Eugenia "Jean" Schumacher, 97, of Fargo, ND, formerly of Linton, ND, died December 13, 2024 at Eventide Care Center, Fargo, ND.  Mass oof Christian Burial will take place at 10:00am on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at St. Anthony Catholic Church with Fr. Mark Aune and Fr. Bruce Krebs officiating.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.  Visitation will take place 1 hour before the services.

Eugenia (Jean) Vetter was born July 24, 1927 to Frank & Genevieve (Schlosser) Vetter in Emmons County, North Dakota. She was raised on the Vetter family farm east of Linton, where she helped with the farm work and raising her younger siblings. Jean attended rural country school and later was a teacher at a country school.

She met the love of her life, Martin Schumacher, at a community dance, on the 4th of July in Strasburg, North Dakota. They were married on January 8, 1947 at Rosenthal Catholic Church rural Linton, ND.  Following their wedding, they moved to the Schumacher family homestead, west of Linton, where Martin was already farming.  During their time on the farm, they raised five children: Alvin, Valencia, Mary Ann, Robert (Bob) & Sharon. They were active members of the St. Bernard Church, played cards with the neighbors during the winter, and went dancing. Jean enjoyed working outdoors and would be on top of the haystacks during the haying season. She raised geese, turkeys, laying hens, and several hundred "springers."

In 1979, they retired from farming and moved to Linton with their youngest daughter Sharon. She was active in St. Anthony's Catholic Church, helped Martin in his duties as a Deacon, taught CCD, and helped  manage the local Food Pantry for nine years. Jean enjoyed gardening, sewing, baking, crafts and playing cards.  She made blankets for her children and grandchildren. While living in Linton, Jean was a long term member of the Linton American Legion Auxiliary, Catholic Daughters and the Linton Senior Citizens.  She also helped with local, state and national elections.

After 56 years of marriage, Martin passed away on Nov. 8, 2004. Jean lived independently in Linton for the next 10 years. During this time, she enjoyed going to the Casinos, eating out, playing cards and bingo. She also enjoyed flying to Alaska to visit her daughter Sharon, with her niece, Luella Jochim.

In November 2014, Jean decided that she did not want to live alone anymore and moved to The Legacy Place, an assisted living facility managed by her granddaughter Nikki Schumacher Grebel, in Valley City, ND. Jean told one of her children that she was afraid of the move, because she had never lived outside of Emmons County and did not know how to make new friends. Not only did she make many friends at The Legacy Place, but she also enjoyed being close to family, her granddaughter Nikki, son Alvin, daughter-in-law Betty, and great-grandsons.  She loved to play pinochle at the VFW club and enjoyed mass at St. Katherine's Catholic Church every Saturday night in Valley City. Jean often talked about her "Angel," Betty taking her to and from church every Saturday and making her a grilled cheese sandwich/soup for her. In July 2017, she celebrated her 90th birthday at The Legacy Place, with all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren present.

After a brief hospitalization, on September 1, 2017, Jean moved into the Eventide Fargo Care Center, where she has resided since that time. For the fifth time in her life, she adapted to a change in her living situation, developing new friendships, enjoying new activities, and watching out for the other residents in the home.  During her time at Eventide, her youngest son, Robert and daughter-in-law Shirley took care of her needs, while visiting her several times a week.

Jean was a kind caring woman, loved by all who met her, but especially her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great great-granchildren. She had the gift of making people in her life feel loved and special.

Jean is survived by four of her children: Valencia Wald, Mary Ann (John Crawford) Coupland, Robert (Shirley) Schumacher, Sharon (Matthew) Fishel; her daughter-in-law, Betty Schumacher; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Mary (Leo) Hulm and her brothers: Tony (Sandy) & Tim Vetter.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband Martin; eldest son, Alvin; parents: Frank and Genevieve Vetter; son-in-law, James (Jim) Wald; grandsons: Michael & Thomas Wald and Michael Fishel; sister, Virginia Vetsch, and brothers: Joe, Leo, Frank Vetter and their respective spouses.

Jean lived to the grand age of 97, passing away on December 13, 2024. She was/is loved by all who knew her and will be missed.