Joan Feist

Joan Irene Feist, 85, of Bismarck, passed away May 23, 2021, at her home surrounded by her family in Bismarck.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, May 29, 2021, at St. Philomena Catholic Church, Selfridge, ND with Msgr. Chad Gion as celebrant. Burial will be at St. Philomena Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Friday, May 28, 2021, from 5:00-7:00 PM at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan, with a Rosary/Parish Vigil at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Friday.

Joan Irene (McGregor) Feist was born on November 2, 1935, at home on her family's ranch to Myrtie (Halverson) and Gordon McGregor. She was the second of six children. Joan grew up with her siblings Gerald, Sharon, Janice, Gordy, and Shirley on the ranch before moving to Selfridge later in life. She graduated high school in 1954 in Selfridge.

She married Donald Feist Sr. on November 15, 1956. Joan gave birth to their son Donald Feist Jr. on December 11, 1959. Joan and Don Sr. celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary in 2009. They made their home together west of Selfridge on a large cattle ranch. Joan was an incredibly talented rancher, the heart and soul of the Feist family operation. Throughout her life she raised up to 20 bucket calves at a time along with buffalo calves, horses, chickens, emus, cats, dogs, pigs, and a deer named Cookie. Joan was also an avid gardener, and passed along a deep love for plants and animals to her five grandchildren. Joan lived on the ranch until 2016, when she moved to Bismarck to be closer to her family. Joan moved through the world with wit, sass, sarcasm, and resilience and instilled those values in her family.

Joan is survived by her five grandchildren, Corina, Laura, Connor, Liza and Jackson; family members, Monica (Schneider) and Kris Kirkeide; siblings, Gordy McGregor and Sharon (McGregor) Huber.

Joan is preceded in death by her husband, Donald Sr.; son, Donald Jr.; parents, Myrtie (Halvorson) and Gordon McGregor; sisters, Janice Schneider and Shirley Kraft; and brother, Gerald McGregor.

Memorials may be sent to Weigel Funeral Home in Mandan.