Avis’ Obituary Avis M. Bartkowski, cherished Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother, passed away January 18, 2019, with her loving daughters by her side. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am Thursday, January 24, at Church of St. Anne, 1321 Braman Avenue, Bismarck, with Rev. Thomas Grafsgaard officiating.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Wednesday, January 23, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 East Divide Avenue, Bismarck, where a rosary/vigil service will begin at 7:00 pm. Burial will be at 2:00 pm Thursday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. The oldest child of William Carl and Sylvia (Syvertson) Wright, Avis was born on May 14, 1924.
She was raised in Courtney, ND. An intelligent and athletic woman, Avis was awarded academic and athletic scholarships to Jamestown College and Concordia College, Moorhead, MN. However, with the US entry into WWII, Avis moved to Minneapolis to work in a defense plant.
She then relocated to Seattle where she worked for Boeing and King County Hospital. After the war, Avis returned to her hometown and became reacquainted with Alfred Bartkowski, who had also returned to Courtney, following his honorable discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps. It was here their love story began and they married on January 5, 1949.
Avis and Alfred lived in Hillsboro, ND, and Linton, ND, during the first six years of their marriage. In 1955, they moved to Bismarck, ND, where they raised their four children, William, Thomas, Kay, and Carol. As a charter member of Bismarck’s St. Anne’s parish, Avis served in a multitude of roles including chairing the annual gift fair.
She was an exceptional cook, baker, and candy maker. Fresh made buns, hamburgers and homemade caramel rolls were the staple of the family’s Saturday evening dinners. Avis canned the vegetables that Alfred grew in their garden and made pies from the apple trees that flourished in their backyard.
Her fudge and toffee brought people back year after year to the gift fair. Avis was also an avid reader whose taste ran from science fiction to murder mysteries to romance. Avis was employed in the financial office of St. Alexius Medical Center for 22 years.
In retirement, she and Alfred traveled extensively throughout the United States, with their Alaskan trip being one of the most memorable. At her job, at the church, in her many volunteer activities or in her close-knit neighborhood, Avis was a well-respected, dynamic presence known for bringing people together and getting things done. Avis is survived by her son, William (Colette), Edina, MN; her daughters, Kay (Kenneth Vogel), Bismarck, ND, and Carol (Jeffrey Fallon), Rochester, MN; eight grandchildren, Joshua and Jason Vogel, Mitchell Drews (Beth), Logan Drews, Sarah Bartkowski, Kathryn Fallon (fiancé Travis Poirier), Patrick Fallon (Jessica), Ryan Fallon; and great-grandchildren, Kiera, Michael Thomas, and Timothy (due in February 2019).
She is also survived by her sister, Carol Edinger, New Rockford, ND; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred; son, Thomas; her parents; and her brothers, Robert, Gerald, and James.
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