31 Jan Jean (Timpe) Keller
Posted at 17:12h
in Uncategorized
by staff
Jean (Timpe) Keller, 93, of Bismarck, passed away peacefully on Jan. 27, 2024 in a Bismarck Care Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 10:00 a.m. at Church of Corpus Christi with Rev. Kregg Hochhalter officiating. Burial will be held in Almont, ND.
Family will be receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. on Friday at the Bismarck Funeral Home with a vigil/rosary at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. A livestream of the service will be held on the Church of Corpus Christi’s website.
Jean was born on June 1, 1930 in Bismarck, ND. She was the daughter of Leo and Arlington (Griffeth) Timpe. Her younger years were spent in Almont, ND and in Beach, ND. Upon graduation from Almont High School in 1947, she went to college in Dickinson, and graduated three years later with a teaching certificate and taught at country schools in Glen Ullin and North Almont.
On October 29, 1951 Jean was united in marriage to Leo Keller and together they had five children, Terry, Ross, Laurie, Jody and Lynn. As the children were raised, Jean managed the busy household, planted a large vegetable and flower garden each year, kept an abundance of baked goods on hand, canned whatever was harvested from the garden, enjoyed reading, photography, scrapbooking, and helped maintain the farm bookkeeping records with her sister-in-law, Ruth.
Jean and Leo enjoyed camping, playing cards, going out dancing and taking short trips with friends. Most important was her faith and family. She talked daily to her mother on the phone and they would visit in person each Saturday morning when she would wash and fix her mother’s hair in preparation for church on Sunday. She enjoyed a close relationship with her sister, Joan and brother, Leo Jr. and their families. Although they lived out of the state, whenever they returned to ND for a visit, it involved a lot of laughs, meals shared, BG’s (baked goods) and fun.
Until 1992, Jean was a member of the St. Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Almont, was a member of the Christian Mothers organization and active over 25 years in the Busy Beaver’s Homemaker Club.
Jean and Leo relocated from the farm to Bismarck in 1992. While this was a big adjustment from the farm, she soon found herself enjoying the conveniences of Bismarck, being closer to some of her children, and developed new friendships along the way.
Jean and Leo moved to St. Gabriels Community Living in February, 2019. It is here where she was reunited with her sister-in-law Ruth, formed several new relationships, and frequently attended Mass and rosary prayer services. She also continued to read, scrapbook, was an avid Twin’s baseball fan, played cards twice a week and enjoyed the variety of musical entertainment provided in the facility.
Jean will be missed by her children: Laurie (Mark) Kadrmas, Bismarck; Jody Keller, Minneapolis; and Lynn (Marcy) Keller, Mandan. Her grandchildren, Dylan Kadrmas and fiancée Emily Holien, Shelby (Brandon) Hauck, Shayne Keller and fiancée Thomas George, and McCoy Keller. Her great grandchild Crew Hauck, sister-in-law Gloria Nigg, and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Arlie; husband, Leo; sons, Terry and Ross; sister, Joan (Bill) Kuebker; and brother, Leo Jr.
In lieu of flowers, in memory of Jean, please make memorials to the charity of your choice.
