Nance Catherine Underdahl-Bower

Nance Catherine Underdahl-Bower passed away peacefully at the age of 74 on August 8, 2023, at her Fishers, IN home surrounded by her son, Dyame and husband, Howard.  She fought a four-year battle with cancer which resulted, through the grace of God, in victory over the disease. At the time of death, she received a peace that passes all understanding and a perfect healing.

Nance was born in North Dakota on March 8, 1949, and was raised on a dairy farm in Hebron, ND by her father and mother, Norbert and Mildred Underdahl. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, her aunts Verda Hueple and Betty (Phillip) Messer, uncle Robert (Gloria) Schmalenberger, and Cousin Laurel Schatz.  Nance is survived by her husband, Howard, sister Pat Peterson and brother John Underdahl both of North Dakota, sister-in-law Sharon Lutter of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Aunts Gladys (Florian) Woroniecki of North Dakota, Joyce (Harold) Schatz of Hawaii, uncles Jacob Schmalenberger (Alice), Allan (Georgiann) Schmalenberger both of North Dakota, daughter Terisinia (Jerry) Hintz of North Dakota, son Dyame (Joanie) Martin of North Carolina, and stepson Kevin (Amy) Bower of South Carolina.  Nance also leaves behind two nieces, eight grandchildren and numerous cousins.

Nance had spent most of her life caring for others. This started as being the oldest of three children helping care for her brother and sister while doing various chores on the farm. She graduated from Hebron High School in 1967 and Dickinson State College with a degree in Nursing. She also held jobs as Clerk of Courts in North Dakota, land title work in the oil and gas industry and right-away work in the pipeline and utility industries.

Nance was a dedicated member of Geist Christian Church and a former member of St. Margaret’s Hospital Guild in Indianapolis.

Her hobbies and passions included creating pottery, focusing on hand building and offering her creations as gifts to many. She also was a proficient seamstress enjoying making clothes for family members. She was an accomplished cook and baker and especially enjoyed baking around the holiday with traditional German and Norwegian family recipes.

Nance looked at each stage of her life as the next great adventure. Because of her caring nature she made many friends. She will forever be remembered and missed by friends and family alike.

A celebration of Nance’s life at Geist Christian Church (Mud Creek Campus) in Indianapolis, IN is planned for October 1st at 2pm. Her final resting place will be at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful and caring staff at Community MD Anderson Cancer Center- North and the prayer support from the prayer groups and ministerial staff at Geist Christian Church.

If anyone wishes to make a donation, we would ask that you make to the following in her name:

Geist Christian Church, Indianapolis, IN

Community MD Anderson Cancer Center- North Indianapolis, IN

Franciscan Hospice Care, Indianapolis IN