Virginia "Ginny" Geist

Virginia “Ginny” Geist

Our beautiful mom took Jesus by the hand and went to heaven Thursday, September 17, 2026 at the age of 84 after putting up a fierce fight with pneumonia. She fought long and hard but is now reunited with our dad.

A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, September 22 at 7:00 PM at the Bismarck Funeral Home. 

Mom was born in Bismarck July 31, 1942 to Irving and Emma (Eisenbeisz) Hanson; the youngest of 3 and the only daughter. Her dad passed away when she was 12 years old leaving her mom to raise the 3 kids.

Mom lived in Steele and Driscoll and graduated from Driscoll High in 1960. She met and married our dad June 4, 1960 and to this union 3 daughters were born: Deb, Bonnie and Sherri.

Mom was mostly a stay at home mom but she did work outside the home for a while selling Tupperware, jewelry, worked at Barkers Clothing Store, sold insurance in Driscoll with dad but later in life, went on to become a CNA – a role she really enjoyed and was good at.

She started her CNA career at Golden Manor in Steele, worked at Missouri Slope in Bismarck and worked at Good Sam on Sunset in Mandan until retiring due to health issues. She and dad retired to Mandan but eventually both had to enter a skilled nursing facility due to declining health. Dad passed away Jan 2020 and we eventually moved mom to her last home – The Baptist Home. Mom loved to joke around although sometimes was hard to tell because Parkinsons stole her smile but you could see her smile with her eyes. She loved to wheelchair dance, visit with others, do some crafts, listen to music, get her nails done, play bingo and best of all – collect gnomes! What a collection! She also loved decorating for the holidays and had many holiday glasses to wear!

She was a CNA at heart always watching to see if others needed assistance and then alerting the staff.

Mom is survived by daughter, Deb (Doug) Laske, Bismarck; granddaughters, Nikki (Robert) Pedersen, Lincoln (Brentley and Scarlett), Jaymi (James) Langer, Gettysburg, SD (Jackson & Ezra); daughter, Bonnie Kennedy, Bismarck; grandson, Jason Feist (Shannon) Bismarck, (Shane) (Mercades, Zane, April); daughter, Sherri (Scott) Nies, Bismarck (Parker, Connor). Mom is also survived by a sister-in-law, niece, nephews, cousins, long time friends and friends from the home.

Preceding mom in death are our dad; her parents and in-laws; brothers, Lyle and Russell; son-in-law; nephew and other family members.

The family wishes to thank all the staff at the Baptist Home for making mom feel at home and for all the excellent care, The CHI Telemetry staff and physicians who tirelessly tried to help her beat the pneumonia and treated her with love and dignity and to Pastor Joel and the CHI Chaplains who prayed over mom. I’m sure she felt the love from all.

Until we meet in heaven mom…..

We will always love and miss you……

Today you are healed!

In lieu of flowers please make a donation in mom name to Mandan United Methodist Church or the Baptist Home.