Linda Schwartzbauer

Linda Marie Schwartzbauer, 80, of Mandan passed away on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck following a short illness. For the past few years, she valiantly battled debilitating symptoms of long COVID-19.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at 11:30 AM at Spirit of Life Catholic Church in Mandan. Burial will follow at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Weigel Funeral Home with a Catholic Daughters Rosary and Parish Vigil at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service on Wednesday.

Linda was born on August 24, 1942, in Mandan, North Dakota, to Richard R. and Dorothy (Rolfes) Schmidt. She was raised on the family farm 14 miles South of Mandan and graduated from Mandan High School in 1960. 

On September 10, 1960, Linda married the love of her life, Leonard Schwartzbauer, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mandan. For two years following their marriage, they lived in multiple locations while Leonard worked on road construction in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana. They then made their permanent home in Mandan. From a young age, Linda was a very talented seamstress and eventually made it into her career. She began doing alterations at Evan’s Mens Store. In 1973, she opened her own successful business, A Stitch in Time, which she operated for 35 years until her retirement in December 2004. 

Linda was devoted to her family, church, and community. Every Thursday for 29 years, she read newspapers from around the state to the visually impaired and recorded books for them via the Dakota Radio Informant Service. She was an active member in ZONTA and provided opportunities for women around the world. For years on a regular basis, Linda benefited many people by donating blood and plasma. Additionally, Linda was very involved with her church. She had a passion for using her voice to sing in the church choir as well as being a soloist at weddings and funerals. She had many other roles at church including reading, being a eucharistic minister, working in the soup kitchen, participating in Marriage Encounters, and helping in the food pantry. She also led a team providing funeral luncheons for several years and was a lifelong member of Catholic Daughters. 

Linda also made two service trips to Guatemala through The GOD’S CHILD Project. She served those in severe poverty by building houses. In the Fargo Forum following one of her trips there, she said, “I’ll never be the same person again and I wouldn’t want to be. Wherever I go and whatever I do, I’ll look at it through different eyes”. 

In her spare time, she loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Linda also enjoyed working in her flower garden, particularly her roses. Over the last twenty years, Linda and Leonard loved entertaining by hosting large family gatherings in which she was known for her skills as a baker and cook. She acquired many collectables over the years and her grandchildren will always remember her Snow Village display.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, infant sister Mary Ann, brother Richard (Dick) Schmidt, brothers-in-law Leo, Joe, Clarence, Donald, and Jimmy Schwartzbauer, Herb Hill and Wayne Lampe, sisters-in-law Marie Hill, Lorraine Schwab, Marlene Schwartzbauer, and Mary Ann Schmidt, nephews Brad Schmidt, Gordy Schwab, and Joe Hill, as well as many beloved aunts and uncles.

Linda is survived by her beloved husband of 62 years, Leonard, her four children, Lori (Ken) Muller, Jeff Schwartzbauer, Theresa (Tim) Markel, Lisa Schwartzbauer (Bill Vogel) and seven grandchildren Bryce Muller, Cole (Caitlin) Muller, Jenn (Jeff) Frankeberger, Kayla (Zach) Wagner, Brandon (Amanda) Schwartzbauer, Kelsey (Jeff) Beiswanger, Jonathan Markel, and 15 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers, Jim Schmidt, Dan (Loraine) Schmidt, sisters-in-law Marlene Schmidt, Janice Schwartzbauer, Helen Lampe, and brother-in-law Wally Schwab.