Camilla M Gross

Camilla M. Gross, 52, Bismarck, ND, died November 7, 2011, at St. Alexius Medical Center, Bismarck. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 pm Saturday, November 12, at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Bismarck, with Rev. Brian Gross officiating. Burial will be held Monday, November 14, at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm Friday, November 11, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a vigil/rosary will begin at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Camilla Marie was born August 21, 1959, in Bismarck, the daughter of F. Howard and Marion Rose Gartner Reinke, of Flasher, ND. She graduated from Flasher High School in 1977 and from Bismarck State College with an Associate's degree in 1979. Cam met the love of her life, Stephen L. Gross, while she was working for Heartview Foundation in Mandan. After moving to Omaha, NE, where Steve was attending dental school at Creighton University, the two were married on December 24, 1981. Upon completion of dental school, Steve joined the Navy. For the first year of their marriage, they lived in Vista, CA, while Steve was stationed at Camp Pendelton. While they were in California, Cam gave birth to their first child, Matthew, who was born November 1, 1982, at the Naval Regional Medical Center. In the fall of 1983, they moved to Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico, where their daughter, Amanda, was born on May 30, 1984. In July of 1986, they moved back to North Dakota to be near family. Cam and Steve subsequently purchased a dental practice in Bismarck. Cam was instrumental in the success of the practice, ensuring the practice provided dedicated care to its patients. Cam's roles allowed Steve to focus on dental work while she managed everything else. Both the dental practice and family home flourished under her loving, meticulous care. In December of 1995, Cam was diagnosed with cancer. She fought her battle with three different cancers for 16 years. Throughout her battle, Cam never complained, maintaining a positive attitude and unwillingness to give up. Cam always felt you had to play the hand you were dealt in life. Her family and friends were blessed to see her play her hand to the fullest and were often in awe of the courage and strength she displayed in her battle with cancer; after her stem cell transplant, she was told to take six months off, instead she took two days. Cam was devoted to her family and especially enjoyed watching and coaching their sporting activities. She made her home a welcoming place for all, and many family events were held there. She loved traveling the world with Steve. One of the highlights of her travels was meeting Pope John Paul II, shaking his hand, and having a short conversation with him. After having lived in Puerto Rico for three years, Caribbean vacations were always a favorite. Cam served on the Bismarck State College Alumni Assocation's Board of Directors from 1993-1999. She held roles as the Vice President, President and Chair. Her hobbies included reading, cooking, and gardening. Big Sky skiing vacations were a Christmas tradition for Camilla. She loved being on the mountain with her husband, children and relatives and attending midnight services. She will always be remembered as generous, loving, caring, gracious, and beautiful. Camilla is survived by her husband, Stephen L. Gross, Bismarck; her son, Matthew Vicki Gross, Bismarck; and her daughter, Amanda James Hillis, Chesterfield, MO; granddaughters, Laiken Delia Gross and Aurora Camilla Gross; her brothers and sisters, Alan Jeanne Reinke, Corvallis, OR, Barb Kraft and friend, Jerry Woodbury, Carson, ND, Tracy Brad Offutt, Rochester, MN, Naomi Dean Bohner, Lake Park, MN, and Mary Dave Mattern, Lawrence, KS; her father-in-law, Math Gross, Bismarck; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Jennifer Reinke, Mandan, Dick Elizabeth Gross, Bismarck, Jean Bryce Eaton, Brainerd, MN, and Gerald Donna Gross, Fargo, ND; her nieces and nephews, Tiffany, Nicole and Scott Reinke, Alanna Chris Solberg, Sarah and Alyssa Offutt, Katie and Megan Bohner, Stephanie, Mark and Alexis Mattern, Hunter and Hudson Reinke, Amber Michael Burke, David Gennefer Gross, Emily Eaton, and Alexandra Gross. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Bob; her mother-in-law, Maggie Gross; brother-in-law, Dick Kraft and her niece, Sidney Rose Reinke.

Camilla M Gross

August 21, 1959 - November 7, 2011