Jeannine Christy

Jeannine Christy, 79, Bismarck, died July 29, 2008 at her home. Services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, 214 East Thayer Avenue, Bismarck with Rev. Ben Dove officiating. A private family burial will be held at a later date. Visitation will be held from 12:00 noon until 9:00 pm Friday at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 East Divide Avenue, Bismarck with a prayer service beginning at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church. Jeannine was born July 4, 1929, in Herrick, SD, the daughter of Joseph and Erma Smith Kulhavy. She married Richard Christy on September 3, 1948, in Rapid City, SD. They made their home in Rapid City, SD, until 1965. Jeannine began her career at Bank of North Dakota in April 1968 and was named Vice President in March 1980. As an assistant to Martin “Buck” Stenehjem, her student loan adventure started soon after Bank of North Dakota made the first federally insured student loan in the nation. She accomplished many goals throughout her career, but none were more important than developing and overseeing the student loan functions. Jeannine was instrumental in building the North Dakota student loan program from the ground up; leading staff from manual processes to the electronic age helping thousands of students achieve their goal of obtaining a higher education. Her passion in working with schools, parents and students earned the respect of her colleagues throughout the US due to her hands-on knowledge and expertise of the highly technical student loan program. Jeannine retired from Bank of North Dakota in 1991 and she continued to be remembered often and fondly by people who were fortunate enough to have worked with her throughout her career. During her career at the Bank of North Dakota she attended the Colorado College of Banking and the American Institute of Banking. Jeannine was a member of Zonta International, Golden Kiwanis, Business and Professional Women, Bismarck Commission on Status of Women, National Association of Bank Women, ND Financial Aid Administrators and served as an elder for First Presbyterian Church. She was a volunteer for R.S.V.P. as well as a volunteer at the State Library in the Talking Books Program and the Salvation Army. She is survived by her daughter, Julie Ann Paul Barth of Bismarck, ND; her sons, David Loren Jan Christy of Fargo, ND, Douglas Everett Carol Christy of Deer Park, WA and Mark Traverse Wendy Christy of Nine Mile Falls, WA; her grandchildren, Todd Farrell, Carmel Gonzales, Aaron Barth, Joshua Christy, Matthew Barth, Jessica Christy, Joslyn Christy and Marshall Christy; her great-grandchildren and step-grandchildren; her brother, Richard J. Kulhavy of Rapid City, SD and one nephew, Steven Gail Kulhavy. She was preceded in death by her parents. Memorials may be given to First Presbyterian Church, 214 E. Thayer Ave, Bismarck.

Jeannine Christy

July 4, 1929 - July 29, 2008