Germaine "Geri" Senger

Germaine “Geri” Senger, 90, Woodbury, MN, formerly of Bismarck, passed away April 10, 2025. Mass of Christian burial will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 22 at Church of Corpus Christi, 1919 N Second St, Bismarck. A livestream of the Funeral Mass will be available on the church's YouTube, listed here: https://www.youtube.com/c/CorpusBismarck

Visitation will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Monday at Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck. A rosary/vigil service will begin at 6:30 p.m. A livestream of the vigil service will be available below.

Burial will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

Geri was born on November 23, 1934 in a home in Grant County, North Dakota. She was the oldest of 10 children born to Neifa (Kopp) and Dayo Koch. She was raised on a farm near Shields and attended a one-room schoolhouse for grades 1-8, then Flasher High School. At a young age, her parents impressed upon her the importance of obtaining a formal education, which Mike and Geri then passed along to their children. She found her calling after caring for injured farm animals. Geri knew then she wanted to become a nurse and wanted to help people. After high school, she went on to earn her degree as a Registered Nurse, graduating from St. Alexius Nursing School in 1956. She also served as a nurse in the Army Reserve. Geri was a strong, resilient, and intelligent woman who served as an admired and respected mentor and friend; and she continued to keep in touch with so many people throughout her life.

Geri married Michael (Mike) Senger in 1958. Together they raised six children. Geri worked evenings at St. Alexius Hospital for many years while raising their family. Even while working evenings, she had a hot dinner prepared for the family to enjoy. For many years the family also had lunch together, since the kids could make the quick walk home from Cathedral Grade School, and Mike often stopped home for lunch as well. Geri and Mike lived lives of faith, trusting in the Lord and raising their children to do the same. This included making sacrifices to send them to Catholic schools.

Geri was a lifelong learner and engaged in many activities throughout her life. Geri served as a volunteer in Girl Scouting, was a charter member of the Elkettes, a charter member of the Dakota Zoo, a charter member of Gateway to Science Center and participated in Catholic Daughters, to name a few. At the age of 50, she learned to play tennis and cross-country ski, and began to practice the art of painting, which became a passion of hers. She often took painting classes with her daughters and granddaughters. Mike and Geri moved to Woodbury in 2003, and were very active in the lives of their grandchildren. Geri’s influence on others can be seen and felt by those who knew her. Family, friends, and caregivers alike were honored to know her. She had a matter-of-fact outlook about life, and was always generous and kind. Geri was committed to attending and volunteering at family and community events and activities. She enjoyed card and board games throughout her life and had an uncanny way of getting a Yahtzee! Geri was a good cook, and entertained her extended family on many occasions, providing delicious meals and treats. Even with a family of eight, friends always felt welcome in her home, and there was always room for one more at the table. Geri was especially known for her caramel rolls, colorful rosettes, chocolate chip cookies, pigs in a blanket and Borscht soup.

Geri is survived by her six children, Michelle (Sparb) Collins, Bismarck, ND, Cheryl (Mark) Elsbernd, Woodbury, MN, Mike (Nancy) Senger, Aberdeen, SD, Mary Senger, Woodbury, MN, Susan (Terry) Johnson, Cottage Grove, MN, and Patricia (Darcy) Sperle, Woodbury, MN; her twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, Amanda (Jon) Dodds and Zuri, Brandon (Zoua) Collins, Laura (Ben) Becher and Paisley, Kristin (Austin) Olson and Ava, Michael (Taylor) Elsbernd, Scott Senger (Melissa Chan), Andrea Senger, Matthew Senger, Abbie Johnson, Katja Johnson, Andrew Sperle and Maggie Sperle; her siblings, Delores Emineth, Vancouver, WA, Bill (Leona) Koch, Mandan, ND, Loretta Barron, Coralville, IA, Jim Koch, Bismarck, ND, Rose (Gary) Braun, Bismarck, ND, Linda (George) Kraft, Cottonwood, AZ, and Kathy (Dan) Wolf, Bismarck, ND, and sister-in-law, Kay Koch, Bismarck, ND. She is also survived by Mike’s sister Arlene (Pius) Keller, Bismarck, ND and sister-in-law Irene Senger, Bismarck, ND. Departed family members include her husband, Mike Senger, her parents, Neifa and Dayo Koch, brothers Edmund Koch and Frank Koch, and brothers-in-law, Mike Emineth and Joe Barron. Departed members of Mike's family include John and Clara Senger, William Senger, Thomas Senger, Joe Senger, Betty and Charlie Burdett, Ann Kline, Cecile Senger, Helen Senger, and Donna and Ed Holta.

Memorials may be sent to the Frank Koch Lab at the Gateway to Science Center, 1600 Canary Ave, Bismarck, ND 58503; or at the link, available here.