Mary “Jane” Gilbraith, 91, of West Fargo, passed away peacefully of natural causes Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo.
Jane was born Nov. 20, 1934, in Devils Lake, ND, an only child, to Joseph and Lucy (Mertens) Ziegler. She was raised on a farm east of Devils Lake where she attended the Catholic School System and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in 1952.
On Nov. 5, 1952, she married Max Gilbraith at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Devils Lake, ND. They started their home in Devils Lake and came to Fargo, ND, in 1976. They were married for 71 years, and she was very proud of that and very proud of her seven children.
She enjoyed doing home décor projects, arts and crafts, and later had her own cleaning business. She loved to take walks, watch The Young and Restless, and started a bell collection with over 100 bells. She had two family dogs; Patti and Chrisy and she was always their favorite. To pass the time she enjoyed watching basketball, football and Dancing with the Stars.
She was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in West Fargo. Jane was a devout Catholic. Exposing and teaching her family about the Catholic faith was important to her and she made sure the family attended Sunday mass together each week.
As of September 2023, she resided at Good Samaritan in Fargo and residents said she was so “sweet.” Her name, Mary, means compassionate and she was.
Jane is survived by her seven children; Steven (Mary Beth Burggraff), Isanti, MN, Brian (Cheryl), Billings, MT, Kevin, Coon Rapids, MN, Kim Armbrust, Fargo, ND, Kelly Stone, Wagoner, OK, Joseph, Fargo, ND, Lisa (Keith) Van Dyke, Maple Grove, MN; ten grandchildren; Jamie, Shannon, Joshua, Jordan, Adam, Benjamin, Andrew S., Matthew, Erin, Tyler; 13 great-grandchildren; Everett, Evelynn, Gavin, Gabe, Lucy, Andrew G., Emily, Zoe, Lena, Maeve, Andrew A., Arlo and Greta and two great-great-grandchildren, Charley and Lainey.
Jane was preceded in death by her husband Max, parents Joseph and Lucy; and one grandson Calvin Armbrust.
Service will be held Spring 2026 with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, South, Fargo.
West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center, westfuneralhome.com
