Veronica Jahner

Veronica “Sis” Jahner passed away peacefully on February 10, 2025, in Bismarck, N.D., at the age of 103, at the Baptist Care Center.

Visitation will be held from 2:00-5:00 PM, Sunday, Feb. 23, with a rosary starting at 3:00 PM, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 E Divide Ave, Bismarck. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, Feb. 24, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 1919 N 2nd St, Bismarck. To view the service livestream, click this link Corpus Christi - YouTube 

Burial will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bismarck.

Veronica was born on August 5, 1921, in Bismarck, N.D., to George and Clementine (Hechler) Price. She grew up in Bismarck at a time when homes had coal furnaces, outdoor bathrooms, no electric refrigeration, with ice and coal deliveries each week. Veronica experienced the stock market crash of 1929, the drought of the Dirty Thirties, WW2, Korean conflict, Vietnam War and all the wars after that. Veronica’s mother died when she was only 11 years old, leaving her to take over household duties for her father and 8-year-old sister, Mary. Veronica often spoke how she would iron her father’s shirts and pack his lunch each morning before walking to school, along with having supper ready when her father came home from work. She became an excellent cook for her family. She attended St. Mary’s Grade School and graduated from St. Mary’s High School on June 2,1939.

Veronica married Christian “Chris” F. Jahner on November 24, 1943, in South St. Paul, MN. After a brief time living there, they returned to Bismarck to live and raise three children: Joni, Sharon, and Douglas. They were original members of St. Anne’s Church when it formed in the school gym, and members for the next 28 years. Later they became Corpus Christi members for the next 37 years, walking to church most of those years. Veronica continued to walk to church until she was 95 years old.

Veronica made sure all her children attended 12 years of Catholic school and graduated from St. Mary’s Central High School.

Having never owned a car, it was common for Veronica and Christian, into their sixties to walk to Kirkwood Mall, Arrowhead Plaza and to get groceries. They continued to go on their walking adventures. When Veronica was asked at the age of 100 years why they never had a family car, she replied, “If walking was so bad for you growing up, why are you walking for exercise to this day?”

Christian died in 2002 after 59 years of marriage. Veronica lived the next 19 years at her condo, enjoying the neighborhood activity. Veronica loved puzzles, playing cards, especially Rummy and Solitaire. When asked who is winning, she would joyfully say, “I am.” She loved watching boxing and golf on television. Veronica loved being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, laughing with them like a young girl. She was affectionately known as Grandma Cuckoo Clock by some of her great-grandchildren because of the cuckoo clock in her home. Veronica enjoyed the simple life, she had a strong faith, believed in moderation in everything, and had a sheer determination. One of her favorite sayings was, “take it as it comes, take it as it comes”. She could have been an excellent accountant since she was very meticulous in her personal bookkeeping records and checkbook.

Veronica “Sis” will be deeply missed by her family.

Veronica was preceded in death by her parents, husband Christian, grandson Jaden, and 23 brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. Surviving are daughters Joni (Skip) Duemeland, Mandan, Sharon (Preston) Leingang, San Antonio, TX; and son Douglas (Elizabeth) Jahner, West Bismarck; 7 grandchildren, Jill (Aaron) Stenberg, Chip (Kaya) Duemeland, Corky Leingang, Brian Leingang, Christopher (Tracy) Jahner, Cody Jahner, Jesse (Chantel) Jahner; 13 great-grandchildren; Lexi Stenberg, Ehli Stenberg, Charli Stenberg, Belle Stenberg, Lily Kuntz, Brian Jr. Leingang, Tori Jahner, Taylor Jahner, Tia Jahner, Tenley Jahner, Jett Jahner, Cade Jahner, and Lennon Jahner; sibling, Mary Burtts; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the employees in the Prairie View Neighborhood for their loving care of our mother.