Barbara Jean Gilchrist

Barbara Jean Gilchrist, 84, Bismarck, died of complications from an aortic aneurysm on February 10, 2016. A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 10:30 AM at Church of Corpus Christi in Bismarck with Rev. Paul Becker officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bismarck. There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Barbara took great pride that she was born shoulder first in a log cabin in south Burleigh County on a very hot July 19, 1931, to Alexander and Ruth (Gamble) Asbridge. Her early years were spent on the family farm where her loves included riding her horse with her dog, Keedledark, and attending a one-room country school. At the age of seven, she lost her father and the family moved into Bismarck. She graduated from Bismarck High School in 1949 and would have been first in her class, had it not been for the B in typing. Barbara married Francis Gilchrist on June 18, 1952, at St. Mary’s rectory, and they were married until his death on January 2, 1999. Her career was raising five children and being a surrogate mother and a short order cook to the multitude of her children’s friends. The door to the Gilchrist home was always open. Barbara’s wit was as quick as her two-step. Her sparkling blue eyes loved taking in the beautiful blue skies, clouds, and sunsets of North Dakota. Barbara is survived by her children, Pinky (Marie) Gilchrist and friend, Wynn Keller; Kevin (Ann) Gilchrist and their sons, Michael and Thomas; Bridget (Bruce) Whittey and sons, Benjamin Schmidt (Leslie and daughter, Piper Jean) and Alexander Schmidt (his friend Erin Triplett); Chad (Roni Sue) Gilchrist and their son, Jackson; and Martha Gilchrist; and her sisters, Patricia O’Brien and Beverly O’Brien. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank; her parents, Alexander and Ruth Asbridge; her sister, Emma Marie Zidel; and her brothers, Alexander “Bud” Asbridge and William Swenson. Memorials may be given to Central Dakota Humane Society.