Agnes Stumpf

Agnes Stumpf, 93, of Bismarck, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on December 16, 2024 at the Baptist Home, Bismarck.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at Church of St. Anne, Bismarck, ND. The burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bismarck, ND. 

Visitation will be held Friday, December 27, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Bismarck Funeral Home, with a Rosary and Vigil Service at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Saturday. 

Agnes Eva (Kottre) Stumpf was born to Steven and Margaret (Kaip) Kottre on April 22, 1931. She grew up on a farm near Glen Ulin, ND along with three sisters and five brothers. 

In 1947, Agnes graduated from Sacred Heart School in Glen Ullin. She spent a few months living in Oregon before moving to Bismarck permanently in 1950. Working at a diner, she met the love of her life, John Stumpf. She didn’t make it easy for John, but before he left for Air Force training, she was his forever. The two were married on August 16, 1951 in Boise, Idaho where John was stationed. 

In March 1952, Agnes gave birth to their first child, John (Jackie) while living on base in Idaho. Prior to John shipping off to Libia, to fight in the Korean war, Agnes and Jackie moved back to Bismarck to live with John’s parents, Nick and Pauline Stumpf. They treated Agnes and their first grandson like royalty. 

Once John was discharged from service in 1953, they moved into a small home on South 16th Street in Bismarck. It was there that Agnes and John added three more boys to the family; Dana (1955), Bill (1956) and Tom (1959). They soon outgrew that home and moved to their forever home on Avenue D in 1960. Here, three more children were added to the family;Jan (1961), Linda (1966) and Cliff (1967). 

Agnes loved the outdoors. She would camp, boat and fish with her family. She loved to work outside whether that was working in her gardens or just going for a walk when the weather was nice. When her boys were young and active in Scouts, Agnes was the Cub/Boy Scout troop leader. She was an avid gardener, not just with plants and flowers, she had a huge vegetable garden she would tend too and feed her family from. Besides being an excellent cook, Agnes could preserve anything she grew. She took great pride in feeding her family a home cooked meal every night served at the dinner table. 

With all these kiddo’s running around, Agnes still had time to enjoy many of her hobbies. She would sew many of her children’s clothes along with her own. She would often crochet or patch jeans late into the evening watching the Johnny Carson Show. She would both sew and crochet quilts and blankets as gifts – her hands were always busy. 

Agnes loved a good bargain and a good yard sale. Many of the items she would buy she would turn around and donate. One of her favorite charities was the Ruth Meiers Hospitality House. She would clip coupons, watch her sales and not only shop for her family, but also for the RMHH. She would deliver once her car was loaded down with grocery bags of donations. She would do this multiple times per year. In 1998, she was featured in the RMHH doner profile. They asked her why she did this and she replied, “You know it might be silly to you, but most of my adult life, I’ve had a recurring dream I’m stranded and penniless. I think God has directed me through my dreams to take action.”

Family was always a priority for Agnes. A family bond was the most important thing to her. She didn’t always have that growing up, so she worked hard to keep her family unit strong. Christmas was always her favorite time of year, as most of her family would be together. She loved to sing, especially Christmas songs. 

Besides her love of family, Agnes was known for her love and devotion to God and our Lord, Jesus Christ. Agnes’s devote Catholic faith permeated her everyday life, from what she watched on TV, to what she read. She was the first person friends and family would turn to when they needed a “prayer warrior”, she was it! Her Faith grew stronger every day she aged. Agnes collected hundreds of angels over her lifetime. Today, her collection would pale in comparison to the angels she is singing with now. 

Agnes is survived by her children: John (Pat) Stumpf, AZ, Dana Stumpf, Bismarck, Bill (Vicki) Stumpf, MN, Tom (Kim) Stumpf, WA, Jan (Mike) Colling, Bismarck, Linda Stumpf, Bismarck and Cliff (Jen) Stumpf, Bismarck; Grandchildren: Jason (Madison) Stumpf, CA, Kyle (Kelsie) Stumpf, AZ, Dylan & Logan Stumpf, MN, Elliott (Savannah) Stumpf, MN Emily (Keith) Pouley, WA, Jessica (Brian) Barsness, Micheal Colling, Bismarck, Natalee & Alexis Stumpf, Bismarck, Josh & Andy Muehler, Bismarck; and Great Grandchildren: Taysha Colling, Bismarck, Eden & Laine Barsness, Bismarck, Keller & Sloan Stumpf, AZ, Alaina, Sophia, Stetson and Dawson Stumpf, MN, Kinsley & Maverick Pouley, WA, Jaxson & Ayla Muehler, Bismarck

Agnes was preceded in death by her husband, John; her parents; and all of her siblings and in-laws.