St. Hilaire – Lillian Fanfulik, St. Hilaire, age 94, passed away on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at Minnesota Greenleaf, Thief River Falls.
Lillian Mary Berard was born on the family farm near Bathgate, ND, September 24, 1928, the daughter of Delore and Esther (Carter) Berard. She was baptized and confirmed into the Catholic faith. She went to country school near Bathgate, ND and went three years at the convent in Crookston.
She returned to the family farm to care for her mother and later the family moved to Grand Forks, ND. She worked at Woolworth’s at the lunch counter which is where she met the love of her life, George Fanfulik.
She was united in marriage to George at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Grand Forks, ND on October 20, 1949. They made their home for a time in Angus and in 1953 bought a farm near Wylie in Pennington County. To this union there were six children born, Margaret Ann, Deborah, Donald, Michael, Valerie and Kevin. They sold the farm and moved to St. Hilaire in 1964 and in 2016 made their home at Greenleaf Communities in Thief River Falls.
She loved raising her kids and the family life that went with that; in her spare time, she enjoyed making pot holders and afghans for all the grandchildren, watching The Price Is Right, playing cards, puzzles, gardening, cooking and going to the casino every Tuesday with George.
Lillian was a member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Thief River Falls.
Survivors include her three children, Mike (Paula) Fanfulik, St. Hilaire, Val Fanfulik Swygman, Grand Forks, ND, and Kevin (Sherri) Fanfulik, OH; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Audrey Berard; son-in-law, Doug Reierson of Grand Forks, ND; and many other relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband, George; daughters, Deborah Reierson and Margaret Ann Bergh; son, Donald “Butch” Fanfulik; parents; brothers, Edward and Lloyd; sisters-in-law, Patsy Berard; and son-in-law, Scott Swygman.
Lillian’s family would like to thank the administration and staff at Greenleaf Communities for their kindness and compassion caring for their mother.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, 2023 St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, Thief River Falls, with Father Rick Lambert presiding. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. The burial will be at Holy Trinity Cemetery, Tabor.
Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com.
A00003B2023AP12
Lillian Fanfulik, 94
