Jolene Giese

Jolene Giese, 53, Steele, peacefully entered her heavenly home on July 18, 2012. Services will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, July 25, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Steele, ND, with Rev. Jacob DeBoer and Rev. Terry Kern officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Steele. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm Monday, July 23, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, from 12 Noon – 4 pm Tuesday, July 24, at Eastgate-Steele Memorial Chapel in Steele, and from 6 pm – 9 pm Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Steele, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. Jolene was born December 23, 1958, in Bismarck, ND, the daughter of Lawrence and Jerda Blumhagen. She attended elementary schools in Tuttle and Steele. She graduated from Steele-Dawson High School in 1977, and completed one year of nursing school in Bismarck. Jolene married Lloyd Giese at Trinity Lutheran Church in Steele, ND, on June 23, 1979. Jolene and Lloyd traveled to all 50 of the United States over the course of their 20-plus years in industrial construction, always accompanied by their two cats, Baby and Missy. Jolene was a versatile worker with a sharp mind and good hands. She could run an office, turn a wrench, or read a set of blueprints. She once supervised the staging of an ethanol plant site in York, Nebraska. She wasn't afraid of work and could tackle about anything. She was an energetic problem solver who got things done. She was successful in many endeavors. On the home front, Jolene packaged up tractor parts and mailed them out, as well as taking care of bookkeeping and business operations. Jolene was an avid quilter, seamstress, and crafter. She never went a Christmas without making homemade Christmas ornaments for her family members. She was a good listener who also got her ideas for Christmas gifts by listening to people converse. Jolene was also very fond of music. She also enjoyed playing the piano and singing hymns. Jolene was always proud of the fact that she shared her dad's birthday. She took care of her nieces and nephews like they were her own, and she was a fantastic cook. She liked the country life-picking chokecherries for homemade jelly, picking vegetables and sweet corn to take to the Farmer's Market, gardening and canning. She was also an avid reader and enjoyed a good jigsaw puzzle. Jolene and Lloyd also enjoyed going to concerts together. She went to many tractor pulls to cheer Lloyd on and take pictures of him on his Ford tractors. Jolene was also a quiet, calm, reflective person, and she was friendly to all she met, ready to come to anyone's rescue. Jolene loved life and had an infectious laugh. Jolene was the love of Lloyd's life, and he of hers. They met in August 1978 and were married about 10 months later. Jolene and Lloyd traveled together on the road, and they were traveling companions through life. Before she succumbed to cancer, Jolene battled courageously for five years. She battled with all she had and never lost her beauty and grace. Jolene was brave and strong. Jolene is survived by her husband, Lloyd Giese, Steele; her mother, Jerda Blumhagen, Bismarck; her sisters, Bonnie Doug Arndt, Bismarck, Phoebe Tom DeKrey, Bismarck, and Shanna Trenton Creeden, Winfield, KS; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Chester and Lorraine Giese, Steele; her sister-in-law, Diana Frank Dalton, Baraboo, WI; her brothers-in-law, Llewellyn Giese, Corpus Christi, TX, and Lynn Giese and friend, Lora, Columbus, OH; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, Lawrence Blumhagen; grandparents; uncles; and one aunt. A special thank you to all the Medcenter One Hospital and St. Alexius Medical Center doctors and nurses, and also the Medcenter One Hospice Staff.

Jolene Giese

December 23, 1958 - July 18, 2012