Ermalene Arlene Baltrusch, 88, of Fessenden, ND passed away on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 at Missouri Slope Nursing Home in Bismarck, ND. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 AM Thursday, October 8, 2026 at the Bowdon Church of God with Pastor Dale Peaslee officiating. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, ND. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Bowdon Church of God: P.O. Box 25 Bowdon, ND 58418 or to the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery: 4606 Highway 1806 Mandan, ND 58554.

Ermalene Arlene (Aipperspach) Baltrusch was born December 8, 1937 to Gottlieb and Bertha (Duetcher) Aipperspach in Streeter, ND. She attended school until the eighth grade, later completing high school when she earned her GED. While attending the Wells County Fair in 1957, a terrible storm forced fair-goers into the Festival Hall to seek shelter. It was there that she met the love of her life, Lynn Allen Baltrusch. The couple married five months later on November 2, 1957 in Fessenden.

While residing in Fessenden, Erma painted and cleaned homes. She did photography, and enjoyed music and playing the saxophone, counted cross-stitch, and competitive shooting. Erma was active in the Fessenden Baptist Church, the Bowdon Church of God, the American Legion Auxiliary, and Ham Radio. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Erma is survived by her husband of 68 years, Lynn; son, Joey (Janet) Baltrusch; her daughter, Tina (Allan) Rask; grandchildren, Kelsie Baltrusch, Allan Jr. (Alicia) Rask, and Ian (Jessica) Rask; great-grandchildren, Kelsie, Aubree, and Angela; sister, Delilah Basche; and brothers, Deral Aipperspach and Roy Aipperspach.

She was preceded in death by her son, Timmy Baltrusch; her parents, Gottlieb and Bertha Aipperspach; and her brother, Earl Aipperspach.