Freda McKay, 91,Velva, formerly of Minot and rural Drake, passed away Saturday, January 2, 2016 at the Souris Valley Care Center in Velva.

Freda Esther Blumhagen was born August 16, 1924 to David & Rose (Hirsch) Blumhagen in Rosenfeld Township of Sheridan County, south of Drake, ND and grew up on the family farm. She attended Rosenfeld #4 school and later attained her GED. Over the years worked for different families in the surrounding area.

While a member of the Rosenfeld Baptist Church she taught Bible school . She was also a cook at the Crystal Springs Bible Camp for campers over the summer months.

In 1947 she was united in marriage to Edward Kemper and they resided on a farm south of Drake. They later divorced. She raised her family on the Blumhagen family farm. Edward died in January of 1996.

While cooking at Kings Food Host in Minot, she met Douglas Sasse and they were married in September of 1974. He died in May 1992.

On October 5, 1997 she married Denver McKay of Minot. He died in January 5, 2001.

Freda was a member of the First Baptist Church in Minot and the XYZ club there as well.

Over the years she loved reading and crocheting, and sold hundreds of doilies at local craft sales in which she loved to participate and visit with the customers.

In July 2009 she entered the Souris Valley Care Center in Velva and had resided there since.

Freda was preceded in death by her parents; her three husbands; infant son James, and son John Wesley Kemper; brother, Robert Blumhagen; sister Verna Carlson: and great-great-grandson, Drake Kemper II.

Freda is survived by her daughter Linda (Art) Grochow of Wahpeton; 2 sons Weston (Val) Kemper of Minot and Paul (Barb) Kemper of Aurora, Co; daughter- in- law, Mary Ann Kemper of Peoria, AZ; brother, Herbert Blumhagen of Drake; sister, Florence Blumhagen of Harvey; brother- in- law, David Carlson of Washburn; 6 grandchildren, Nicole Grochow of Goodhue, MN, Sheri (Lalo) Soto of Glendale, AZ, Julia (Jeff) Schmaltz of Fargo, John Wesley (Katie) Kemper, Jr. of Peoria, AZ, Alyssa Kemper-Kraft of Minot and David (Jamie) Kemper of Minot ; 8 great-grandchildren, Drake Kemper of Escondido, CA., Natalie Soto of Glendale, AZ, Chase Kemper of Peoria, AZ, Grace & Maya Schmaltz of Fargo, Acelynn and Amyrn Kraft of Minot, and Koen Kemper of Minot; step-children Ann Marie Edwards, Alan Sasse and John Sasse; and several nieces and nephews.

Her funeral will be held Thursday, January 7, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Community Baptist Church in Anamoose with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour before the service at the church. Arrangements with Bethke-Nelson Funeral Home of Drake.
In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials to Souris Valley Care Center in Velva.