Gertrude Sawicki, age 86 of Bismarck, formerly of Wilton, died Friday, August 28 at the Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck.

Memorial Mass: 10:30 AM Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009;
Sacred Heart Catholic Church – Wilton, ND;
Fr. Chris Kadrmas, celebrant; Deacon Jim Nister, assisting

A Prayer Service will be held 7:00 PM Tuesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Gertrude Katherine Sawicki was born October 11, 1922, the 12th of 13 children born to Anton & Susan (Thiesen) Muggli. She spent the first 18 years of her life in Glen Ullin, ND. She attended catholic parochial school thru the eighth grade and graduated from Glen Ullin High School. Gertrude married John M. Sawicki on July 18, 1944. While her husband served in the U.S. Army during World War II, she lived in Minneapolis and worked in a manufacturing plant the built lenses for submarine telescopes. Following the war, Gertrude and John moved to the Wilton, ND area where they engaged in farming for the next 60 years. She was an active member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Altar Society and a member of the local American Legion Auxiliary. Gertrude was a wonderful cook and an avid reader. She enjoyed crossword puzzles and held a life-long interest in medicine and world affairs. There was nothing she enjoyed more than a hot cup of coffee and a good homemade cookie. Her keen intelligence, subtle humor and sheer determination helped her cope with Parkinson's Disease for the last 32 years.

She is survived by five children, Sandra (Dennis) Lay, Stacey (Bobbie) Taylor, Carla (Larry) Barney, John (Cheryl) Sawicki, & Jaclyn Falkenstein; 11 grandchildren & 8 great-grandchildren; one sister, Florentine Mollner; and many nieces & nephews.

Gertrude was preceded in death by her husband John (in 2006), & eleven siblings.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA Chapter, 800 E. 28th St. (39304), Minneapolis, MN 55407)