11 Apr Bernice Geiger
Surrounded by family and blessed by the prayers of those who love her so dearly, Bernice Marie (Pfau) Geiger, 88, entered eternal life on Easter Monday; April 10, 2023.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 13, 2023, from 4:30 – 7:00 PM at Bismarck Funeral Home, with a Rosary at 7:00 PM. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Friday, April 14, 2023, at St. Anne Catholic Church with celebrant Fr. Wayne Sattler and assisted by Deacon Wayne Jundt. The Rosary and funeral mass will be livestreamed on the Bismarck Funeral Home website Burial will be held in the Spring at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Bernice was joyfully welcomed as the first of eight children to Joseph & Gertrude (Gustin) Pfau on Saturday, March 9, 1935. “Bea” attended elementary school in Flasher, ND. At the age of 14, Bea enrolled in Sacred Heart Academy Minot, ND where she considered a religious vocation. She returned to Flasher to help her parents, completing her HS degree in less than 3 years serving as Valedictorian. Bea moved to Bismarck the following week and began what would become an impressive 34-year career, serving in various roles with NW Bell Telephone Co. She was the recipient of a national award in recognition for her tenacious ability to collect “final bills”.
Bea married Leo Geiger on May 29, 1954, at St Lawrence Catholic Church in Flasher, and while working multiple jobs, they raised three children (Valerie, Bruce & Patrick). They worked tirelessly to build a foundation of faith, stability, and hard work ethic into their family.
Bea was incredibly thrifty, generous and had exceptional organizational skills! Though she suffered many significant trials in her life, Bea clung to her Catholic faith and persevered. An exceptional problem-solver, regardless of the circumstance and challenge, Bea would find a way to work through it – or find a way around it!
“Grandma Bea” will be lovingly remembered for her unwavering commitment to her Catholic faith (watching Mass numerous times throughout the day) and pride in her family. She was a staunch supporter of her family members’ activities and will be remembered for the many unique and quirky traits that made her the beautiful person that she was. Bea was an active member of the Bismarck Eagles Auxiliary and Telephone Co. Pioneers. She also volunteered tireless hours of time & talents to various community and church functions.
Bea’s family will be forever grateful to those who were so incredibly kind and attentive to her medical needs these past few weeks. Dr. John Erickstad & Colette; Renae Duppong; Monica Schaff; the staff at CaringEdge Hospice and Edgewood Village. May you be richly blessed for your kindness to our mother!
Grateful for the blessings & powerful role model of our mother include Valerie (Wayne) Jundt and Patrick (Carol) Geiger. Jundt Grandchildren/Great grandchildren: Kathryn (Jesse) Gregory; Jozef, Philomena, Maria, Athanasius, Agatha, Rita & Agnes. Anne (Ben) Chambers; Luke & Veronica. Geiger Grandchildren/Great grandchildren; Audrey (Ryan) Mayer; “Molly”. Rebecca (Sean) Heath; Elizabeth & Samuel. Matthew (Joan) Geiger; Cecelia & Leo. Siblings James, Judy Howard and Richard (Portland OR).
Bea was preceded in death by her husband Leo (1987), son Bruce (1986), her parents and siblings Mildred Hoffman, Leonard Pfau, Josephine Kranig & Mary Werner.
In lieu of flowers, please have a Mass offered for the repose of the soul of our beloved Bernice and/or a memorial can be made in her honor to the SMCHS Band Department, %1025 N 2nd Street, Bismarck ND 58501
Dearest Mother: You will be sorely missed and never forgotten! May our Risen Lord, the Choirs of Angels and All of the Saints welcome you to Paradise!
Dear Family and Friends of Dear Bernice,
Please accept my heartfelt sympathy and promise of prayers for the loss of this faith-filled, fierce, independent woman. Although we shared only a long-distance relationship, we were kindred spirits in the faith. May Bernice rest in peace, and may heaven be her happy home!
Our deepest sympathies and sincerest condolences.
Carson and Sheryl Fleck
So sorry to hear about your Mom. She was quite the woman. Her family was everything to her. She was always showing pictures of the family, when she came into CVS. Always very proud of her kids and grandkids. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
May her soul rest in peace.
We are so sorry to hear about the loos of your mother. We pray that the Good Lord gives you and your family the fortitude to bear the loos.
Peter and Sylvia
Our Lord created a treasure in our friend Bernice. She blessed many with her banana Bundt cake, lively spirit and distribution of various and sundry gifts to anyone in need.
The Lord and His angels as well as my Aunt Rose Marie have welcomed her home. 💖
My deepest sympathy to all the family, It was such a pleasure working with Bernice she was such a kind and giving person. May she rest in peace…
To the close family and friends of Bernice, my deepest condolences, she will be truly missed. I remember when I used to work at Kohls, and she would stop in a few times while I was working, and we would spend some time catching up. It was comforting to speak with her, especially after Grandma Jo passed. I remember as a kid when she would stop over at Grandma Jo’s house, and they would visit and giggle about old stories together. We will all miss her presence and may she rest in peace in heaven.
A community is most easily and readily geographically located on a map. However, the true depth and soul of an area is a function of its inhabitants. Physically one may observe that this community is growing ever larger and more complex. Deeper analysis reveals that quantitively to this author an immense void. A void not merely of a physically defined nature, yet one of a spiritual context immeasurable by purely logical means, yet so very real to those of discernment. It’s within the physical realm that our Adversary is confined, and it’s his desire that we limit ourselves to that which he is confined by choice. However, the gift of redemption provided us by the Father, Son and Holy Ghost provides us the option to overcome this illusion of perpetual physical confinement. A gift provided us via our wounded Advocate, which Bernice has now realized. There is a void that is only tolerable with this assurance, also my and others’ being fortunate enough to have known you. Life presents itself with numerous regrets, however one of my regrets is not in not having told you Bea how much a valued the times we had together (that includes all of you: Leo et al.) and conveying to you that there are few things in life one looks back on and can say “I wouldn’t trade that time for the world”. Also, whatever redeeming characteristics I may have, were substantially instilled by my experiences with you and yours. It was a quirk of fate that I was able to come to have the experiences with you and Leo. Firstly, with my mother coming off the farm and staying with your young family, and then while walking to my uncle’s house my path crossing Leo’s one day. He was attempting to hitch up a trailer to the Ford pickup (across from BHS the house with the beautiful apricot tree in the back yard) and being I was there, helped guide him to a successful hitch up. Thats how it started back in 1982ish. Although this was decades ago, none-the-less a couldn’t cherish this more. Looking forward to meeting you again.
Our Deepest Sympathy & Prayers
From ALL Our Family To Yours 🙏
Bernice Was A Dear Friend To Our
Family & Especially To Our Mom, Maggie Volk & NOW Bernice & Our Mom, Maggie Are NOW, Once Again, Re-United 💗🙏
Will Enroll …..
Leo & Bernice Geiger & Bruce
In
A Perpetual Holy Mass Enrollment
Bernice, You Will Be Missed
&
You Are Loved 💗🙏
&
Will Miss Our Talks …
&
Feel Blessed To Have Known You
&
Grateful … To Watch Livestream
Service Tonight 🙏
Eternal Rest Grant Unto
Bernice Marie Geiger 💗🙏
&
Let Perpetual Light 🕯️ Shine
Upon Her & May The Souls
Of The Faithful Departed Through The Mercy Of GOD ❤️
May Bernice Marie Geiger
Rest In Peace. Amen 🙏