Obituary: Marie Laber

Marie Margaret (Huss) Laber, 98, died on Nov. 28, 2020 from complications of COVID-19 at Golden Acres Manor, Carrington N.D.

Rosary service was held Friday, Dec. 4, 2020 at church. Private mass of Christian burial was held Friday, Dec. 4, 2020 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Carrington, N.D. Burial was held at St. Elizabeth's Catholic Cemetery, Sykeston, N.D. Fr. Terry Dodge officiated with special music by Marlene Boyer and Barb Page. Casket bearers were Jeremy Laber, Jed Wall, Adam Potocki, Colten Laber, Jacob Laber, Mason Wede and Matthew Uznanski. Honorary bearers were Autumn Bennett, Bernadette Behm, Tina Tichy, Samantha Deraen, Bridget Potocki, Megan Klocke, Natasha Norton, Logan Norton, and Peyton Uznanski.

Marie was the first daughter born into a family of five brothers. Anna (Goebel) and Mathias Huss welcomed their first daughter on Sept. 9, 1922. She grew up on the family farm near Sykeston during the Great Depression. She enjoyed telling stories about going to school with horse and buggy. She said the horses got them home even in the worst blizzards. She graduated from Sykeston High School as the Salutatorian of the class of 1940.

At a time when most young women married and started families shortly after graduation Marie chose another path. She got a job cooking for threshers, saved the money and entered Dakota Business College in Fargo in Jan. 1942. She married Leo Laber on Nov. 20, 1946. Together their family grew to include nine children. Marie and Leo were married for 57 years when he passed in July 2004.

At the age of 49 Marie re-entered the workforce. She served as the Sykeston School secretary and later as township tax assessor. She held that position until she moved to Carrington in 2004.

Marie was a member of St. Elizabeth's and later Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She was honored as a 75-year member of the Catholic Aid Society at St. Elizabeth's in Sykeston.

Her love of family and her deep faith were followed closely by her pride in country. Marie was proud of her brothers, husband, three sons, and granddaughter that served in the military. She understood, perhaps more than most, the sacrifices made by military families – first as a member of a Gold Star family and then as a Gold Star mother.

Marie is survived by her children – Leonard Laber, Margaret Wall, Louise (Joe) Potocki, Mark Laber, Jennifer (Doug) Wede, Ben (Judi Leonard) Laber, Frank Laber, and Laurel Uznanski, 16 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and sisters Genny (Stanley) Copenhaver and Lillian Aljets. 

She was preceded in death by her husband Leo, son Merlin, sons-in-law John Wall and Ken Uznanski, Jr., granddaughter Erica Wall, and brothers, Walter, Matt, John, Fritz, and Tom.

Arrangements by Evans Funeral Home of Carrington, N.D.