Margaret Schoenwald • 1923- 2010

Margaret Schoenwald, age  87, Minot, ND, died Wednesday, January 5, 2011 in a Minot nursing home.                

She was born a daughter of Jacob and Magdalena (Wentz) Gefroh on February 25, 1923 in Karlsruhe, ND.  She was raised and educated in Karlsruhe, graduating from Karlsruhe High School.  She moved to Minot to attend college and later worked at Union National Bank in Minot.  She married Wally Schoenwald on February 25, 1944 and made their home in Minot until 1991 when they moved to Arizona.

As a charter member of Little Flower Catholic Church, Margaret was a member of the church choir, served as treasurer and president of the Confraternity of Christian Mothers and was wedding reception chairperson for many years.  While her children attended Little Flower Grade School and Bishop Ryan High School, she received a Life Membership of P.T.A., was in charge of the dining room for the Bishop Ryan Carnival and was a fund raiser for Bishop Ryan.

Margaret enjoyed dancing, golfing, sewing, bowling and cooking, but her true passion was playing bridge, which she continued to play up until her death.  She will be fondly remembered for the dozens of caramel rolls she made for her grandchildren.

In 2007, Margaret and Wally returned to Minot to be near their family and made their home at Edgewood Vista. 

Margaret is survived by her husband Wally; daughters, Sandy (Dale) Henry of Minot, Kathy (Larry) Grinaker of Fargo, ND;, and Mary (Niles) Nearhoof of Andover, MN; grandchildren, Michelle (Mark) Kramer, Kristine (Mike) Fisher, Jason (Anne) Henry, Jackie (Josh) Nichols, Peggy (Justin) Kitsch, and Ryan Grinaker; ten great grandchildren; sisters, Catherine Schmidt, Jean (Gabe) Kunz and Christine Aftem of Minot; sisters in law, Teresa Gefroh, Marie Gefroh-Sveeum, Jean Gefroh, Stella Dowd and Luella Helle, brothers in law, Richard Feist and Leonard (Ruby) Schoenwald; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Elizabeth Krim and her husband Mike, and Irene Feist; brothers, John Gefroh and his wife Elida, Philip Gefroh  and his wife Elizabeth, Sylvester Gefroh, Walter Gefroh and Peter Gefroh;  sisters in law Elsie Schoenwald and Dorothy Schmit and her husband Jim; brothers in law Lawrence Schoenwald and his wife Palma, Dale Helle, Hank Dowd, Merle Aftem and Leo Schmidt. 

Funeral:  Monday, January 10, 2011 at 11 a.m. at Little Flower Catholic Church, Minot, ND.

Visitation:  Sunday, January 9, 2011 from noon until 5:00 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot, ND.

Vigil Prayer Service:  Sunday, January 9, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot, ND.

Officiant: Father Fred Harvey - Celebrant of the Liturgies

Music Ministry:
Jeanne Artz and Stepen Dallolio
“Be Not Afraid”
“How Great Thou Art”
“Prayer of St. Francis”
“Amazing Grace”
“Precious Lord Take My Hand”

Honorary Bearers: Margaret’s family and friends

Pallbearers – Margaret’s Great Grandchildren
Jonah Kramer,  Eden Kramer,  Nora Kramer, Chance Fisher, Quinn Fisher, Jade Fisher, Gretchen Henry, Enna Henry, Sarah Nichols,  Christopher Nichols

Final Resting Place: Rosehill Memorial Park Cemetery ~Minot, North Dakota

Our family would like to thank all of you for your many acts of kindness. Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated during this difficult time. May God bless the memory of Margaret.

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