Lillian Wald

Lillian (Feist) Wald passed away peacefully on September 4, 2025, one day shy of her 98th birthday.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at St. Anne Catholic Church, Bismarck, ND. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, Bismarck, ND.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, September 9 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Bismarck Funeral Home, with a Rosary And Vigil Service beginning at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church.

Lillian was born to Anton A. Feist and Elizabeth (Jangula) Feist at home on a farm north of Zeeland, ND on September 5, 1927. She was the oldest of seven children. She was raised on the farm and was the inside helper, doing the baking and cooking and baking bread for the family weekly. She attended a rural school near Zeeland through the 8th grade, then helped out with different families in the area, usually to help out with a new baby. She met her husband to be, Adam E. Wald, at a barn dance. They were married on October 19, 1949 at St. John's Catholic Church, rural Zeeland. They were married for 51 years. They lived and farmed with Adam's parents in the St. Michael's area for a few years, moved to St. Paul, MN for a short time, then moved to Bismarck in 1954. In 1967 they built their own house and made it their home for the next 42 years. 

Lillian worked as a seamstress out of her home for many years and also worked outside of the home for a short time. She loved doing crafts, reading, gardening, and hosting coffee parties. She was an ace at pinochle, made many quilts, and walked many miles at Kirkwood Mall, followed by having coffee with fellow walkers. Like many quilters, she learned that she had lots of extra fabric to deal with when she was ready to downsize! "Too much fabric, too little time." She would tell you that she didn't love to cook, but her oil and vinegar potato salad, chicken and rice, homemade buns, riebel (rivel) soup, and frozen peanut butter pie were the best, and they remain family favorites. Lillian found great joy in celebrating Christmas and Easter, both at home and at church. She created countless cherished memories for her loved ones with her holiday decorating and baking. She also had a wonderful sense of style, believing no outfit was truly complete without earrings and a necklace.  She delivered Meals on Wheels, was a member of St. Anne Church and the St. Anne Women's Guild for many years. In 2009 she decided on her own that it was time to leave her house and moved to Marillac Manor, Bismarck, and lived there until 2021, when she moved to St. Vincent's at age 94. She loved living at the Manor where she could attend daily Mass and Rosary, which remained very important to her up until her last few days. She also played cards daily, set MANY puzzles, had her own little garden, and walked a lot miles in the hallways for exercise.

Mourning Lillian's passing are her children and their spouses, Shirley and Dennis Wetzel, Rod and Deb Wald, Karen and Adrian Jacobs, and Joell and Todd Burian, all of Bismarck; Arlene and Lee Garner, Dilworth, MN; Lorie and Tom Andres, Panama City Beach, FL; Lila and Pat Jamison, Apple Valley, MN; and Brian and Barb Wald, Forest Lake, MN; 18 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren, with twins arriving in October. Her surviving siblings are Alex Feist (Julia deceased), Gloria Zacher (Valentine deceased), Francis and Delores Feist, and Johanna and Leo Heier. Surviving in-laws are Millicent Wald (Sylvester deceased), Linda Feist (Tom deceased), Margie and Arlen Vonesh, and Christine Dosch (Henry deceased). She also has many surviving nieces and nephews.

Preceding Lillian in death were her parents; her husband, Adam; sister, Ella Violet; brother, Tom Feist; and in-laws, Elizabeth and John Ell, Conrad, Jr and Alvina Wald, Markus and Elizabeth Wald, Phyllis and Adam A. Wald, Francis and Irene Wald, Dorothy Wald, and Helen and James Schmidt.

In memory of Lillian, please make any donations to St. Vincent's Chapel.

Lillians's family extends a sincere thank you to the staff at Marillac Manor and to the staff at St. Vincent's for all that you did for her during the last years of her life, along with a very special thank you to Sr. Anna Rose, Fr. Patrick, Deacon Jerry, and Bill for giving Mom the spiritual care that meant so much to her.