Emily Jean Bass – Obituary

Emily (Chic) Jean Bass, age 81 of Grand Forks, ND, passed away on Sunday, January 26th, 2025 at Altru Hospital.  

Emily, the daughter of Davis and Mae (LADOUCER) Johnson, was born in Wahalla, ND, on January 11th, 1944, where they lived until they moved to Grand Forks, ND.  Emily married in 1960 and after moving to Fargo, ND, with her husband, she gave birth to her son Davis in 1961.  Emily and her son moved back to Grand Forks, ND, where she worked at Whities Cafe and began dating Donald E. Bass who was in the US Air Force at the time.  Her son Dean was born in 1968 and Emily and Donald were married on December 12th, 1969.  They all later moved to Midland, MI, until 1976 when they moved back to Grand Forks, ND and in 1991, Emily and Donald adopted their granddaughter, Alicia.  During the next few years Emily worked at various locations including GF Public Schools Cafeteria, Kmart and UND Custodial Services until she completed her High School Diploma and would later obtain her CNA Certification where she began working in the health care field.  She retired in 2011 but continued to provide childcare services for her grandchildren and family members and enjoyed volunteering at St. Michaels Church.

Emily greatly enjoyed spending time visiting with her family, grandchildren, friends and in her spare time loved gardening, fishing, camping, traveling and decorating her home for numerous holidays.

She is survived by her sons Davis (Shelly) Hamilton of East Grand Forks, MN, Dean Bass of Grand Forks, ND and her daughter Alicia (Matt) Bullinger of East Grand Forks, MN; 7 grandchildren; 14 greatgrandchildren; 4 sisters Judy (Dick) Yuric of AZ, Marlys Zapata of TX, Linda Kubash of TX, Sally (Mike) Nelson of Grand Forks, ND, and many, many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Emily was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Henry Johnson, Joseph Johnson, Victor Johnson; and her sister Doris Bigues.

Mass of Christian Burial:  11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 6, 2025 in St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Grand Forks, ND.

Visitation: 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday with a 4:30 p.m. rosary service and 6:30 p.m. vigil service in the Historic Norman Funeral Home.  Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the liturgy in the church on Thursday.

Burial: Calvary North Cemetery, Grand Forks, ND, in the spring.

Arrangements are with the Norman Funeral Home of Grand Forks, ND.

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