Vera S. Koehler

Vera S. Koehler, 84, Bismarck, died March 10, 2012, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 2:00 PM at Faith Lutheran Church, 1402 East Avenue C, Bismarck, with Rev. Jon Larson officiating. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4:00 - 8:00 PM at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 East Divide Avenue, Bismarck, where a prayer service will be held at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue on Wednesday one hour prior to the service at the church. Vera was born on March 15, 1927, north of Dodge, ND, to Fred and Emma (Zeiszler) Keller. She was raised on the family farm near Dodge. She attended country school for grade school and later attended high school in Halliday. On December 29, 1947, she married Oswald Koehler. They made their home in Halliday where they began their family. She was a homemaker and also helped at their Texaco Station. They moved to Bismarck in 1956 where she continued as a homemaker and later began employment as a part-time cook at Hughes Junior High School from 1975 – 1987. Vera was a "gentle" soul…compassionate, loving, and uncomplaining. Her passion was family! She loved entertaining family and friends. Vera enjoyed cooking, canning, gardening, baking, embroidering, crocheting, and playing cards (especially Whist). Vera was known for her cooking and baking. Most commonly requested meals from family was fleischkichle, potato soup and keichla, homemade bread and buns, kuchens, caramel rolls, and other German dishes. Vera was especially proud of her grandchildren and attended their activities as she was able. Vera's children and grandchildren feel blessed to have shared in her life and she will be deeply missed. She is survived by her sons, Ron Koehler and Terry (Marlene) Koehler; her daughter, Joleen (Charles) Leier, all of Bismarck; four grandchildren, Angela (Bryce) Couling, Adam Koehler, Christopher and Zachary Leier; two great-grandchildren, Katelyn and Benjamin Couling; two sisters, Mardella (Richard) Gegelman and Donna (Robert) Kovaloff; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; brothers Rueben, Elmer, Fred, and Victor Keller; and sisters, Netti Wilhelm and Gladys Keller.