Theresa Toby J. McWilliams

Theresa J. Toby McWilliams, 89 went to loved ones on March 5, 2013 at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center with family at her side. Services will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, March 8, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck, with Rev. Ed Wehner officiating. Burial will be held at 10:00 am Monday, March 11, at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Thursday, March 7, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 E Divide Ave, Bismarck, where a Catholic Daughters Rosary will begin at 6:00 pm, followed by a time of sharing. Theresa was born August 20, 1923, in Devils Lake, ND, the daughter of Frank and Christine Burckhard. She graduated from Devils Lake Central High School. After graduation Toby moved to New York via train where she worked in an office until returning back to her roots of Devils Lake where she met and married Capt. Victor Mac McWilliams in 1949. They made their home at Camp Grafton until moving to Bismarck in 1963. While at Camp Grafton Toby and Mac had four children who made camp their personal adventure land. Toby also worked at the Ramsey County Treasurer's Office. Mac was transferred to Bismarck at Fraine Barracks and Toby worked at the Department of Transportation while raising her family. After many years with DOT she moved on to the Burleigh County Treasures Office until her retirement. Upon Macs retirement they built their dream ranch south of Bismarck where gardening and hosting parties became a familiar occurrence. After Toby's retirement they enjoyed many winters in Mesa, AZ. Toby could be found in the pool every morning doing her water exercises or playing bridge with her snowbird friends. Her two sisters and brother also had winter homes in Mesa. Toby looked forward to her annual trips where she and her siblings would share good times and family stories. Toby was a master seamstress sewing her and her daughter's wardrobes for the finest occasions. She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting and needlepoint which was evident in all of the gifts made for her children, grandchildren, great-children, as well as family and friends Toby's family and faith were an integral part of her life. Even to the end she attended weekly mass, and was a lifelong member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. While in Bismarck her day started with morning exercise in the YMCA pool. Spending time with her family and grandchildren brought most joy to Toby, she was often found in the kitchen baking for all to enjoy. Toby and Mac made lifelong friends in the Cathedral District which shaped their family's Bismarck life. Toby is survived by her sons, Alan Bismarck and Victor Sonoma, CA; one daughter Pattie Burt Bismarck; three sisters, Betty Leo Johnson, Annandale, MN, Jeanette Ziegler, Arlington, TX, Bonnie Ron Woodward, Seattle, WA; brother, James Burckhard, NM; sister-in-law, Dot Burckhard, East Grand Forks, MN; grandchildren, Jen Jeb Delzer, Wesley Rivinius, McKala Nic Nehring, Jaime Crystal and Jesse Emily Stephan; great-grandchildren, Ali, Alex, Macie, Kyler, and Kaylan Delzer, Ryker John Rivinius Landers, Alex, Marshall, Mason, Brooklyn, Cali Stephan, Hanna, Hannah, Ella Stephan, and Adeline Nehring; and many nieces and nephews. Toby was preceded in death by her son James Jim McWilliams; husband, Victor; parents; two sisters and brothers in-law, Ann Hank Mertens, Eva Arlo Thompson; brother, Frank; brother in-law, Larry Ziegler and great-grandchild, Lillian Delzer; The family would like to thank Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center staff for their care and support. Toby was always treated as family both spiritually and physically. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

Theresa Toby J. McWilliams

August 20, 1923 - March 5, 2013