Margaret Schorsch

Margaret (Herberholz) Schorsch, 91, formerly of Havelock, New England, Mandan, McVille and Bismarck, passed away of natural causes at Country House in Dickinson, North Dakota on July 17, 2023.

Margaret, daughter of Joseph F. and Emily (Jung) Herberholz, was born on June 9, 1932 at home in Kunze Township, New England, North Dakota.  She attended and rode to the Teepee Butte township grade school in a horse drawn “school bus” built by her father and driven by her big brother Mikey (when he could wrest the reins from his sister Maggie!).  Margaret then attended St Mary’s elementary in New England and rode the train from Havelock to school.  In 1966 Margaret received her high school diploma from the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.   

Margaret married the tall, lanky neighbor boy, Floyd Schorsch, in September of 1950 and they began their married life together on the Peter Mesling (Floyd’s grandfather) homestead where they raised Angus cattle and spring wheat.  In the spring of 1968, they rented the farm to her sister Betty Herberholz (Curt) Strand and Margaret and the family moved to Mandan, North Dakota while Floyd attended Capital Commercial College.  In June of 1969 Margaret and the family moved to McVille, ND, where Floyd and later Margaret, both worked at Ed Richter’s McVille State Bank.  During that time, she learned to golf and made new friends in the McVille area.  Margaret & Floyd spent lots of time hosting family and friends while catching big muskies and beating the black bears to the best blueberry patches on the islands of Lake of the Woods in Ontario. 

Margaret and Floyd officially retired from the bank in 1990 and moved to Bismarck where they enjoyed their retirement, attending grandkids’ athletic and school events.  They built a cabin on Wolf Creek of Lake Sakakawea where they had many years of good fishing and boating on the lake and on the Missouri river with friends, family and grandchildren at the cabin and on their boat “Ole Yeller”.   As age and health demanded, they sold the cabin and returned full time to Bismarck.  Floyd passed away in 2013 and Margaret entered care at Country House in Dickinson in 2020.

Margaret is survived by her children; Kerry (Marian) Schorsch, New England, Pam (Neil) Kostelecky, Bismarck; grandchildren Jack (Caroline) Schorsch of The Hague, Netherlands, Joe (Ashley) Schorsch of Fort Collins, Colorado, Joel (Heather) Kostelecky of Bismarck, Dr. Eve (Dave Albrecht) Kostelecky of Mandan; great grandchildren, Isabella, Jack Jr. and Eloise Schorsch, Mallory and Madison Kostelecky, Ivory and  Alex Albrecht, numerous nieces and nephews.  Siblings and in-laws, Virginia (Jim) Zoller of Bismarck, Betty Herberholz of Dickinson, Bev and Monte Strand of Regent, Frank Herberholz of Mandan, Joe A. and Carol  Herberholz of New England, Bernard and Ginny Herberholz of St. Paul MN, Bill of Washington, sister in-law Francis Hanstad.  She was preceded in death by her husband Floyd Schorsch; daughter Terry Jo (Richard) Voss; grandson Patrick Anthony Schorsch; parents, Joe F. and Emily (Jung) Herberholz; siblings, Josephine (John) Good, Mike, Magdalen (Edwin) Schorsch, Mary (Lee) Offutt, infant brothers Peter, Joseph, Robert “Bobby”; sisters-in-law Dorothy Herberholz; Blanche Herberholz, Loraine Selinger, brothers-in-law Edwin Schorsch, Donald Schorsch, John Good, Chuck Burtts, Jim Zoller.

Margaret had a mostly happy, fortunate and productive life.  She had many friends and was the last surviving member of the old “Havelock Homemakers Club”.  She was a licensed insurance agent and graduated as the valedictorian of her high school graduating class at the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.  As a child with many siblings, there was always something “interesting” going on.  She was totally committed to and enjoyed her husband, children and grandchildren.  Margaret kept a spotless home and was a talented and ingenious cook and baker.  Thin pancakes and “smarties” are among her cooking legacies.  She cooked a mountain of antelope, pheasants, grouse, huns, ducks, geese, walleye, northern pike and salmon over the years.  She looked forward to family gatherings and enjoyed living, vacationing, fishing and boating on the lake. 

She took immense pleasure in following and participating in the lives and careers of her children and grandchildren.  Margaret shared 72 birthdates with her son, Kerry.  She suffered with dementia these last years, but, as best she could, always tried to make the best of things, because as she used to say, “Nobody likes to take care of a grump”.   And of course, fortunately, she was always able to outrun the bears in the blueberry patch! 

She was a Christian, hoped for and believed in her salvation and was ready to meet her creator.  As per her wish, no service is planned.

RIP and may God bless you Mom.  Thanks so very much for everything.  You were the best Mom and Grandma ever.  It was fun!