Christine Chap, 73, Bismarck, passed away August 13, 2026.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, August 20, at Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary, 825 E Broadway Ave, Bismarck.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 PM on Wednesday, August 19, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck. Rosary will begin at 7 PM.

Burial will be held at St. Mary's Cemetery, Bismarck.

Christine Elizebeth Chap was born June 18, 1953 in Chicago, IL to Alexander and Therese Donaldson. Chris loved to talk about her childhood and the pride she had in being raised by two good people who always put others needs before their own. She held on to this tightly and made it her core value until her very last day. The family later moved to Oak Lawn, IL, where Chris would attend high school. It was there that she met Tony Chap through a mutual friend. After some convincing on his part, she finally agreed to that first date, which would eventually lead to their marriage on July 13, 1974. Chris would spend the next years pursuing training in both hair/cosmetology and early childhood education. Together, Chris and Tony had two pretty amazing kids who were her biggest source of pride. She spent every ounce of free time making sure to be fully involved in every activity they were a part of.

Her husband described her as having a “helium hand,” as she would raise it every time a volunteer position needed filling. Her biggest roles were in scouting, where she was able to shape minds and change many lives. With scouting came camping, and Chris LOVED to camp. Her children fondly remember growing up with weekends spent at campgrounds surrounded by a caravan of family and friends. In 1998 the family moved to Bismarck, ND where she was able to continue her camping traditions with the help of some new friends who affectionately refer to themselves as The Yellowbirds. Chris loved to travel, but her biggest and best trip was being able to accompany Tony to France. She would talk nonstop about the food, the sights, and even the flowers, promising herself and the world that one day she would return. Life and locations may change, but her core values never did. When her father’s Alzheimer’s progressed, she did not hesitate to move him into her home and become his full-time caregiver. When Tony’s mother and uncle required more hands-on care, she didn’t think twice about moving them to ND and becoming a part of their routine as well.

Eventually her children began to bless her life with grandkids and the helium hand was up again, adding Daycare to her growing resume. After a stroke tried to slow her down in 2013 and the caregiving roles were reversed, Chris still served her family by starting a homeschool journey with her daughter. Through this, she was still able to continue using her child development background and fulfill her need to always help others. For the last 13 years Chris’s afflictions were on display for all, but equally evident were her amazing virtues of tolerance, forgiveness, patience, love, hope, and her faith. Her family witnessed daily the battles she faced from the challenges designed to weaken or lose spirit. Those were the battles she won. She was heroic. For Tony, “She was my teacher, she was my love, and she was truly my better half.”

Christine is survived by her husband Tony; sister, Charlene Englund; children, Matthew (Brandy) Chap and Mary (David) Fischer; grandchildren, Katarina (partner Jorden Lovett) Chap, Keegan (Fiancé, Lexie Donner) Chap, Hayleigh (fiancé, Anthony Porter) Fischer, Alexander Fischer, and Embry Fischer; great-grandchild Aleia Chap, along with many extended family members.

Christine was proceeded in death by her parents, Alexander and Therese (Racinowski) Donaldson; parents-in-law, Anthony and Eleanor (Ziemba) Chap; grandparents, Robert and Elizabeth (Gibb) Donaldson and Stanislaw and Marianna (Marciniak) Racinowski; brother and sister-in-law, Clinton and Carol (Chap) Cleveland; sister-in-law, Antoinette (Chap) Burke; and her brother-in-law, Ronald Englund.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Alzheimer's Association.