Greta Monette, 83, passed away peacefully on March 2, 2021 at the Rolette Community Care Center following a long battle with dementia.

Mary Greta Gailfus was born in Rolla, ND on February 9, 1938 to Alfred and Mary (Sturgis) Gailfus. As the 6th of 11 children, she often expressed her ire of being the middle child. She was baptized at the United Methodist Church and attended school in Rolla. She worked at Munro's Theater throughout her high school years and where she met John Monette. John and Greta were married in 1956 at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Belcourt, ND and together they raised five children: Vicki (Greg) Hauff of Humboldt, SD, Julie (Richard) McCloud of Belcourt ND, Mark (Terri) Monette of Alexandria, MN, Daryl (Deneen) Monette of Ellendale ND, and Robert (Sandy) Monette of Rolla, ND. Greta was blessed with 13 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Greta was definitely a hard worker and tended to instill that work ethic on her children and grandchildren. She was always busy. When she wasn't delivering meals or cooking for the farm hands and family, she was out chasing cattle, taking care of livestock, mowing lawn, etc. There was always something to do, and she did it. After 35 years of marriage, she and John divorced and Greta embarked on a few life adventures. She first moved to Cormorant Lake, MN and helped her sister Lorraine with their restaurant business. She later returned and worked at Ojibwa School as a music teacher for a short time. She secured a position as Deputy Clerk and later as Clerk of Court for Rolette County. She worked many years and truly enjoyed that job until she retired. After retirement she moved to Fargo and couldn't sit around so she went back to work with her sister Beth as an office clerk at the Veteran's Administration and manager of a local cemetery in Fargo as well. She moved to Ignacio Colorado where she lived near her sister, Marj. They owned a ranch and called it GreMar, after the two sisters. Greta was in heaven helping them with the horses at the ranch and absolutely loved the area, but she dearly missed her family. She had a way of developing a unique relationship with every family member and made everyone feel special to her.

She eventually came back to North Dakota and moved to Ellendale where she lived happily until dementia started intruding. Even as dementia slowly took her away from us, she always maintained her sense of humor. She moved to several different care facilities as her disease progressed and eventually went to the Rolette Community Care Center, where they took great care of her and Greta became known for her caring and compassionate nature. Greta thought she worked there and liked to help to take care of other residents if she saw they needed consoling or comforting.

Greta always had a deep love for horses. She had owned and cared for several horses at the farm, and often joked with her siblings that they only came out to visit just to ride her horses. Her other hobbies included collecting things that warmed her heart. Greta had a passion for music and liked listening to old time, gospel, country, or whatever touched her soul. Music was a big part of the Gailfus family and gatherings were often spent around the piano sharing the music they all enjoyed.

Greta had such a way with words and often wrote poems for us to enjoy. Wherever she was, there was laughter. Greta's family, her children included, have her sense of humor (some may say a bit odd). Reunions and gathering were always fun events, full of laughter and good-hearted joking.

Greta is preceded in death by her mother and father, grandson Chad, brothers: Jim, John, and Bill, sisters: Lorraine, Marj, and Beth, and three infant siblings who passed away at childbirth. She will be lovingly missed by her children and grandchildren, brothers Robert and Richard Gailfus, Sisters Debbie Iverson, and Dianne Peltier, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements made by Elick Funeral Home in Rolla, ND.

A memorial service will be held at the funeral home on Monday, March 8, 2021 at 11 a.m. by Paster Rick Craig from the United Methodist Church. A meal will follow after the service at the Fred C Wagner Legion post cabin in Rolla.