Mary Anne Colling

Mary Anne Colling, (Schmitz), 92, Bismarck, passed away peacefully into the arms of our Lord on January 23, 2026. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Mary’s wonderful, blessed life will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Church of Corpus Christi, (1919 N. 2nd St.) in Bismarck. Friends and family will gather one hour prior. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bismarck where she’ll be at final rest with Bill and Julie.

She was born on August 13, 1933, to Oswin and Josephine Schmitz in Golva, North Dakota, where she was raised alongside her brother, Tom. Mary devoted her early professional life to caring for others as a registered nurse at St. Alexius
Bismarck before marrying William “Bill” R. Colling on February 9, 1957, at St. Mary’s Church in Bismarck. Together, Mary and Bill raised three children: Rick, Julie, and Jo.

In mid-life, Mary Anne pursued a career as a Realtor, which she loved and practiced actively for over 20 years. With Bill traveling 3 days a week she was a very busy mom! Bill and her shared a passion for travel, exploring the southwestern United States, Canada, and Alaska in their RV. Mary also cherished the outdoors, fishing, and camping alongside Bill. She was extremely industrious and always busy doing something interesting. In Alaska when they caught a lot of salmon, she canned all the fish in her RV kitchen so they could legally take home.

A creative soul, Mary delighted in all pursuits of art and crafts—she taught ceramics to others and had two big kilns in the basement burning hot quite often and voila something beautiful always came out of it. She had an artists’ touch with everything whether rosemaling, designing flashy jewelry, and sewing intricate projects. She was a big doll collector and enjoyed finding that special doll. She sewed clothing for them and repaired many of them herself, all with great care. She had a green thumb and a tender touch with flowers, nurturing even the most fragile blooms. Known for her flamboyant style, she often added her own handcrafted “bling” to her wardrobe, reflecting her vibrant personality.

Mary loved people and welcomed conversation with warmth, humor, and genuine interest. She loved to laugh and have fun, and her intelligence, wisdom, and thoughtful advice were relied upon by her family throughout her life. She was active in the local Red Hats Society and so enjoyed her friends. A lifelong reader of the romantic genre and while Bill fished or drove the RV she read her books. She led her family with steadfast love, practical guidance, and unwavering kindness. Her children and grandchildren were her true joy and pride. She so enjoyed spending time with them. After the passing of her beloved husband, Bill in 2016, and
her daughter Julie three years later, Mary continued to live independently in her home,
embodying strength, grace, and her faith in God.

She is survived by her children Rick Colling and Jo Ellen Kralicek, six grandchildren; Liberty Colling, Ryker Colling, Reed, Cole and Logan Kralicek, and Thomas Johnson, along two great-grandchildren and five nephews and three nieces with numerous grand nieces and nephews. Her legacy will live on through her beloved family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, her daughter Julie, and her parents Oswin and Josephine Schmitz, and her brother Tom Schmitz.

"When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight."