Verona Louise Lechler

Our Mom, Verona Louise Lechler, went to rest with Jesus on March 1, 2019.

A funeral service will be held at 11:30 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at Spirit of Life Catholic Church, 801 1st St SE, Mandan, ND.

A vigil service will be held at 7:00 pm on Monday March 4, 2019 at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. Family will be greeting visitors starting at 6pm.  Cremation has taken place.

Verona was born on March 2, 1940, in Williston ND, to Charles and Verda (Amsbaugh) Wegley. She was the 3rd of 9 children. She grew up and went to school in Williston. She graduated from, NDSU receiving degrees in Home Economics and Physical Education. Verona taught and coached in Beach, ND for many years.  There is where she met and married Gerald Lechler. They married on August 25, 1964 and made their home on a farm North of Beach. Together Gerald and Verona had three children, Pam, Paul and Patty.

After her many years of teaching, she also worked in Beach as the Home Economist and then in Dickinson and Bismarck in a variety of positions in adult/child education.

On the farm Mom enjoyed having large vegetable and flower gardens. She helped move trucks and feed sheep when she was needed. Besides gardening on the farm, mom loved canning, sewing and enjoyed her Saturday morning coffee in Beach riding her old green bike 5 miles into town, just for the exercise. She took physical fitness seriously and loved playing tennis and taking long power walks.  

Along with being such a hard worker, Verona’s faith and sharing her faith was very important to her. She was involved as a eucharistic minister at St Johns Catholic Church in Beach and Spirit of Life in Mandan. Cursillo and prayer groups were a big part of her life, which allowed her to grow in her faith and meet many special friends.

When we all started to have children, mom found her true love – being a grandma. She adored all her kids and grandkids and spent as much time with them as possible. She taught them many life skills and life lessons. So many special memories were created at Grandma's house and the farm, from making bread braids, to sewing interesting creations, to sleepovers as well as many adventures on the farm. 

Mom was a true lifelong learner and valued continuing to learn and teach new things throughout her life. She loved to travel, jumping at the chance to go anywhere with almost anyone. She loved spending time with old classmates and friends. She spearheaded many get-togethers and reunions. She was very social and was involved in many groups including Homemakers, Catholic Daughters, Jacee’s, and Red Hats. If we were to describe her in one word it would be peacemaker. Mom always wanted everyone to get along and enjoy each other, have fun together and have peace in our relationships.

Mom struggled with Alzheimer’s later in her life but even when she lost her ability to speak, she communicated the love she had for her kids and grandkids with her smiles, kisses, and the twinkle in her eye. After her husband passed, she lived in assisted living before moving to Touchmark memory care, where she lived for the last five years. Us kids spent much time looking after her and ensuring she was comfortable and well cared for.  

Verona was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald Lechler, her parents, Charles and Nancy Wegley and Verda and Merlin Cathers, brother Steve Wegley, and her sister and brother-in-law Charlotte and Weldon Heddrick. 

She is survived by two daughters, Pam(Dean) Mastel and their children, Becky and Katie Mastel and Patty (Duane) Steffes and their children, Matthew, Kayla, Eric and Mia Steffes; one son, Paul (Janell Dschaak) Lechler and their children, Landon and Lateasha Lechler and Jase, Trey and Cade Dschaak. Two sisters, Madeline (Gene) Austby, Karen (Warren Dietrich) Wegley; four brothers, Gene Wegley, Myron (Cheryl) Wegley, Mike (Mary) Wegley, Keith Wegley and sister-in-law Linda Wegley and Vicki Wegley and many nieces and nephews.

We love, love, love, love you mom!

In lieu of flowers, we prefer donations may be to the Alzheimer's Association for research.

We would also like to thank the Touchmark caregivers that loved and cared for Mom during her time there.