Fiegen/Beil Final Memorial Fundraising Drive Set
This year is the first in decades that St. Catherine Catholic Church will not hold their annual Christmas Eve Dinner, its cancellation due to COVID. In years past, volunteers cooked up turkey, sides and desserts to share, food provided by the Dick Fiegen Memorial Fund. The event has long created a special place for community members to gather and enjoy food and fellowship in celebration of the holy holiday.
The Dick Fiegen memorial was founded by Joe Lunde and John Beil almost 10
years ago to honor Dick Fiegen. He, along with his wife Rayma, had been involved in the Christmas Eve Meal for more than 20 years, and Rayma continues helping with it to this day. John and Joe were inspired to create the memorial as a project to give them purpose and ground them as they grieved the loss of loved ones: John had lost his brother, Rodney, and Joe had lost his son, Evan. The Memorial Fund donates food to the St. Catherine Church’s Christmas Eve Dinner and gives what funds are left to the Salvation Army and the Barnes County Food Pantry.
This year, the St. Catherine Christmas Eve Dinner won’t be happening due to current circumstances. However, Rayma says, the Barnes County Food Pantry is still in great need of community do
nations. John Beil passed away in March of this year, and Rayma asks that folks remember his commitment to making sure those in need were taken care of by making
donations to the Dick Fiegen Memorial Fund. They will use all of the funds raised to donate to the Barnes County Food Pantry, helping ensure that people in need this holiday season are provided for.
Donations to the
Barnes County Food Pantry can be food products like canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, jelly, canned pasta, pancake syrup and personal care items. Monies donated are used for products like meat, eggs, milk,
fresh fruit and veggies and bread. Food Pantry leadership says that they appreciate monetary donations at this time because of limited space and their location in the Senior Center, where it’s imported to prevent COVID-19 exposure to
senior citizens.
To donate to the Dick Fiegen Memorial Fund in memory of Dick Fiegen and/or John Beil during this final fundraiser, mail checks to Rayma Beil Fiegen at 923 7th Ave NW, Valley City, ND, 58072.
“Thank you for your prior donations,” Rayma says to the community. “I know John would be extremely pleased knowing that what he was so committed to doing will be done again this Christmas season.”