Virgil Koenig

Virgil Dwain Koenig, born October 22, 1931, in Woodworth, North Dakota, passed away peacefully on January 4th, 2025, in Bismarck, North Dakota. A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM at the Bismarck Funeral Home. Visitation will be at the Bismarck Funeral Home on Friday, January 10 from 5:30 to 7:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. Burial will be held in June 2025 at Fairview Cemetery, Robinson North Dakota. 

He was the son of George and Lorel (Peyer) Koenig and was raised on a farm south of Chasely, North Dakota, along with his brother Garry and sister Jean.

Virgil graduated from high school in Bowdon, North Dakota, and in 1950 met Fern Mary Ann Reinhardt. They married on September 23, 1951, and spent 13 years farming north of Robinson, North Dakota. In 1964, they sold the farm and moved to Mandan, where Virgil worked at Amoco Oil Refinery for 27 years as an operator and later a supervisor. After 28 years of marriage, Virgil and Fern divorced but reunited five years later, remarrying on April 13, 1984. They shared immense love and a remarkable journey together. Virgil’s devotion was unwavering as he made daily visits to Fern at the nursing home for more than eight years until her passing in 2018.

In his earlier years, Virgil enjoyed riding horses, hunting with hounds, trapping muskrats and mink, and playing baseball for the Robinson League. His lifelong passions included deer hunting, camping, and fishing with his family, playing cards or Sequence, gambling at the casino (where he often won and loved to tell the story), and enjoying Bingo and Texas Hold 'em with his close friends Tim and Shawna Rice.

Virgil was a committed father to five children: Cheryle Fern (Donald Schaff) of Rawlins, Wyoming; Corey Dwain (Jody Dunn) of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Crystal Jan (Paul Stockert) of Mandan; Clay Grant (Kymberly Krause) of Mandan; and Chenoa Michelle (Michael Wilson) of Montgomery, Minnesota. He was blessed with ten grandchildren—Dominic Schaff, Darielle Schaff, Danielle Jackson (Bo), Derek Schaff, Joshua Koenig (Shannon), Jacob Koenig, Richard Stockert, Jaclyn Schulz (Cody), Mitchell Wilson, and Savanna Wilson—and seven great-grandchildren: Garrett Steele, Ryder Jackson, Cameron McCann, Egan Koenig, Gunner Schulz, Grace Schulz, and Andi Wolfe.

Virgil is survived by his sister, Jean Jasper; four children; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Garry; wife, Fern; oldest daughter, Cheryle and son-in-law, Donald.

Virgil will be remembered as a complex man—perfectionistic and stern, yet lighthearted and loving. May his memory bring comfort to all who knew him.