Frances Hieb
August 16, 1923 — March 1, 2023
Bismarck
Frances Hieb, 99, Bismarck, peacefully went home to Heaven on March 1, 2023 with her family by her side after a long and well-lived life. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 7 at Bismarck Community Church, 1617 Michigan Ave., Bismarck. A service livestream will be available on the funeral home's website and will later be added as a recording.
Visitation will be held 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck. A prayer service and a time for sharing of memories will be held at 7 p.m.
Burial will be held at Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck.
Frances Pauline Hintz was born August 16, 1923 to Edward and Lydia (Schroeder) Hintz in Elgin, North Dakota. She lived with her parents, sister, and brother near the Heart River until they built the dam that created Lake Tschida, flooding their land. Living through the Great Depression and placing great value in not letting anything go to waste, Frances' dad took the barn down board by board and nail by nail. When they moved to their new farm near Raleigh, North Dakota, they rebuilt it using those same boards and nails.
Education was always extremely important to Frances, and in order to continue her education past eighth grade, she moved in with a family in New Leipzig, doing light housekeeping for the family in exchange for room and board while attending high school. She graduated from New Leipzig High School in 1942. Despite her parents' views that girls shouldn't go to college, but rather get married and start a family, she saved money to put herself through Dickinson State College where she earned her teaching certificate. She taught in one-room schoolhouses for eight years in several parts of North Dakota, including Grant, Hettinger, Burleigh, and Emmons counties. The students she taught spoke almost exclusively German, but when the Department of Education began requiring English to be the primary language in schools, she became what is now known as an English as a Second Language teacher, as well.
While walking home from school, she began noticing a young man working on a farm. After several days noticing each other, the young man walked over and introduced himself. After talking a few times, he asked her on a date. Her mother wondered if it was a good idea, but Frances knew it was. She married Walter Magstadt later that same year, on December 12, 1943. Together they had four sons: Larry, Gene, Bruce, and Kevin.
During their marriage, they lived with Walter's employer south of the Magstadt family farm before moving to Billings, Montana; south of Hebron, North Dakota; near Menoken, North Dakota; Bismarck, North Dakota, and Meade, Kansas.
In 1964, Frances and Walter began custom harvesting from Texas to Canada. She delighted in cooking large meals, traveling, and making great friends wherever they went. They continued harvesting until Walter's accident and death in 1972.
Following Walter's death, Frances moved back to Bismarck with her two youngest sons and worked for several companies painting and helping refinish homes. The skills she developed were not only beneficial for her employers, but also her children, when as adults, she helped them make their houses homes.
She married Emil Hieb in Bismarck on January 19, 1974. The two were great companions and loved to camp, fish, and travel together. Emil passed away in 1998.
Frances loved family gatherings and hosted many holidays, picnics, and other special occasions in her home. She was an amazing cook, and it wasn’t uncommon for her to feed large groups of people. German streudel, stirrum, and dumplings were family favorites, along with her canning and baking. She loved crafts, especially sewing, which she started at a young age. She even sewed the flower girl dresses for her grandson's wedding.
Frances attended Bismarck Community Church for many years and participated in the church choir, women’s groups, Bible studies, teaching Sunday School, and the church auxiliary. Despite losing her parents, husbands, two sons, both siblings, and a great granddaughter, her faith in God was strong and never wavered.
She continued living on her own until moving in with her son, Kevin, daughter-in-law, Kris, and their children, Nicole and Eric, for seven years before moving into adult foster care with her cousin, Peg Schadler, in 2010. She moved into Augusta Place in 2020.
Frances' family would like to thank Peg Schadler and the staff at Augusta Place for their compassionate care over the past 13 years.
Frances is survived by her sons, Larry (Lauren) and Kevin (Kris); daughters-in-law, Lynell and Deb Magstadt; sister-in-law, Arlene Magstadt; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren; and many special nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Lydia Hintz; husband, Walter Magstadt, the love of her life; husband, Emil Hieb; dear sons, Gene and Bruce Magstadt; sister, Ellen Latham; brother, James Hintz; sister-in-law, Mary Jane Hintz; brothers-in-law, Richard, Raymond, and Marvin Magstadt; and great-granddaughter, Willow Glarum.
Her family has requested memorials be given to Bismarck Community Church.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Monday, March 6, 2023
5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)
Parkway Funeral and Cremation Service
Prayer Service
Monday, March 6, 2023
Starts at 7:00 pm (Central time)
Parkway Funeral and Cremation Service
Funeral Service
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)
Bismarck Community Church
Livestream
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