Cindy Muhlhauser

Cynthia “Cindy” K. (Hartwig) Muhlhauser, 64, passed away at CHI St Alexius in Bismarck on November 20, 2023, after a brief battle with cancer and other health issues. She is now with her husband and soulmate Mark, who left us last year. 

A Memorial Service will take place on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 10:30 AM at First Lutheran Church in Mandan with Pastor Phil Leer presiding.

Visitation will be on Monday, December 4, 2023, from 5:00 - 6:00 PM at Buehler-Larson Funeral Home in Mandan with prayer service beginning at 6:00 PM.

Cindy, the youngest of six children, was born in Hazen, ND on April 9, 1959, to Bob D. and Donna M. (Sailer) Hartwig. The family moved to Minot in 1964 and then to Mandan in 1967. Cindy graduated from Mandan High School in 1977. She immediately began working at Job Service ND where she worked for over 20 years, after which she began working at Coventry/Aetna Healthcare, now CVS, where she continued to work until her death.  

On July 29, 1978, Cindy married her high school sweetheart and best friend, Mark Muhlhauser. They made their home together in Mandan and filled their first 8 years of marriage with the enjoyment of one another and traveling. In 1985 they welcomed their first daughter, Mandy. In 1987 they welcomed their second daughter, Megan. In 1989 they completed their family with the birth of their son, John. Mark and Cindy raised their three children in Mandan and filled their home with love and many family pets. 

Cindy had a big heart and a passion for animals. This love led her and Mark to move to a farm in Strasburg once their children were done with school. The farm was Cindy’s happy place and she filled it with cats, dogs, parrots, and her special friend, a Cremello horse named Dusty. 

Cindy loved to bake. You could find her in the kitchen making fresh pies for family holidays and one of her favorite pastimes was baking a variety of cookies during Christmas time and sharing them with her family and friends.  

In 2019, Mark and Cindy moved from the farm into Strasburg where they spent their final years enjoying time with their children and 3 grandchildren during frequent sleepovers.  

Cindy is survived by her three loving children, Amanda (Jeremy) Kraft, Megan (Casey) Perry, both of Bismarck and John Muhlhauser, Strasburg. In addition, Cindy leaves behind her three precious granddaughters, who were the light of her life: Mazy Kraft, Reese Perry, and Cersei Kraft, her sister Cheryl Conitz, West Fargo, brother Bruce (Pam) Hartwig, Mandan, sister Carmen (Tom) Miller, Bismarck, and brother Robert Hartwig, Mandan. Also surviving are her Mother-in-law, Bernice Ressler, Strasburg, brother-in-law, Russell Ressler, Mandan, two uncles and one aunt: Donald (Darlene) Sailer, Vancouver,  WA, William (Deniece) Sailer, Cando, ND, and Rosalie (Milton) Unruh, Palm Desert, CA, many nieces and nephews, a multitude of cousins, and numerous special friends.

She was preceded in death on May 18, 2022, by her loving husband, Mark. Also preceding her were both of her parents, Donna and Bob Hartwig, her brother Brion Hartwig, and her Father-in-law Leonard Ressler.