Della Emma (Mertes) Althoff, 95 of Hankinson, ND, passed away Sunday, July 11, 2010 at St. Gerard's Community Nursing Home, Hankinson, ND. Funeral mass will be Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Philip's Catholic Church, Hankinson, ND with Fr. Scott Sautner & Msgr. Joseph Huebsch officiating. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Hankinson. Visitation will be Wednesday, July 14, 2010 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Rosary will be at 5:00 p.m. by the Christian Mothers' followed by the American Legion Auxiliary service. The prayer service will be at 7:00 p.m. all at the Frank Family Funeral Home, Hankinson, ND. There will also be visitation one hour prior to the service at the church.

Della Althoff was born July 26, 1914 to John and Rose (Kerch) Mertes in Lidgerwood, ND. In 1914, John Mertes bought Keystone pasture, which is the present Mertes farm west of Mantador, ND, and the family moved to Mantador from Lidgerwood in August that year. She grew up and received her education, which included 2 years of high school in Mantador, ND. On August 28, 1934, she was united in marriage to William Althoff at St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Mantador, ND. They made their home in the Mooreton-Mantador area until they retired in Hankinson, ND in 1966.

Della enjoyed cooking, canning, gardening, playing cards, watching the Twins, spending time with and traveling to visit friends and family. She was a member of Christian Mothers', Catholic Order of Foresters and VFW Auxiliary.

On August 2005, Bill and Della moved into St. Gerard's Nursing Home. Bill passed away on August 8, 2007. Della continued to reside there until her death.

She is survived by her children: William F. (Lavonne) Althoff, Hankinson, ND, Janice (Wayne) Ward, Mooreton, ND, Arnold (Charlene) Althoff, Hankinson, ND, Karen Bowman, Ft. Hills, AZ and Marvin (Susan) Althoff, West St. Paul, MN; grandchildren: Todd (Tammi), Paul (Rose) and David (Linda) Althoff, Pam (Kerry) Lindemann, Allen (Melinda) Ward, Sherri (Pat) McFarren and Brenda (Troy) Klosterman, Kari (Nick) Foertsch, Beth (Ben) Mauch and Crystal Althoff, Meghann, Patrick and Sean Bowman, Christopher and Nathan Althoff; along with 22 great grandchildren; 1 brother: Ted (Esther) Mertes, Mantador, ND.

Della was preceded in death by her parents, John and Rose Mertes; Brothers: Matthew, Jacob, Lawrence, Charles, William and Jerry Mertes; Sisters: Anna, Mary, Erna, Jean and Lorraine; Son: Raymond Althoff and son-in-law: John Bowman.