Sister Geraldine Steinbach

Sister Geraldine Steinbach, PBVM, 96, a member of the United States Province of Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, died peacefully at Villa Maria Nursing Home, November 20, 2019. Visitation will be Sunday evening, November 24, at 7:00 PM at Sacred Heart Convent, 1101 32nd Avenue South, Fargo, North Dakota. The funeral Mass will be Monday morning at 10:00 AM at the same site.

Sister Geraldine was born to Jacob Steinbach and Mathilda Hartl Steinbach April 19, 1023 in New Rockford, ND. Sister Geraldine attended grade and high school at St. James Academy, New Rockford, ND. She received her BS degree from St. Catherine’s College, St. Paul, MN, plus MA degrees from Creighton University, Omaha, NE and Mundelein College in Chicago, IL.

In the first 20 years her ministry in education included being primary teacher and principal in schools in Fargo and Langdon. In 1964 she felt called to minister in the Fargo Diocese and the St. Paul-Minneapolis Archdiocese offering religious education to both children and adults. In 1974 parishes were growing and there was need for more pastoral care. Sister Geraldine was one of the first to answer this call to provide needed services to members of parishes. She ministered at Blessed Sacrament and Holy Cross Churches in West Fargo, Carrington Hospital, a nursing home in Garrison, ND and River Square, Fargo, ND.

Sister Geraldine had an impact on the people that came into her life. To this day her first grade students from Fargo and Langdon would come to visit her and share stories of how important she was to them in those early years. And in these later years her adult friends from the various parishes arranged to have dinner with her. In 2010 Sister Geraldine retired and returned to Sacred Heart Convent. She spent two happy years at Maple View Manor and in her last days resided at Villa Maria Nursing Home.

Sister Geraldine was proceeded in death by her parents and her siblings, a sister, Marcella Steinbach Klocke and three brothers, Richard, Robert and John.

A Prayer Service will be held on Sunday, November 24, 2019 at 7:00 PM with visitation beginning at 6:00 PM, Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, November 25, 2019 at 10:00 AM all held at Union of Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fargo, ND.