Marcella Deisz

Marcella “Marcy” Alice Barbie-Deisz joined friends and family in heaven at age 79. Marcella received the difficult diagnosis of Alzheimer’s in 2017, and succumbed to the condition on January 27, 2024 at Edgewood Memory Care in Bismarck, ND. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 PM, with a rosary vigil service at 7 PM, Friday, February 2, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck. Viewing will begin at 9:30 AM and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, February 3, at St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, 825 E. Broadway Ave, Bismarck.

On March 8, 1944 Marcella was born in Arnegard, ND to Russell & Anna (Iken) Patterson. For grade school she attended Bull Flat School, a one room school house in rural McKenzie County. She attended two years at Arnegard School and was a fan of the Arnegard Spuds. At age 14, she moved to Watford City to attend Watford City High School. From there Marcella moved to Bismarck and attended Capital Commercial College, with a scholarship from First International Bank.

Marcella and Ernest J. Barbie met on a blind date and married October 24, 1964 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bismarck, ND. Their marriage resulted in the birth of five children; Sandra, Sally, John, Gary, and Valerie. She also played an integral role in raising her first granddaughter, Renae.

Marcella met Micheal V. Deisz at a singles dance at the VFW in Bismarck, ND. Over the years Marcella helped Mike improve his dancing skills. They danced almost weekly and frequented polka dances in the region. On June 24, 2016 they married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bismarck, ND.

Over the years Marcella held a variety of jobs and always worked with dedication and attention to detail. In high school and college, she was a live-in nanny, but also cooked and cleaned for the households. After she completed college, she worked for Provident Life Insurance Co. providing administrative support. During her marriage to Ernie, she helped to manage the Barbie Apartments, and she kept the books and co-managed E & M Plumbing and Excavating. She and Ernie became Conklin distributors in the late 1970s, and began their business as Barbie Roofs, primarily working on flat roofs and bringing the entire family into the business. Through this business they received many awards and made numerous friends. During the 1980s she worked for Basin Electric cleaning offices. In the early 1990s, she worked for Kirkwood Motor Inn as a housekeeper, followed by several years in the kitchen at the Baptist Home, and seasonal work at Lincoln Oaks Tree Nursery. When her mother-in-law moved into The Terrace assisted living, Marcella took a job there as housekeeper. She enjoyed the company and friendship of the many residents there over the years, until her retirement in 2012.

Some of the activities she enjoyed were her involvement with Catholic Daughters, being a member of the Mandan Eagles, attending church at St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral or St. Anne’s. She truly loved dancing, especially polka dancing with Mike, and socializing with their friends most weekends. She made regular visits to family in Watford City and Williston, ND, and MN to visit her son and his family as well as her husband’s family. She and Mike would often visit Ernie’s cousins in Nevada during their travels to Las Vegas, which she took great pleasure in. Her favorite pastime while at home raising her children was reading the newspaper, and whenever she could, she watched The Guiding Light. While she did not enjoy it, she was an excellent seamstress and talented crocheter. Her children and eldest grandchild remember her delicious canned fruits, pickles, jams and jellies to keep her family fed during the hard times. She worked tirelessly to provide, and prided herself on keeping a clean and tidy home.

Her husband and children are especially grateful to the care provided to her by the staff at Edgewood Memory Care. They treated her like family, and loved and doted on her.

Marcella is survived by her husband, Micheal V. Deisz, Bismarck, ND; her children: Sandi Barbie, Mandan, ND; John (Tammy) Barbie, St. Paul, MN, Gary (Carrie) Barbie, Bismarck, ND; Valerie Barbie, Bismarck, ND; her grandchildren: Renae Barbie, Camden Sailer, Medora Sailer, Keaton Sailer, Sophia Barbie, Isabella Barbie, Victoria Barbie, Preston Barbie, and Adam Barbie; great-grandson Marshal Volk; siblings: Clara Papineau, and David (Lori) Patterson; aunt Beth Iken; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her former husband, Ernest J. Barbie; daughter, Sally Barbie; sister, Lucille Bartram; her parents, and aunts and uncles.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in her honor.