Marie Harper

Marie Harper, 80, Bismarck, died September 8, 2014. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am Monday, September 15 at Church of Corpus Christi, Bismarck, with Rev. Paul Becker officiating. Burial will be held at St. Mary's Cemetery, Bismarck. Family will be greeting visitors starting at 6:00 pm Sunday, September 14, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a vigil/rosary will begin at 7:00 pm. Cremation has taken place. Marie was born September 20, 1933, on a farm southwest of Shields, ND, the second child of John and Rose Blotsky. Her twin brother, Joseph, died at birth. Marie's father, John, died in 1935 and Marie, her mother, and sister Isabel, moved to Shields. The family then moved to Selfridge, ND, where Marie received her elementary education in Shields and Selfridge. In 1949, the family moved to McIntosh, SD. Marie was a junior in high school and graduated in 1951. After graduation, Marie and her sister Isabel, moved to Bismarck, ND, where she worked as a legal secretary at the law firm, Cox, Pearce, and Engebretson, from 1951 to 1960. Marie married Robert Harper on August 8, 1960, and the couple was blessed with three daughters, Rosemarie in 1960, Juanita in 1961 and Jane in 1963. In 1965, Bob was killed while on active duty with the US Air Force in Havre, MT, and Marie became a widow at the age of 32. Between the years of 1965-1977, Marie did volunteer work for the church and schools. She worked for the ND Legislature in 1977 and then became employed as the administrative assistant to the Assistant Superintendent with the ND State Department of Public Instruction in Bismarck. Marie received a degree in business administration from the University of Mary in 1986. She retired from the Department of Public Instruction in 1995. Marie was a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Parish, served as an Eucharistic Minister, and belonged to a discussion group. She was active in Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, and enjoyed spending time with her neighbors and friends and traveling. Marie is survived by her daughters, Rosemarie Cross, Evergreen, CO, Juanita David Thompson, Panama City, FL, and Jane Vincent Nyhan, Dayton, OH; and her seven grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert; her twin brother at birth, Joseph; and her sister, Isabel.

Marie Harper

September 20, 1933 - September 8, 2014