Mary Mitzel, 96, of Fargo, ND formerly of Hope, ND, died Tuesday, June 15, 2010, at Villa Maria in Fargo, ND, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley. Mary was born August 29, 1913 to Balthasar and Margaret (Baumgartner) Welk at rural Orrin, ND. She was raised on her parents’ farm at rural Pierce County and attended country school in Sandale Township. On April 22, 1930 she married Martin Mitzel at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Orrin. Together they had 6 children. Mary and Martin lived on the Mitzel farm, which had been homesteaded by Martin’s parents, Philip and Elizabeth in 1910, at rural Orrin. The couple purchased the local grocery store in Balta, ND in 1946 and in 1948 they purchased land by Luverne, ND where they farmed until Martin’s death in February 1968. Mary moved to Hope in 1981, and continued to maintain the farm land until her death. She moved to Villa Maria in September 2007. Mary is survived by 5 children, Daniel (Barbara) Mitzel of Fargo, Loretta Huschka of LaMoure, ND, Alfred (Elaine) Mitzel of Fargo, Mary Lou Roller of Hope, and Cynthia (Stuart) Longtin of Fargo; daughter-in-law, Marcia Mitzel of Hope; siblings, Antonia Gutenkauf of Pierre, SD, Emily Brossart of Rugby, ND, and Pauline (Mike) Mitzel of Granville, ND; 25 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Martin; son, Balzer; granddaughter, Joletta (Mitzel) Ihry; her parents; 3 brothers, Michael, August and Anton Welk; and 5 sisters, Katherine Thomas, Frances Weigel, Barbara Koble, Margaret Scheet, and Elizabeth Mitzel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to any organization in Hope, ND. Visitation: Friday, June 18, 2010, from 5-7 PM with a prayer service at 7 PM at St. Agatha’s Catholic Church, Hope, ND, and one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. Funeral Service: 11:00 AM, Saturday, June 19, 2010, at St. Agatha’s Catholic Church, Hope, ND. Burial: Hope City Cemetery, Hope, ND.