Bismarck Funeral Home & Crematory

02/09/2026

A final gift of love and clarity. ❤️
Thinking about the future isn’t always easy, but preplanning your funeral is one of the most thoughtful things you can do for your family. By making these choices now, you spare your loved ones from difficult decisions during an emotional time.
Why plan ahead with
Bismarck Funeral Home?
• Lock in Today's Rates: Guarantee your costs and protect your estate from future inflation. No extra charge to guarantee today’s prices.
• Your Wishes, Your Way: Meet one-on-one with one of our funeral directors to ensure every detail reflects your legacy.
• True Peace of Mind: Rest easy knowing it’s all taken care of.
📖 Learn how to get started: https://bismarckfuneralhome.com/preplanning/

02/06/2026

Agnes Siems

Agnes K. Siems, 94, of Bismarck, passed away February 2, 2026.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at Zion Lutheran Church, Bismarck with Rev. Thomas Marcis Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at 2:00 PM at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery. Family will be receiving guests one hour prior to the service.

The full obituary is pending.

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02/06/2026

Arline Emineth

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02/05/2026

Janet Ripplinger

Janet Teresa Ripplinger, age 76 of Bismarck, ND, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, February 2, 2026, at St. Gabriel’s Benedictine Living Community, after battling Parkinson’s for many years and cancer most recently. Mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, February 10th at 10:00 AM at St. Anne’s Catholic Church, Bismarck, ND. Burial will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery south of Mandan, ND.

Visitation will be held from 5-8 PM on Monday, February 9th at the Bismarck Funeral Home. The Rosary and Vigil Service will begin at 7 PM. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the funeral service at the church from 9:00-10:00 AM.

Janet was born August 31, 1949, in Beach, ND to Frank and Sally (Marcella Theisen) Bares. Janet grew up on a family farm five miles east of Beach. She attended school in Beach and graduated high school in 1967. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in teaching from Dickinson State University in 1971. Janet moved to Flasher and started her career in education.

For over 43 years Janet was an educator. She taught 5th grade at Flasher Public School for 29 years. She continued teaching while working on her master’s degree in administration from the University of Mary. She then served as the elementary principal for an additional 14 years. Janet was a devoted teacher whose true passion was her students. She spent her time offering an extra hand and an open heart to every student who needed a little extra to succeed.

Janet’s teaching career led to her meeting Ervin in Flasher. He offered her a ride home one snowy Sunday after church, they began dating and married on August 12, 1972. They made their home in Flasher and had two children, Stacy and Troy. They were married for 53 years.

Upon retirement, Janet shifted her time to focus on Ervin, her children and grandchildren, attending their events whether faith-based, sports or education. She and Ervin were either heading to Alaska or Bismarck on a regular basis to spend time with the kids and grandkids. She loved celebrating their milestones and would always gift them with a special quilt just as her mother had done. Janet was a faithful Catholic and never missed a Sunday, Holy Day and her faith molded many of her family's traditions and cherished memories. In 2019, Ervin and Janet moved to Bismarck. They resided at the Edgewood Village Assisted Living facility and Janet transitioned to St. Gabriels, where she resided until her death.

Janet was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Marcella Bares; siblings, Helen Fischer, Bob Bares, Irvin Bares, Jean Schulte, Genevieve Bares, Mary Bares, and brothers-in-law, Dan Skorheim and Ervin Emter.

She is survived by her husband, Ervin of Bismarck; one daughter, Stacy (Galen Jr.) Brantley [Galen III (Anya), Emma, Elias] of Soldotna, AK; one son, Troy (Rachel) Ripplinger [Kara, Tyler, Blake, Grant] of Bismarck, ND; two brothers, Leroy (Marina) Bares, Tom (Donna) Bares; three sisters, Marge Emter, Kathleen (Gerald) Goroski, Teresa (Wes) Klippen; two brothers-in-law, Clarence Fischer, Delbert (Sherry) Schulte, and a sister-in-law, Marlene Bares.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Janet’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the American Cancer Society, or for her love of teaching to the United Way Backpack Program.

Please join us for fellowship and lunch after the mass. The burial will follow at the Veterans Cemetery at 1 PM.

View Janet Ripplinger's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

02/03/2026

At Bismarck Funeral Home and Crematory, we are proud to offer Bismarck’s only in-house crematory, ensuring your loved one never leaves the care of the staff you've entrusted. This simplified approach provides peace of mind while honoring personal and religious traditions.

02/02/2026

Each year, Groundhog Day offers a hopeful sneak peek toward the future. As we await the forecast—early spring or longer winter—it’s a reminder to embrace the small traditions that brighten our winter days.

02/02/2026

BettyLou Blumhagen

Betty Blumhagen, 78, Kief, took her final breath peacefully surrounded by family on January 29, 2026, at her son's home under the care of Hospice, following complications related to surgery.

Visitation will take place at Bismarck Funeral Home on Friday, February 6, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., followed by burial at 11:00 a.m. at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. A Celebration Of Life will be held later that afternoon from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the American Legion, Butte, ND.

Betty was born to Harlow and Adeline (Filler) Schoenberg on June 13, 1947. She was the oldest of 6 siblings and happened to be born on her parents first wedding anniversary. Betty attended elementary school in Benedict, ND and high school in Max, ND.

Betty and Delton were married on July 18, 1964. The couple made their home in Minot, ND from 1964 to 1970 before moving to the Blumhagen family farm in Kief, ND where they raised their two children. A strong and hardworking woman, Betty worked side by side with Delton farming and ranching. The two of them milked cows, raised pigs, grew small grains, and hauled cattle to market and out to pastures for ND ranchers. She also worked for 9 years for Minot Livestock. Betty loved being outside and working with the farm animals. Over the years she belonged to Share and Gain Homemakers, Harmony Homemakers, and the American Legion Auxiliary in Butte, ND. Betty also loved to volunteer her time at the local food pantry in Drake, ND.

A compassionate and loving mother, Betty taught her two sons many life lessons. Most importantly she taught each of them to be independent, to have a strong work ethic, and to have compassion for others. She had a special relationship with each of her sons and was proud of their successes. Betty liked to listen to old country music on her AM radio and play records with Elvis Presley being one of her favorites. For family holidays she was known for cheese buttons and popcorn balls.

Betty will be deeply missed by her husband, Delton; sons, Wade (Riessa) and Delwin (Diane); grandchildren, KaeLyn (Brad) Plankers, Jarin Blumhagen, Aaron Blumhagen; sister, Gloria (Kenneth) Wilhelm; brothers, Edgar (Dianna) Schoenberg, Alroy (Linda) Schoenberg, Bryon (Cynthia) Schoenberg; along with many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harlow and Adeline Schoenberg; and by her brother and sister-in-law, Darrel and Kathy Schoenberg.

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01/30/2026

We are here to help you through a very difficult point in your life. To listen, to console, to plan and to handle. We are able to offer you guidance and to help you to coordinate a personal tribute that honors the life of your loved one.

01/28/2026

Kathy Anderson

Kathleen “Kathy” Anderson, 85, of Bismarck, passed away Monday, January 26, 2026, at CHI St. Alexius in Bismarck.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 4:00 PM on Saturday, January 31st at GracePoint Church, Bismarck, with Pastor Carey Green officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday, January 30th from 5-7:00 PM at GracePoint Church. If desired, memorials can be sent in her name to the Ronald McDonald House of Bismarck on their webpage.

Born in Rose City in rural Minnesota on June 26, 1940, she was a farm girl through and through. Her parents, Verner Rosenquist and Verna (Kopp) Rosenquist, were hard working farmers who loved God and their family. Kathy was the second of three children; her brothers, Roger and Kerwin, she deeply loved.

After graduating a year early, she attended Oak Hills Christian College in Bemidji, MN, for two years, where she met the love of her life, David (Dave) Anderson. They were 20 years old when they married in her home church, Rose City Evangelical Free, on September 10, 1960. In the next four years they had three children in quick succession: Dane, Debbie, and Connie. While their lives were quite busy, they were years filled with love and joy. The happy couple raised their family in several places in the Midwest, including St Cloud, MN, homes in Chicago and Rockford, IL, and Minneapolis, MN.

In 1994, Dave and Kathy moved to Bismarck, ND, where they settled for the better part of the last 30 years (six years of that time were spent in Alexandria, MN).

Kathy believed in “doing all to the glory of God.” Examples of this were the way she loved and cared for her family tirelessly (and was fiercely loyal), the countless hours she served in her church and community, and even how she loved and served the people she worked with in her almost 60 years in the workplace. Kathy epitomized the Proverbs 31 woman: “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” Proverbs 31:28

She was preceded in death by her parents, Verner and Verna (Kopp) Rosenquist, and great grandson, Leo Kasen. Kathy is survived by her husband of 65 years, David Anderson, her three children, Dane Anderson (wife Sandy), Debbie Sotebeer (husband Denny), and Connie Kasen (husband Eric). She also leaves 5 grandchildren: Libby Kidder (husband Travis and son Zachariah), Leah Harvey (husband Jason and son William and one coming soon), Lauren Aust (husband Dan and sons Dante and Julian), David Kasen (wife Courtney and sons Alec, Noah, and Shiloh), and Mary Lamon (husband Jared and son Luke).

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01/27/2026

C. Gary Kopp

Cleo Gary Kopp (C. Gary) passed away unexpectedly at his home in Turtle Lake, North Dakota, on Friday, January 23, 2026. A visitation and gathering of family and friends will be held at the Bismarck Funeral Home on Thursday, January 29, 2026, from 1:00-3:00 PM with a Prayer Service beginning at 2:00 PM. Burial will be held in spring at Northland Cemetery, Kathryn, ND.

Cleo was born on October 12, 1942, in Kathryn, North Dakota, to Carl and Mildred (Kulsrud) Kopp. He attended and graduated from Lisbon High School in 1960. Post high school he attended The State Teachers’ College in Ellendale, North Dakota, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in education. After receiving his degree, he joined the teaching staff of Ashley North Dakota Public School. Later he continued his studies at the University of Minnesota in hospital administration.

Gary went on to hold positions with Head Start in Crookston, MN, and with the University of North Dakota’s Housing Division in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Gary ultimately found his true calling as the Administrator of the Community Hospital in Nelson County (Nelson County Health System) in McVille, North Dakota. He spent 25 years there promoting rural health care. He was instrumental in the completion of the hospital building project. Gary established a Rural Health Clinic designation (McVille) and the C***C Foundation. He opened doors for extended Swing Bed services. He was honored to serve terms on the North Dakota Hospital Association Board of Directors in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. He rounded out his health care management career at the Wishek Community Hospital and Clinics, Wishek, North Dakota, and later at the Northland Community Health Center in Turtle Lake, North Dakota.

Gary always enjoyed going to his childhood home in Lisbon, gathering with his family and friends, spending time at Kamp Kopp at Devil’s Lake relaxing (working), attending grandchildren’s events, and going on walks with his furry best friend, Lefte. He preserved and took pride in his ‘63 Impala and his ‘58 Edsel Ranger. He was a lifelong coin and toy collector and spent many hours in his Kopp Shop on woodworking projects and restoring pedal cars and bicycles.

Gary is survived by his wife of 47 years, Maureen (Schindele) Kopp, and daughters, Karla (Gregory) Messner and Abby Johnson. He is survived by his grandsons: Brock Messner, Brent (Jenni) Messner, Bryce (Taylor) Messner, Cody (Brittany) Johnson as well as great grandchildren: Vivian, Adalai, Norah, Macklan, and Noah Messner and Bronson Johnson. He is survived by sisters-in-law Alma Kopp and Delores Kopp and several nieces and nephews.

Gary was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Allie Johnson, son-in-law, Steve Johnson, great grandson, Walker Messner and siblings: Mazie Kopp, Ferrel Kopp, Darlene (Milton Johnson; Lenny) Zimprich, Gerald Kopp, Geraldine (Don) Martin, June Myhre, and Larry Kopp.

Gary was known for his quick wit and one liners and will be missed by many.

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01/27/2026

Janet Bergquist

Janet Kay Bergquist (Schlichting), 58, Wilton, passed away on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Bismarck Funeral Home. There will be time for lunch and fellowship at 1:00 PM at the Wilton Memorial Hall, 105 Dakota Ave, Wilton, ND. Burial will be in the spring.

Visitation will be held Friday, January 30, 2026, from 5:30-7:00 PM at Bismarck Funeral Home, with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday.

Janet was born September 6, 1967, in Garrison, ND to James and Ruby Schlichting, youngest of 5. She was raised and educated in Garrison, graduated in 1985 and then continued education at Bismarck State College, receiving a business degree in 1987. In 1995 she started her career at UPS as an IT tech working there for 29 years before retiring in 2024.

Janet married Bruce Bergquist “the love of her life” on June 16, 2001, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wilton, ND. They made their home on a farm north of Wilton where together they ranched with her cattle, horses, cats, and dogs. Janet did many things on the farm, but her favorite was mowing lawn, as she really enjoyed having a well-manicured lawn.

In 2006, Janet and Bruce welcomed their first child, Garrett, and in 2008 they welcomed their second son, William. Janet adored her boys and treasured time spent together, whether it was trips to the movies in Garrison, visiting cousins in Missouri, or cheering at Timberwolves games. Janet and Bruce enjoyed spending time together trail riding and traveling with friends, creating many special memories, including vacations to Cancun. As the boys grew older, Janet was their biggest supporter, proudly cheering them on in basketball, FFA, 4-H, and archery. As a family, they also loved going camping, making lasting memories together at New Johns Lake. Family traditions were especially important to Janet, and one favorite was making homemade pizza together for birthdays and holidays.

Janet will be deeply missed by her loving family and husband of 24 years, Bruce; sons, Garrett and William Bergquist; her parents, James and Ruby Schlichting; siblings, Laurie (Bud) Fliginger, Paul (Lenore) Schlichting, David (Lisa) Schlichting; sister-in-law, Bellinda Schlichting; mother-in-law, Beverly Bergquist; in-laws, Brenda Schlecht, Brian (Nanette) Bergquist, Beth Teiken; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Mike Schlichting; father-in-law, Robert Bergquist; and grandparents.

Thank you to all our dear family and friends for your unwavering support and love during this difficult time. We are also grateful to the incredible staff at Sanford, especially her nurse, Naomi, for her compassionate care and kindness.

In lieu of flowers, in memory of Janet, please make memorials to donor’s choice.

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