Location: Twp 151 N, S 24, R 72 W

St. Boniface Church of Odessa District was located 3 1/2 miles east and 2 1/2 miles north of Selz. The cemetery was across the road to the east of the church, placing it in Benson County since the road was the dividing line between Pierce and Benson Counties.
The church was first organized in 1895 with the construction of a prayer house which served as a church for 10 years. During this time, Fr. Wagner made regular visits with occasional visits by Benedictine Fathers from St. Gall Priory, Devils Lake, ND.
In 1905, Rev. Buehler had a church built with a 500 seat capacity. The church had a membership of 69 families, all total of 498 persons (all were Germans from Russia and their descendants). Between 1907-1908, 13 families departed for Canada, where homestead land was still available.
This church survived until 1930 when services were discontinued, familiesreassigned to Esmond and Selz, and the church demolished. People who died during the last few years of the church's existence were sometimes buried at Selz, Edmond, Strassburg, or Minnewaukan, depending on the wishes and convenience of the priest or survivors. The church cemetery records show this to be the case.
Priests who were assigned to St. Boniface Church of Odessa at one time or another were: Rev. Buehler, Rev. Anthony Woeste, Rev. Joseph Augustine Kern, Rev. M. V. Mueller, Rev. Herman J. Deiker, Rev. Antonius Nussbaumer, Rev. Basilius Thum, Rev. Ambrosius Johannes, Rev. Herbert Buerschinger, Rev. Geogius Keim, and Rev. Otmar Steinhart. Some of these priests served more than one parish simultaneously. Church records which survive are in the custody of the resident priest of St. Boniface Church of Esmond, N D.
Today, the condition of the Odessa cemetery is in a sad state of disrepair. Wooden grave markers have virtually disintegrated. All paint is gone from wooden and wrought iron crosses, therefore there is no way to identify the descendant. The few which can still be identified are the marble and stone markers into which names were chiseled. Such is usually the case with rural cemeteries which today are usually located out on the plains far from urban areas.

Date given is date of death.  Additional names are either parents or spouse.
* - burial at Selz                  *** - burial at Strassburg
** - burial at Esmond          **** - burial at Minnewaukan