Laura L. Teunissen

Laura L. Teunissen, 77, Bismarck, died November 7, 2018, at home surrounded by her family. Services will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, November 10, at House of Prayer Lutheran Church, 1470 S. Washington St., Bismarck, with Rev. David Swonger officiating. Burial will be at Mandan Union Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Friday, November 9, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. Laura Teunissen was born on February 16, 1941, in Springfield, SD, to Bernt and Magdalena (Jantz) Thompson. She received her teaching degree from Southern State College in Springfield, SD where she met her husband, Casey Teunissen. They were married August 11, 1961, and she taught in a country school outside of Mt. Vernon. She became a mother in June 1969 and eventually raised four children and two grandchildren. The family moved to Bismarck, ND, in 1976 where she remained a stay-at-home mother and ran a daycare out of the home. She returned to the University of Mary to complete her four-year degree. She became a Kindergarten teacher at Dorothy Moses Elementary and loved the job and all her students until she retired in 2007. As a child Laura played the clarinet in the band, sang in the choir, was a member of the Future Teachers of America, participated in the speech department and took a year of journalism. She loved spending time with her family, going on trips, and collecting solar lights and fiber optics. Her memorable and infectious laugh left an impression on anyone who spent time with her and will be dearly missed. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend who has left many cherished memories for all. Laura is survived by her four children and their spouses, Bernt Teunissen of Bismarck, Lena Meckle of Mandan, Lila Teunissen and Ken Fricke of Bismarck, and Paul and Veronika Teunissen of Fargo; seven grandchildren, Michael Teunissen of Helena, Austin Teunissen of Bismarck, Cassidy Averill of San Diego, Ronan Ford Teunissen of Seattle, Karina Repina, Carter and Casey Teunissen of Fargo; brother, Vernon Thompson of Sioux Falls; sisters, Lorna Uken of Yankton and Connie Thompson of Bismarck, along with many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bernt and Magdalena Thompson; sister, Kathy Hamberger; and her husband, Casey Teunissen.