Funeral reflection for Sister Rita Miller, OSB

Sister Rita Miller, a member of Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck, entered eternal life on Monday, May 15, at CHI St. Alexius.

Visitation at Annunciation Monastery will be Wednesday, May 17 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a vigil service at 7 p.m. in the Chapel of Annunciation Monastery. The Mass of Christian Burial is Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Annunciation Monastery with visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.

Sister Rita (baptized Lorraine) was born April 29, 1929, the tenth of the thirteen children of Engelbert and Agatha (Feist) Miller in Hague, ND. Her call to religious life was nurtured by both her family, her teachers, and by the sisters she met as a 13-year-old hospitalized in Fargo, ND, with surgeries related to osteomyelitis. She came to Annunciation Monastery following high school graduation in 1947. Sister Rita made her religious profession in 1949 and in 2019 celebrated her 70th anniversary of monastic profession with the Sisters of Annunciation Monastery.

Following graduation as a St. Alexius RN in 1952, Sister Rita served as night supervisor at St. Alexius. Two years later she attended Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, for physical therapy training. From 1955 until the COVID pandemic in 2020, Sister Rita served in health care. This included 25 years in the St. Alexius PT department, a year as director of the monastery health center, and the remaining years at St. Alexius in nursing for 12 years, as chaplain of Home Health and Hospice for seven years, and concluding ministry as Hospitality Hostess. She spoke of the realization that “the Lord’s Footprints” had been with her the entire journey.

Generous of heart and spirit, Sister Rita viewed her life as a “journey of growth” and believed that to experience God’s love one “must be willing to give freely and willingly of yourself.” Relaxation activities included walking, working puzzles, playing cards, reading, writing numerous letters and cards, and gardening. With a hearty laugh, accompanied by a large smile, warm welcome, and grateful heart, Sister Rita made numerous friends over the years. Always close to her family, her last years included a daily phone visit with her sister in Spokane, which included their great enthusiasm for Gonzaga basketball.

Preceded in death by her parents, eight brothers, and three sisters, Sister Rita is survived by her sister, Rosemary (Dave) Young and a sister-in-law Angie Miller, all of Spokane, Washington, her nieces, nephews, and the Sisters of Annunciation Monastery.
Memorials may be made to Annunciation Monastery.

To share memories of Sister Rita, visit www.eastgatefuneral.com and sign the online guest book.

Sister Terence Glum, 100, a member of Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck, entered eternal life Thursday, January 13, 2022, at St. Vincent Care Center.

The Mass of Christian Burial is 10:00 a.m., Monday, January 17, in the Chapel of Annunciation Monastery. Visitation is Sunday, January 16, from 1:00 p.m. on, and the vigil service with Sunday Evening Prayer at 7 p.m. in the monastery chapel. Due to current COVID circumstances, services are limited to the sisters, family, and other invited guests. Attendees are requested to wear masks.

Sister Terence (baptized Teresa) was born August 21, 1921 near Hazelton, ND, as one of the nine children of John and Elizabeth (O’Callaghan) Glum. Following graduation from St. Mary’s High School and St. Alexius School of Nursing, Bismarck, ND, Teresa was a lieutenant in the Navy Nurse Corps stationed along the Atlantic seaboard. When she entered the Benedictine community which staffed St. Alexius Hospital, she was among the first class of novices at the newly established Annunciation Monastery.

Sister Terence’s preparation as an anesthetist was at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska with subsequent service at St. Alexius and Garrison Hospitals. She was part of setting up the first EEG department in North Dakota after taking a course in Electroencephalography. Beginning as an instructor at Mary College in 1970, Sister Terence went on to receive her master’s in biology from the University of South Dakota and then served as an associate professor in the University of Mary’s science department and later assisted in the registrar’s office. Sister Terence was grateful for the opportunity she had to educate people in healthcare. On an occasion of having surgery she was delighted to learn that all five nurses were former students. Since 1999 Sister Terence assisted at the monastery in many and varied ways which included tending flower beds, extending hospitality as information desk operator, assisting monastery staff, and knitting a multitude of items, such as sweaters, booties, and hats and scarves which were donated to the needy. At the time of her 70th jubilee celebration of monastic profession in 2018, Sister Terence expressed her happiness for support received in community. This past August was a glad occasion of welcoming nieces and nephews to her 100th birthday celebration with the Sisters of Annunciation Monastery.

Sister Terence is survived by nieces and nephews and the Sisters of Annunciation Monastery.
Memorials may be made to Annunciation Monastery.

To share memories of Sister Terence, visit www.eastgatefuneral.com and sign the online guest book.

Sister Madonna Wagendorf, 94, a member of Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck, entered eternal life Monday, December 13, 2021, at St. Vincent’s Care Center. Visitation at the monastery will be Wednesday, December 15 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a vigil service at 7 p.m. in the Chapel of Annunciation Monastery. The Mass of Christian Burial is Thursday, December 16 at 3:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Annunciation Monastery with visitation from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. Attendees are requested to wear masks. The funeral will be livestreamed at www.eastgatefuneral.com .