Julia Feist

Julia Feist, 96, died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck. 

She was born December 26, 1925, in Zeeland ND, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Schneider) Feist. Julia was educated in Zeeland until 1941, then followed her two eldest sisters, Eva and Katherine, to Bismarck to finish her schooling. After graduating from Bismarck High School in 1942, Julia, or Julie, as she was often called, worked as a grocery store clerk, and as a bookkeeper and teller at First National Bank, (US Bank) a career that spanned 28 years. She took an early retirement but continued to work for the North Dakota Tax Department part-time each year. She also continued as a long-time volunteer at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where she was a member for more than seventy years, as was her sister, Clara, with whom she shared a residence until Clara’s death in 2013.

Julia enjoyed travel and made three trips abroad. She visited Europe, including Rome, the Vatican City, and surrounding countries, and she also visited the Holy Land of Jerusalem. In the USA she visited the east coast on fall foliage tours, historical tours of the Revolutionary and Civil War Battlefields, Washington D.C. and Florida, Tennessee, Branson Missouri and many other southern and eastern states.  She visited friends and relatives in many states across the country, Hawaii, and took a cruise to Alaska. 

Julia enjoyed collecting small antiques, dishes, and memorabilia and she had many beautiful and interesting pieces.                                    

She was an excellent cook and baker, and she always had a welcome mat in front of her door. Julia was a bright, beautiful, wonderful person who had a special place in her heart for children. She gave generously to those in need and delighted in sharing her knowledge with children and her wisdom with all who asked her advice. Her favorite charity was Disabled American Veterans.

She was preceded in death by her entire birth family; her parents; three brothers, John, Walter and Leo Feist; and six sisters, Eva Matz, Betty Nolz, Katherine Strong, Mary Palmer, Clara Feist and Agatha Materi.

Julia leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, including special nieces, Clara Nolz, Aberdeen, S.D., and Mary Kalvoda, Willmar, Minn. She will be greatly missed by her family and her friends.

The family prefers memorials to a charity of the donor’s choice.

A graveside service was held Monday, Jan. 24 at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bismarck. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Further arrangements are pending with Eastgate Funeral Service.