Lila Harmsen, age 86, of West Fargo, ND formerly of Valley City, ND, died Thursday, July 31st at Essentia Health in Fargo.  A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Thursday, August 7th at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Valley City.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment will be in St. Catherine’s Catholic Cemetery.  A livestream of Lila’s service and an online guestbook will be available at www.lerudmathias.com. Funeral arrangements by the Lerud Mathias Funeral Home of Valley City.

Lila Marie Klinkhammer was born November 8, 1938 at Cogswell, ND to Herman and Anna (Hayen) Klinkhammer.  Lila attended grade school in Cogswell and Forman, ND. She attended and graduated from Forman High School in 1956.  As a teenager, Lila loved to dance. At one particular dance, which she was not to attend, instead of being scolded her father invited her onto the dance floor and taught her how to waltz.  After graduation, Lila worked at Dick’s Cafe in LaMoure where she first met Bill. Dick suggested Lila should “get in Bill’s way”. She attended NDSCS in Wahpeton for a year for secretarial training, followed by a year working at Mercy Hospital in Valley City before Lila and Bill married on September 30,1961.  They had one child, William Scott. Lila then devoted herself as wife and mother to her family.

After Scott started junior high school, Lila worked for 16 years at Sheyenne Valley Care Center in the laundry department.  Later she worked as an assistant in Mrs. Stites’ kindergarten class at Washington elementary school.  Lila cherished the time spent assisting the children.  Lila was an active member of Catholic Daughters.  She spent numerous hours preparing meals and contributing her time to many of their events.  Lila gave many years of service to the prison ministry in Jamestown and New England, ND. She had a way of connecting with the inmates, listening to their stories and offering spiritual support and encouragement.

Lila has long been a member of Right to Life. She devoted over 42 years of her life and countless hours listening and talking with women as a sidewalk counselor.  She believed every child is a gift from God and a sign of his love.  Lila believed God called her to be an advocate for the unborn.

After the death of her husband Bill, Lila made frequent visits to see her sister Mary in West Fargo.  They enjoyed special times together, shopping, attending concerts and cooking favorite family recipes.

Lila was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Lloyd and Edmund, and sister Ethel. She is survived by a son, William Scott (Peggy); sister, Mary McClure; brothers-in-law, Arnie (Joyce) and Ken (Kay); nieces, Linda (Tim) Feist and Nancy McClure; nephews, Brian and Jeff (Amy) Harmsen; grandchildren, Sonja (Tony) Sandoval and Jamie (Chris) Hilker; and great grandchildren, Elise and Ethan. Lila was “grandmother” to Eric who held a special place in her heart.

Lila was a selfless, kind, gentle and loving person who gave of her time to others. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends.