Mila Hornstein
Dec. 21, 1933 – July 1, 2022
Mila J. Hornstein 88 of
Devils Lake formerly of
Crary ND passed away on
Friday, July 1, 2022 at
Eventide Heartland Care
Center where she had
resided since the fall of
2018.
Mila Jean, was born on
December 21, 1933 in the
small town of Barton,
North Dakota, to her very
lucky parents Emil and
Marion (Dahl) Peterson.
She was born in the
doctor’s office as there
was no hospital nearby.
Mila had two older sisters
and after her younger
brother was born, her
mother became very ill
and passed away. Mila
was only two years old.
Emil raised his young
family with the help of his
parents. Emil’s job with
the Soo Line Railroad re-
quired several moves so
Mila began her elementa-
ry education at Rolette
Public School until fourth
grade. Then the family
moved to Bisbee, ND and
she attended Bisbee
School until the seventh
grade. A move to Rugby,
ND is where she attended
middle school and gra-
duated from Rugby High
School with the class of
1951. Throughout all the
moves, the family stayed
together, with the love
and support of their
grandparents and they
also learned to cook,
clean, and do those many
chores to keep a house-
hold running.
After high school, Mila
worked for a time in the
Dietary Department at
Rugby Hospital, then later
worked at the local dime
store. One day at work, in
walked a handsome sol-
dier, Frank Hornstein who
would be her future hus-
band. While Frank was on
leave, they married on De-
cember 27, 1951 at Little
Flower Catholic Church
in Rugby, ND. They
moved to Fort Hood, Tex-
as until Frank’s discharge
from active duty.
They moved back to
Rugby where they started
their family and for a
short time, they farmed
with Frank’s brother until
they purchased their own
farm east of Crary, ND.
They farmed side by side,
raised cattle and milked
cows and were the proud
parents of five beautiful
children. Mila was a de-
voted farm wife, loving
mother and grandmother
throughout her entire life.
She loved the farm and
spent many hours milking
cows, haying, and making
sure everyone was fed and
homework done. She
loved watching her
grandchildren and great
grandchildren in their
many school activities
and sporting events. She
was known to be a bit crit-
ical of the umpires and re-
ferees but of course that
was just being a good
grandma.
They moved into Devils
Lake in June of 1991,
when their son Todd
moved onto the home
place, but they never offi-
cially retired from the
farm. They enjoyed fish-
ing and time spent with
family.
Mila was an active
member of Sacred Heart
Catholic Church in Crary
until it closed. She was in
the choir, taught CCD and
after joining St. Joseph
Catholic Church in Devils
Lake continued with the
Christian Mothers Circle
she was a part of at Sa-
cred Heart and served as a
Eucharistic Minister.
Mila was a woman of
great faith, great love for
family and a caring, giv-
ing heart to her commun-
ity of Crary and Devils
Lake.
Mila is survived by her
children and their
spouses Karen and Dave
Senger of Medina MN,
Linda Taylor of Grundy
Center, Iowa, Kelly Horn-
stein and special friend
Becky Tripp of Wahpeton
ND, Brenda and Todd
Christie also of Wahpeton
and Todd and Denise
Hornstein of Crary; eleven
grandchildren Andrea
(Ajay) George and Christo-
pher Senger-Aimee
Wolff, Jessica Schmaltz
and Abby (Jon)
McIntire-Amber (Jens)
Stokke and Jason (Andrea)
Hornstein-Jordan Christie
and Jared (Lindsey)
Christie-Alyssa (Jacob)
Lagasse and Joseph Horn-
stein; great grandchildren
Flora and Twyla George,
Landen, Liam and Lennix
Wolff, Lily and Logan
Stokke, Emma, Easton and
Ella Hornstein; brother
Maynard (Corinne) Dahl;
many nieces, nephews
and their families.
She was preceded in
death by her parents, hus-
band Frank on June 14,
2012, step mother Gladys
Peterson and sisters Ar-
nell Vicha and Elvina
Schaan.
Visitation will be held
at the Gilbertson Funeral
Home, Devils Lake on
Thursday, July 7, 2022
from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00
p.m. with a Rosary and
Scripture Service at 7:00
p.m. led by Reverend Mr.
Ken Severinson, Deacon.
Mass of Christian Burial
will be on Friday, July 8,
2022 at 10:00 a.m. at St.
Joseph Catholic Church,
Devils Lake with the Very
Reverend C.F. Wilhelm
celebrating the Mass.
Burial will be in St.
Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
Casket Bearers will be
her grandsons Jason,
Chris, Jordan, Jared and
Joey. Honorary Bearers
will be Amber, Aimee,
Jessica, Andrea, Alyssa
and Abby. Bringing up the
Eucharistic Gifts will be
the great grandchildren.
Reading Scripture will be
Dave Senger.