Sybil J. Wezelman

Sybil J. Wezelman slipped away from this life at her home in Touchmark on West Century in Bismarck on January 30, 2025, at the age of 97.

A private interment was held on February 2, 2025. 

A memorial service will be held Sunday, June 15, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. The service will be live streamed towards the bottom of this page. 

Sybil was born in Bismarck, ND, on August 14, 1927, to Sam and Esther (Savransky) Sloven, the youngest of four children. After graduating from Bismarck High School in 1945, Sybil went west for college. She studied to be a dietician, graduating from the University of California Los Angeles in 1949. Sybil then worked as a hospital dietician in Des Moines, IA, Minneapolis, MN and Chicago, IL. Her young nieces and nephews loved visiting their Aunt Sybil in the cities. She enjoyed having fun with them and spoiling them as only an auntie can do.

In November 1966 Sybil married Sol M. Wezelman, who had been widowed in August 1965. She returned to Bismarck to reside with Sol, a spoiled cat named Tiger, and a spoiled high school senior named Joy – a lot to adjust to. Joy went off to college in 1967. On February 8, 1969, Sybil and Sol welcomed their newborn son, Ira, who was born with Down Syndrome. Sol and Sybil joked that they were a unique family since they had subscriptions to both Ranger Rick and Modern Maturity (AARP’s monthly magazine).

Sybil strived relentlessly to make sure Ira had every opportunity available to him to be part of the community and to reach his full potential. She was a tireless advocate for people with developmental and other disabilities, testifying before legislative committees, serving on the local and state boards of the Association for Retarded Citizens (now known as The Arc) and on the state board of Easter Seals, where she met her dear and special lifelong friend, Barbara Evanson. Sybil never thought of herself as courageous or heroic, but by stepping outside her comfort zone to fight for her son she was a mentor and role model for many who followed in her path.

In addition to her volunteer advocacy work Sybil also managed to find time to volunteer at The Arc Thrift Store and the Bismarck Emergency Food Pantry. And she managed to squeeze in time for pleasure or fun. She enjoyed playing bridge, reading, cooking, going for walks, watching the Minnesota Twins on television, concerts, plays, movies and music.

Much to her surprise, Sybil also became an exercise aficionado. She first started going to the YMCA so Ira could be around other children and learn to swim. When Ira no longer went to the Y, Sybil continued to attend classes there well into her 80’s, as much for the socializing as for the workouts. Once more she inspired and served as a role model, this time for the younger women in her Jazzercise and Zumba classes. Regular exercise remained an important part of Sybil’s life up to her final weeks when her body would no longer cooperate.

Travel enriched Sybil’s life, too. She made at least two trips to Israel to visit family. She and Sol enjoyed many summer vacations with her sister and brother-in-law, Charlotte and Norman Kamins. Other adventures included a cruise through the Panama Canal, time in Costa Rica, and an Alaskan cruise.

Sybil’s Jewish faith was very important to her. During the years when Bismarck had a small but active Jewish community, she always participated in the Ladies Aid, Sisterhood and Hadassah meetings, and pitched in for special events. Parents were expected to teach Sunday School, so she tried her hand at that, too. An important weekly ritual was Shabbat, the Jewish sabbath, that begins on Friday evening and ends on Saturday evening. Besides being an excellent cook and master salad-maker, Sybil was a gracious host and took great pleasure inviting family, friends or even Jewish strangers who happened to be in town to share Shabbat dinner in her home. When Sol and Sybil moved to Touchmark, where lighted candles were not allowed and they took their meals in the dining room, Sybil would still light the candles (battery operated tapers) and recite the traditional blessings.

Sybil is survived by her son, Ira, and stepdaughter, Joy. In addition, she is survived by one beloved sister-in-law, Saralee Sloven, West Des Moines, IA, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, great nieces, great nephews, and friends. Sybil was preceded in death by her husband, Sol, all of her siblings, and many sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

The family extends special thanks to the staff and team members at Touchmark who took such good care of Sybil as she transitioned from independent living to assisted living and, finally, to memory care. The family also extends deep appreciation to Hospice of the Red River Valley, who made Sybil’s last two months as comfortable as possible.

Memorials may made to Pride, Inc., P.O. Box 4086, Bismarck, ND 58502-4086; Bismarck Emergency Food Pantry, 220 West Front Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58504; the Bismarck Library Foundation, 515 North 5th Street, Bismarck, ND 58501; or to a charity of the donor’s choice.