Regina "Jean" Gefroh

Regina “Jean” S. Gefroh, 86, Bismarck, ND, passed away October 12, 2018, surrounded by her loving family. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday, October 17, at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, 519 Raymond St., Bismarck, with Rev. Austin Vetter officiating. Burial will be at 2:00 pm at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Tuesday, October 16, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a rosary/vigil will begin at 7:00 pm. Jean was born February 21, 1932, to Frederick and Jennie (Merck) Kraft on the family farm in Karlsruhe. She met her high school sweetheart, Peter Gefroh, at age 16. Their marriage took place July 10, 1951, on her family farm. Jean received her teaching degree from Minot State University and began teaching in 1951 at White Consolidated School near Anamoose. Pete and Jean moved to Minot, where Pete continued his education. They then moved to Palermo, New Leipzig, Walhalla, and finally, Bismarck. Jean was a devoted mother and grandmother. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years, later working at the Cheddar Box and Uniform Center “for fun.” She enjoyed gardening, crafting, sewing and quilting, and if she saw someone doing a needle/sewing project, she was determined to give it a try herself, including tatting and hardanger. Every Christmas, the grandkids received some kind of craft project, a funny ornament or a beautiful piece of needlework. Everything she made was made with love. Every grandchild was her favorite. “You’re my favorite (insert name here)!” She never failed to send them her homemade sewn valentines and sing birthday greetings. Jean was at every sporting activity for her kids and was their biggest fan. She loved sports and continued to be an enthusiast long after any of her kids, grandkids, nieces, and nephews were competing. She was a great fan of the St. Mary’s Saints and the University of Mary Marauders and was either present at, listening to, or viewing nearly every game-no matter the sport. Jean was a woman of deep faith. She was an active member of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, helping in pre-marriage counseling, funeral receptions, and many other church-related activities. Pete died in 2003, and Jean became the family matriarch, the light of her family’s lives. She brought so much love and joy to everyone she met. She had a gift of making everyone feel special and had great empathy for mankind. She was very spiritual and lived by the Golden Rule. Jean is survived by three sons, Jim, Watford City; Dan (Lori), Underwood, and their children, Holly Gefroh-Grimes, Matthew Gefroh and Kayla Gefroh Wentz; Bill (Diana), Bismarck, and his two daughters, Sara and Nicole Gefroh; three daughters, Mary Jean (Don) Olson, Devils Lake, and her two children, Robert and Jeanna Ness; Sandy (Dieter) Schilling, Lakeville, MN, and their children, Greta and Kurt Schilling; and Liz (Allan) Beckert, Bismarck, and their children, Hunter and Alaina Beckert; seven great-grandchildren; her brother, Jim (Eileen) Kraft, Minot; and sisters, Alice Gustafson, Helena, MT, and Colette (Woody) Hamele, Papillion, NE. She was preceded in death by her husband, Peter M.; infant son, Robert; parents; brothers, Arnold, Bonaventure, Clair, Ferdinand “Fred”, and David; and sisters, Agnes Kraft, Victoria Krueger, and Hedwiga Kraft.