Brenda Rauser

Brenda J. Rauser, 56, of Mandan, formerly of Williston, passed away at the Sanford Hospital in Bismarck on Thursday evening, March 16, 2023.  In keeping with Brenda’s wishes, cremation has taken place. 

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Williston on Friday, March 24, 2023. Rev. Ross Reinhiller will officiate.

Friends may view pictures and sign a guest book at Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home in Williston on Thursday, from 9:00 AM until 7:00 PM and for the hour preceding the service at the church on Friday. 

There will be a family service, open to the public, at 7:00 PM on Thursday evening at Everson Coughlin Funeral Home.

Brenda Jean Rauser was born on July 26, 1966, in Mayville North Dakota. She spent most of her childhood on the farm in Anamoose North Dakota. She moved to Williston where she eventually graduated in 1984. In the summer of 1984, she met the love of her life Rick Rauser, and they were united in marriage in 1987. They then had three children Nathan, Lacey, and Trevor. She kept busy attending the kids’ sporting events and extracurricular activities, and baking. She was an excellent cook. While raising the children she worked at Bethel Nursing Home, Wal Mart, and Sabin Metal. In 2011 Brenda and Rick sold their house west of Williston and purchased their dream home in Mandan ND.

In Brenda’s free time she was an avid Vikings fan you could find her on Sunday afternoons coaching the Vikings through the tv. One of Brenda’s biggest joys in life were her grandchildren Baylie, Sylas, Averi, and “B”. She was very excited to become a grandma again in June 2023. We know she is in heaven waiting anxiously for the arrival of her next grandson. Her grandchildren will miss their “Mugga” deeply. Her biggest passion in life was fishing. Brenda and Rick purchased a cabin in Van Hook on Lake Sakakawea in 2014. Every summer she could be found casting rods, taking grandkids to the beach, BBQ, and roasting marshmallows with the grandkids.

Brenda was always taking care of someone whether it was one of the grandkids, checking on her in laws daily, or one of her parents. When her mother Carol was diagnosed with cancer, she rarely left her side. Brenda was beyond kind; in January she spent all week with her father-in-law Jim after he had a surgery. Every time she came to Williston, she was always taking her uncle Randy to lunch and to get groceries, she always made sure he had everything he ever needed. Brenda will be greatly missed by all.

Brenda knew she didn’t have much time after being diagnosed with systemic scleroderma in 2017, but that didn’t slow her down she loved life and was always optimistic. In the past few years Brenda took frequent trips to Mayo Clinic for doctor appointments. This fall Brenda was planning to take place in a medical trial for people with advanced scleroderma.

Brenda’s unexpected passing was a devastation to her family and friends.

Surviving Brenda is her husband, Rick Rauser; her son, Nathan (Melissa) Rauser; daughter, Lacey (Blaine) Stevens; son, Trevor (Cassie) Rauser; in-laws, James, and Loyce Rauser; grandchildren, Baylie, Sylas, Averi, Little Blayne, unborn baby Rauser; brothers, Richard, Travis, and Justin Rademacher; sisters, Jennifer Rademacher, and Shelly Abell and her fur babies, Sobe and Azi.

Proceeding her in death are her parents, Carol, and Robert Rademacher; her father, James Sutton; nephew, Erik Rauser and niece, Sadie Rauser and her fishing partner Cheri Vondall.

Friends are welcome to visit www.eversoncoughlin.com to share memories of Brenda or leave condolences for her family.