06 Apr Genevieve Berg

Genevieve Berg, 67, was called to heaven April 3, 2020 after passing away, with her husband by her side, at Sanford Health following complications due to her blood disorder. Private family Mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, with a burial at the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

Genevieve Margaret Schell was born February 25, 1953 in Rugby, ND to Peter and Barbara Schell. She was raised on a family farm near Towner with her thirteen siblings. She loved country life, riding horse and singing and playing her guitar with her sisters at special events. Genny attended Berwick Grade School and graduated from Towner High School in 1971. She was then employed as a secretary in Rugby for Production Credit Associates and later JC Penney as a catalog supervisor.

During this time, Genny met her first husband, Allen Volk. They were married in August of 1979 and resided in Minot. From this marriage, came two daughters, Sarah and Lisa. Due to an unexpected medical condition, Allen passed away in 1985 after six years of marriage with Genny. Sarah was just 5 years old and Lisa was only a newborn at 5 months old. Taking care of her young girls became the utmost priority in her life.

Four years later, in March of 1989, Genny married Steven Berg and they made their home of 31 years in Bismarck. Four years later, the birth of their daughter, Whitney, completed their family. Genny’s role as a wife, mother and grandmother is what she cherished most in life. Having her family all gathered together filled her heart with love and brought her immense joy.

Genny was a gifted writer and wrote beautifully about real life experiences, which she wrote about in her daily journal and shared in personal letters and greeting cards. She wrote and illustrated several children’s books for her daughters and her grandchildren. Genny also loved curling up in her recliner with a good book and a warm blanket.

Genny brought joy and beauty to the world through her loving ways, personal attention to family and friends and countless hours of planting flowers around her home. Anyone who walked into her backyard was quick to see her love of gardening and accomplished green thumb. For 20 years, Genny also planted flowers at the Ascension Catholic Church, where her family regularly attended weekly services. She wanted to share her love of flowers and spread beauty to all who gathered there.

A very important part of Genny’s life was her deep faith and love for God. Even through the most difficult times, her faith was unwavering and she found strength in knowing that He was always with her. She found great comfort in praying for her family and those she loved.

The family would like to thank the many doctors and nurses at Sanford Health who took care of Genny over the past 31 years. She had a deep appreciation for the wonderful nurses of the Sanford Infusion Center, whom she came to know and love as she received hundreds of treatments for her lifelong blood disorder. Her genuine caring and loving actions and meaningful words of wisdom are what made her bond with everyone so special and life lasting.

Genny’s life is a legacy built on family and friendship that she continuously nurtured through meaningful words and actions that displayed her kindness, generosity and sincerity.  All that knew her truly loved her and knew she was special.

Genny is survived by her loving husband, Steve; three daughters, Sarah (Erik) Olson, Lisa (Jamie) Bercier and Whitney Berg; six grandchildren, Emma and Ava Olson, Marshall and Sawyer Bercier, Branson Bell and Cecelia Dixon; siblings, Pasty (Dale) Luther, Fred (Becky) Schell, Carol Garman, Frank (Metta) Schell, Barb (Gerry) Volk, Carlotta Schall, Kathy (Gordy) Boutilier, Myron (Carol) Schell, Renae (Fritz) Perkins and Brian Schell; sisters-in-law, Carole Schell and Judith Schell; and many nephews, nieces and numerous close friends.

Genny was preceded in death by her husband, Allen; parents, Peter and Barbara Schell; brothers, Kenny Schell and Larry Schell; sister, Bernice Schell; and brothers-in-law, Jerry Garman and Duane Schall.

To view the funeral service please click here.