Georgene Schiwal

Georgene “Genie” Schiwal, age 76, of Bismarck, passed away on August 25, 2025, at CHI St. Alexius with her family by her side.

A funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Friday, September 5, 2025, at Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, Mandan. Burial will take place at 2 PM at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery. Cremation has taken place and the family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Friday.

Georgene was born November 11, 1948, in Dickinson to George and Jean (Wiseman) Ulmer. Genie graduated with honors as Salutatorian from Mott Lincoln High School in 1966 and attended Dickinson State College for Elementary Education. On August 2, 1969, she married Mike Schiwal in Mott. Through the years, they lived in Mott, Alameda, CA; Watertown, SD; Wahpeton, ND; and finally, to Bismarck, in 1994. She worked at Hanson’s Clothing, Playhouse Theatre, a daycare, and as a secretary in student services at Simle Middle School. Genie also took evening classes and completed the adult education accounting courses.

Genie was a skilled seamstress, cook, and baker. Her pies and chocolate fudge were in very high demand. She loved all children and dogs. Genie always thought about everyone else before herself. She was very creative and talented at macrame, ceramics, and she loved gardening vegetables and flowers. Genie enjoyed watching the Minnesota professional sports teams as well as NDSU and UND sports with her family.

Blessed to have shared in her life is her husband of 56 years, Mike Schiwal, Bismarck; son and daughter-in-law, Jeremy and Crystal Schiwal, Bismarck; siblings, Deanna Berg, Columbus, OH, Sharin Kelsch, Mott, ND, and Mike (Lynda) Ulmer, Mandan; and in-laws, John Derrek, Judy Schiwal, Linda (Rich) Lindemann, Dave Schiwal, Donny Schiwal, Becky (Dean) Lutz, Berny (Brian) Kilzer, and Michelle (Dion) Ottmar.

Genie was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Christopher “Kit” Ulmer; nephew, Darin Meier; in-laws, Ray Schiwal and Rosalee Geray; brothers-in-law, Dennis Meier, Rex Kelsch, and Hank Geray; and beloved dogs, Dusty, Bisket, Misty, Sandy, Bo, Mac, and Kel.

Memorials are preferred to CHI St. Alexius, Sanford Cancer Center, Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue, or Furry Friends Rockin’ Rescue.

The family wishes to thank the staff, surgeons, nurses, and aides on CHI St. Alexius surgery and telemetry and Sanford Cancer Center Oncology.