nephew Martin J. Uthke and his wife Birgitta E. Blum Uthke; niece Viola D. Uthke; great- great niece June Engelhardt, great -great nephew Charlie Avery Jordan.

The family requests in lieu of flowers please send memorial donations to Maple Manor Care Center, 1116 9th Ave S, Langdon ND 58249. 

Arrangements are pending for funeral services the end of July.