Iona Arlene Fried, 93, Minot, died Thursday, October 3, 2019 in a Minot Nursing Home with family members by her side.

She was born April 3, 1926 in Max, North Dakota to John and Katherine (Finkbiener) Flath. She was raised and educated in Max and graduated from Max High School in 1944.

She was employed in Garrison prior to her marriage to Rienhold "Rienie" Fried on November 25, 1944 in Max. They made their home on a farm south of Max for several years and then moved to a farm south of Garrison in McLean County. They sold their land to the Corps of Engineers for the building of the Garrison Dam. They moved to Minot in 1950 prior to the flooding of Lake Sakakawea. She was employed by Ellison's Department Store prior to becoming a nursing assistant at Trinity Hospital. She retired after approximately 25 years of dedicated service. Rienhold died on October 26, 1998. She continued to live in Minot after her husband's death.

Iona was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Minot, and was currently attending Our Redeemer's Church. After retirement she did volunteer work at Trinity Hospital, Minot Public Library, Trinity Auxiliary and Trinity Homes. Iona and Rienie started working as volunteers for the North Dakota Parks and Recreation in 1989. They worked as campground hosts throughout North Dakota at several state parks. Iona and Rienie spent the summers of 1992 and 1993 in Alaska where they volunteered at Captain Cooks Recreational Area on the Kenai Peninsula. They traveled throughout the United States. She enjoyed gardening, especially tending to her flowers, along with crocheting, knitting, reading, and fishing.

Her loving family includes: children Corliss (James "Bob") Walker, Perrysburg, OH; Cheryl Stephens, Ferndale, WA; Warren (Sonya) Fried, Minot; Glenn Fried, Minot and Katherine Neer, Lakeland, Florida; 9 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 54 years, Rienhold, and son in law Terry Stephens.

Funeral service: Monday, October 14, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.
Visitation: Sunday, October 13th from 2:00-4:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to Trinity Hospital Foundation or Hospital Auxiliary.

Iona Fried Flowers