Carol Mae (Reidman) Legge, 89, of Sanborn, ND, passed away on May 2, 2025, at SMP Health-Ave Maria, Jamestown, ND.  Visitation will be on May 16th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sanborn from 5:00-7:00PM with a prayer service following. The funeral Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on May 17th at 10:30AM. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Sanborn.  The services will be live streamed, then archived, on a link provided along with her obituary on her tribute page at www.lerudmathias.com.  An online guestbook is available there as well.

Carol was born January 4, 1936, to Alfons (Dutch) and Mary (Gruman) Reidman. Carol grew up on a farm near Dazey, ND. She attended Ladbury School and graduated from St. Catherine’s Catholic School in Valley City, ND.  She married Wallace Legge on October 26, 1954. The love they shared was unparalleled and together they built an incredible life, farming and raising four daughters and three sons. 

Carol was a devoted member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She was rich in faith and tradition. Acts 20:35 “It is more blessed to give than to receive” encapsulates Carol perfectly. She taught religious education for 17 years, she was a proud member of Christian Mothers and Sacred Heart’s Women’s Circle 3, serving meals for weddings and funerals. Carol was also a member of the Brimer Township Homemakers Club, holding numerous offices through the years. If anyone needed help with anything, Carol was there.

Carol and her beloved husband Wallace, of 65 years, loved music. They were able to display this love on Saturday night at the Eagles Club dancing, watching the Medora Musical and while attending the weddings of family and friends. Carol’s foot was always tapping in rhythm to the music and waiting for the band to play a polka. There was never a time when she was not up for playing a game, especially cards, whether it was whist with the family or canasta with the community ladies. She was considered a “Card Shark.”  If Carol was your partner, you were sure to win.  She often claimed it was luck but those around her knew it was skill. Carol was not only lucky in love but lucky in life. Carol played canasta with a group of friends. Five of these players decided to each put in a dollar and buy a lottery ticket. These ladies matched five of six numbers and ended up winning the first big Powerball Lottery in North Dakota.  

Carol had boundless energy, outstanding organizational skills, and an unprecedented work ethic making her the perfect farm wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and great-grandmother.  If there was a task to complete, whether in the home, field or community, she made sure that it was accomplished. Carol spent numerous hours in the field alongside Wallace putting in the crop and taking it off. You could often see her raking hay, hauling bales, chopping corn, and driving the grain truck. In between field work Carol would be butchering chickens, gardening, freezing and canning the yields as well as maintaining a perfectly manicured lawn.

Carol was such an integral part of her community, taking the time to visit with or support friends and neighbors whether at church, the grocery store, or when shopping for the latest fashion. A true fashion icon, she was known for her impeccable taste and her ability to always look stylish with her trademark sleeveless ensemble. She leaves behind a legacy of warmth and kindness and a passion for looking her best as “Wallace’s bride.”

Carol was meticulous in her hobbies, embroidering scores of gifts for family and friends.  Her other beloved hobby was reading. She devoured autobiographies, life stories of women, and in particular, stories of the North Dakota prairies. Carol also passed on her skills of baking, cooking and card playing to her children and grandchildren, teaching them by example and by including them in daily work and fun.  

Carol is survived by her children Maribeth (Don) Miller; Scott Legge, Brenda Legge, Doug Legge, Lori (Leonard) Stevenson, and Dwight (Patty) Legge; grandchildren Bethany (Aaron) Fiskum, Emily (Jeff) Leggett, Becky (AJ) Simpson, Ryan (Andra) Legge, Evan (Heather) Legge, Heath (Evan) Legge, Hannah (Anthony) Caldwell, Cory (Mandi) Quigley and Karla (Tracy) Koenig and 14 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Carol is preceded in death by her husband, Wallace; daughter, Darlene Legge; brothers, Robert and Larry Reidman; sister, Irene Haugaard; and daughter-in-law, Judy (Broten) Legge.