Stella Marjorie McDaniel, 89, Minot and formerly of Edmunds, ND, died on Monday, July 2, 2012 in a Minot hospital.

Stella was born on December 20, 1922 in Edmunds, ND to Aden and Dola (Gwynn) Wescom. She was reared and educated in Edmunds and Pingree and graduated from Edmunds High School in 1940. Stella married Loren McDaniel on August 7, 1941 in Wibaux, MT. They made their home on a farm near Edmunds and Pisek and in Tioga where she was employed at two hardware stores, a grocery store and Blikre Motors and was active at First Lutheran Church and served as President of the Tioga Hospital auxiliary. They lived in Rolette prior to moving to Minot in 1967. She was employed at Trinity Hospital, Minot American Legion, Minot office of the Green Thumb organization and Tibke Adult Foster Care Home. Loren died on March 17, 1991.

Stella was a charter member of the Western North Dakota Alzheimers Chapter and served on several task force boards at the state level. She was a member of the planning and training group for the Trinity Nursing Home Alzheimers wing. She was the national Alzheimers contact person for this area, formed and facilitated two support groups for Alzheimers, was a speaker and instructor in the care of Alzheimers patients statewide and hosted numerous seminars in the Minot area on Alzheimers education. Stella was a member of the Women of the Moose, American Legion, V.F.W. and Eagles Auxiliaries.

Stella is survived by her children: Linda McDaniel of Minot and Larry McDaniel of Sioux Falls SD; grandchildren: Carrie Hintzen, Farmington, MN, Sarah Olson, Las Vegas, NV and Brenda (Keith) Belter, New Prague, MN, Lance (Becky) McDaniel, Fargo, ND and Layne McDaniel, Wahpeton; great grandchildren: Connor Hintzen, Mason and Kennedy Belter, Luke and Logan McDaniel, Paige and Dakota McDaniel, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Stella was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter: Lorna Hallahan, sister: Evelyn Cope and brother: Kenneth Wescom.

Graveside Service: Later in the summer at the Edmunds, ND Cemetery.
Booksigning: Thursday July 06, 2012 from noon until 5:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the North Dakota Alzheimers Association or to the American Cancer Society.