Marcella Urlaub

Marcella M. Urlaub Marcella M. Urlaub, 94, passed away peacefully on August 4, 2007 at Seattle, Washington. She was living in Wenatchee, Washington and had recent cancer surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle. Marcella was born April 20, 1913 in Bird Island, MN. When she was a year old, she accompanied her parents Katherine and John Keltgen to their homestead in Jud, ND where John had homesteaded in 1912. She attended grades 1-7 at Jud School. Music had been her passion from an early age, with music lessons starting at age 8 and playing in the church by age twelve. She started eighth grade at St. Johns Academy in Jamestown and worked different jobs including teaching piano lessons for her board and room. She quickly became proficient at the piano and organ and played in the school orchestra. In 1929 her family moved to Jamestown so the children could all receive a Catholic education. After 5 years she graduated from St. John's Academy in 1930. From Jamestown College she received music and elementary teaching certificates and taught in Stutsman County country schools. Following her three year degree from Valley City College she got a job at Walhalla, ND in 1933. She taught 3rd grade, third grade music classes and high school music for the next 5 years. In Walhalla she met another teacher, Edward Urlaub and they were married June 21, 1939 in Jamestown, ND. Following this marriage, Marcella?s teaching career ended for many years because in those days married women could not teach. Ed soon ended his teaching career and found a job with the Immigration and Naturalization Service. This job took Marcella and her family to Northgate, ND for 2 years until Ed was drafted into the army in WW II. She and her children moved to Jamestown and then Fargo to live with her parents during the war years. Upon discharge in 1945, the family moved to Portal, ND for 2 years. In 1949 they moved back to Walhalla. There they raised their 5 children. After 24 years, Marcella started teaching again in Walhalla at age 53. In 1975, at age 62, after summer schools at UND, Moorhead State and Valley City she graduated from Valley City with a B.S. in education and music. In 1977, she and Ed both retired and moved to Fargo. The next fifteen years they spent traveling and visiting family and friends around the country and enjoying various activities in Fargo. Ed died in 1992. For the 30 years that Marcella lived in Fargo she was quite busy. She preformed on stage with the Silver Follies for more than 5 years. She was very active in the senior citizen kitchen band and was director for years. She was a member of the Catholic Foresters and the Catholic Daughters organizations. Many happy hours were spent listening to and participating with the Fargo-Moorhead music club. Both she and her husband were active in the Fargo Senior Citizens. She participated in the Farm Bureau and the American Legion Auxiliary. From the early days and through her retirement years she was an active member of St. Mary's Cathedral Parish and sang in their choir. Marcella was blessed with a long and full life. She will be greatly missed by her children, grandchildren, family and friends. She is survived by her five children. Janet Urlaub of Bellevue WA; Bernard Urlaub (Karen) of El Cajon, CA; Margaret Viebrock (Sid) of Waterville, WA; Mary Jo Morrissey of Ellensburg, WA; and Michael Urlaub (Claudia) of Gillette, WY. She has eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She is also survived by brothers William Keltgen of Fargo, ND; John Keltgen (Bernadette) of El Dorado Hills, CA; and sisters, Rita Gallagher, Benson, MN and Denver CO; Katherine Ubowski (Henry) of Phoenix AZ; and Doris Mae Bower of Fargo, ND. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward, brother, Victor Keltgen and sisters Zita Geoffroy, Marien Jones, and Jeanette Keltgen. Visitation will be held on Friday, August 17 from 5:00 ? 7:00 p.m. followed by the Rosary and prayer service at Boulger Funeral Home, 123 10th Street South in Fargo, ND. The funeral will be on Saturday, August 18 at St. Mary?s Cathedral, 604 Broadway in Fargo at 10:30 a.m. The family requests any memorials may be given in Marcella's name to the St. Mary's Parish.