Charlene Zins

Charlene Anne (Umpleby) Zins, born August 4, 1958, peacefully entered eternal life on May 5, 2025, at the age of 66, after battling cancer for four years with strength and grace. Surrounded by her loving family, she passed peacefully.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 AM on Friday, May 9, 2025, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Mandan, with Fr. Josh Waltz celebrating. Charlene will be laid to rest at St. Lawrence Cemetery in Flasher, ND. Visitation will take place from 5-7 PM on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Weigel Funeral Home in Mandan, followed by a parish vigil at 7 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.

Charlene was the beloved daughter of Charles and Geneva (Slinde) Umpleby and the eldest of four sisters in a family of seven. She was grounded in faith, love, and had a hard work ethic. She found joy in the kitchen from an early age and often did most of the cooking while her parents ran their family lawn business. Her passion for food became a lifelong expression of love. A 1976 graduate of Mandan Senior High, Charlene continued her studies at the University of North Dakota and later the University of Mary, earning a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1988.

In 1977, Charlene met the love of her life, Simon Zins. They were married on August 25, 1978, at Christ the King Church in Mandan and built a life filled with faith, laughter, and purpose. Their journey took them through several North Dakota communities before settling on a farm near New Salem where Charlene completed her Master’s degree and began her teaching career.

Charlene’s 35 years as an educator began at Christ the King Catholic School and continued with the Mandan Public School System, where she taught at Mandan Junior High, Fort Lincoln Elementary, and ultimately Mandan Middle School. She especially loved teaching math and art, nurturing her students with patience, creativity, and compassion. Even after retirement, she remained devoted to education—tutoring students and substitute teaching at St. Joseph Montessori School.

Charlene and Simon also served as foster parents for 12 years, opening their hearts and home to children in need. Their generous spirit extended to countless nieces and nephews, with whom they shared trips, sleepovers, and farm adventures. Charlene’s one rule—kids had to be potty trained to stay overnight at the farm—became a family joke and motivation for siblings to train their children quickly! Whether visiting Medora, South Dakota, or Washington D.C., Charlene made sure each child felt loved and special.

To her family, Charlene was more than a teacher—she was a devoted wife, godmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Her home was the heart of many joyful traditions: hayrides, kite flying, sausage-making, and open pantry visits that continued even as her nieces and nephews grew up and brought their own children to visit.

Charlene is survived by her loving husband, Simon; her mother, Geneva; brothers, Dale Umpleby and Layton Umpleby (special friend, Star); sisters and brothers-in-law, Becky and Chuck Willer, JoAnn and Paul Evans, Sue and Tim Brady, Veronica and Dave Miller, Martha Williams as well as Bernard and Jenny Zins, Leo Zins, David Zins, and Arnold and Maryann Zins. Charlene leaves behind more than 130 beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews, as well as lifelong friends, Nancy and Dennis Doll and family.

Charlene is reunited in heaven with her three angel babies; her father, Charles; brother, Wesley; in-laws, Eugene and Lucy Zins; and several cherished siblings-in-law, Marie, Gertrude, Beverly, Jerry, Al (Linda), Roger, and Francis Zins, Lee Williams, and Shirley Zins.

Charlene's life was a gift of love, strength, and unwavering devotion to those around her. Her radiant smile, generous spirit, and deep commitment to family and education touched countless lives. Though she is no longer with us, her legacy will live on in every heart she inspired. May she rest in peace, free from pain, surrounded by everlasting love—and embraced once again by the children she longed to hold.

A very special thank you from the Zins and Umpleby families to the Oncology teams from St. Alexis Hospital, Sanford Hospital in Bismarck, and Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.