Elizabeth "Liz" N. Hagemeister

Elizabeth Nell (Jalbert) Hagemeister, 81, of Argusville, North Dakota, passed away peacefully on October 3, 2023. She was under the care of hospice at SMP St. Catherine’s South in Fargo at the time of her death.

Liz was born in Fargo, ND, to Arnold and Loraine (Skyberg) Jalbert on January 10, 1942. She attended school in Grandin, graduating in 1960. Growing up on a farm northeast of Grandin, Liz was the only girl. She spent her days with her younger brother, Daryl, her four nephews, Ron, Russ, Lynn and Bryan (sons of her older brother, Lewie). She learned from a young age how to stand her ground. They made many memories together including the dances at Herb Johnson’s barn in Arthur. That is where she taught her brother Daryl how to jitter bug and other “rock n roll” dances. Liz enjoyed playing basketball and softball in her school years. At the time, girls were only allowed to play 6-on-6 basketball. She could never understand why they didn’t let the girls play full court like the boys.

She lost her mom at age 16 and her dad passed only three years later. Daryl and Liz lived together in Fargo while she attended Interstate Business College and then started working at the North Dakota Air National Guard in 1962. She worked there until her retirement in 2000 after 38 years. She saw many changes in that time including women being able to join the Air Guard. She, however, remained one of the few civilian workers on base.

December of 1966, Liz married Wayne Hagemeister of Argusville, ND. They lived in Fargo before making a home in Argusville in 1970, where they raised four children. Liz’s priority was her children and she appreciated every milestone she was able to share with them that she didn’t have with her parents.

She always loved sports, especially basketball, and she even played on a city league until the early ’80s. The Boston Celtics, UConn Huskies women’s basketball and Minnesota Lynx and Timberwolves were her favorites. But they took a backseat to any team her children or grandchildren were on.

Liz was a strong-willed progressive woman, quick to smile, with an open heart and a witty sense of humor. She provided for her family by working full-time, sewing clothes for her children and herself, gardening, canning, baking and even served as a hairdresser for her young children, giving them haircuts, highlights and perms. She was a voracious reader; a hobby that helped her to unwind at the end of a long day. You always knew where you stood with her. She didn’t hesitate to establish boundaries when something didn’t align with her priorities. She was often tested over the years, an auto accident that pinned her leg, multiple knee surgeries with an eventual knee replacement, two back surgeries, and lung cancer three times.

Elizabeth is survived by her children, Paul Hagemeister of Argusville, Beth Hagemeister of Argusville, Ellen (David) Nowatzki of Grand Forks, and Eric (Kara) Hagemeister of Fargo; brother Daryl (Linda) Jalbert of Detroit Lakes, MN; her nephews Russ (Geri) Jalbert of Grandin, Bryan (MaryEllen) Jalbert of Watertown, SD; niece-in-law Margaret (Lynn) Jalbert of Fargo, ND; and five grandchildren.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Hagemeister; parents, Arnold and Loraine Jalbert; brother, Lewie (Frances) Jalbert; nephews, Ron Jalbert and Lynn Jalbert; and sister-in-law, Marie (Daryl) Jalbert and MaryEllen Jalbert.

Visitation will be Friday, October 6, from 5-6:30 pm followed by a prayer service in Argusville at the United Church of Christ. A funeral service will be held at 6 pm Saturday, October 7, with a visitation 1 hour prior at Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center.

Memorials may be given to Essentia Health Oncology – Fargo, Planned Parenthood, or Hospice Red River Valley.