Bernice A. "A.K.A. Mary Louise" Veis

Bernice Annette Veis went home to be with the Lord on July 23, 2004.

She was born Bernice A. Kanning, on July 3, 1940, to Ben and Dorothy Kanning, of Flaxville, Mont. She graduated from Flaxville High school in 1958 and then worked at the telephone company in Plentywood. Bernice married Jim Veis and had two children in Plentywood before moving to Billings in 1964. Through some difficult times, she was able to raise her children as a single mom. She was an awesome mother. She was employed by Ponderosa Inn as a night auditor for 35 years. With complications of diabetes, she was forced to retire in 2001. She was warm-hearted, loved to play music on her keyboards and dearly loved her family and friends, especially her children. She was a fighter to the end and will be greatly missed.

Preceded in death were her parents and her sister, Lorelta. Survivors include her daughter, Melanie Jones and husband, Jay, of Billings; their children, Rashell Mundt, Ryan Mundt and Gary Jones; her great-grandchildren, Leah and Krystan Mundt; her son, Richard Veis and wife, Chastity, of Billings, their children Sierra, Lakotta, Dylan, and Brennon; three brothers, R.G. Kanning and wife, Debbie, of Calif., Richard Kanning and wife, Pat, of Flaxville, Dean Kanning, of Billings; and one sister, Delores Koerber, of Billings; several nieces, nephews and two great-grandchildren. Close and dear friends include, Mable Lux, Bev Nick, Elaine Lewis, Delores Freeck, James Whittman, Caroline Layne and Alberta Hoffeber.

A celebration of Bernice's life will be held 3 p.m., Tuesday, July 27, at the American Lutheran Church.