Frances Burckhard

Frances Burckhard, 92, Bismarck, died October 17, 2003, at a Bismarck care center. Funeral services will be Wednesday at 11:00 AM at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit with the Rev. Thomas Kramer officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery in Bismarck. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5:00 to 9:00 PM at Eastgate Funeral Service where a rosary will be held at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue at the church for one hour prior to the service. Frances was born in a sod farmhouse on December 14, 1910, in Emmons County, east of Linton, North Dakota, the daughter of Wendelin and Eva Schweitzer Burckhard. She started school before her sixth birthday, and attended a country public school near St. Michael's Catholic Church. She also attended German school at St. Anthony's Church south of Napoleon, and sang in the choir. Frances loved music and became the organist for St. Michael's Church in 1927. She lived at home until 1936, when she started working as a housekeeper for Msgr. Francis Lauinger at St. Michael's Rectory. She transferred to Hague, North Dakota, in September of 1957, and served as housekeeper at St. Mary's Catholic Church until Msgr. Lauinger died in 1968. Frances then moved to Bismarck where she resided with her sister, Dorothy. She worked at Mary College for nine months and as a cook at St. Vincent's Care Center for nine years, until her retirement in November of 1978. She was a member of Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. Frances was a peaceful person with a deep faith in God, and was devoted to her religion. She belonged to Catholic Daughters, St. Mary's Altar Society, and sang in church choirs for over 50 years. Frances was also a St. Vincent's Auxiliary member and once was a leader of Marie 4-H Club. She enjoyed cooking and baking, gardening, and working with flowers. Her favorite past-time was diving into a book for some good reading. Frances is survived by many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly, and many good friends, especially Clarence and Vivian Miller. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Anton and Carl Burckhard, Sebastian and Wendelin "Wendy" Burckhardt, and three infant brothers; and her sisters, Dorothy Scherr and Christine Feist, and two infant sisters.

Frances Burckhard

December 14, 1910 - October 17, 2003