Vera Dolores Kilen Joyce Mitchell Obituary

Vera Dolores Kilen was born August 31, 1924 in Stanley, North Dakota, to Ole M. and Annetta (Hougen) Kilen.

Vera attended school in Stanley and graduated in 1942. She attended one year at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. She then returned home to help her parents in the Mountrail County Promoter. Vera also worked for Traux-Trayer Coal Company in Minot, for Boeing in Seattle, and for the Fargo Public School system.

Vera married James Joyce in 1949. They lived in Minot and Fargo. They had 2 children, Steven (Steve) and Tarryl (Tari). In 1974, she married Home Mitchell. They lived in Rock Lake, Fargo, Grand Forks, and enjoyed wintering in Mesa, Arizona.

Vera enjoyed music and loved singing. She was in several choirs and had a beautiful voice. She played several instruments including the saxophone, piano, and organ. She learned to play the drums while wintering in Arizona as there was no one else to play them in the Good Life retirement park band.

She also loved playing golf. She scored a hole-in-one on the 4th hole at the Cando golf course. Vera also had a very special talent when it came to painting.

Vera passed away at 9:22 pm on December 19, 2017 at the age of 93, after suffering with Alzheimer’s for several years.

Vera was proceeded in death by her parents, Annetta and Ole Kilen; her two husbands, James Joyce and Homer Mitchell; her brothers Merlin and Russell; her sisters Agnes and Gladys; a grandson, Josh Amerman; and a great granddaughter, Brooklyn AnnaMarie Joyce.

She is survived by a sister, Dorothy Moen; her children, Steve (LaNae) Joyce, Tari Joyce, Bill (Dorothy) Mitchell, Maureen (Larry) Barker, Pamela (Edwin) Kaleva; grandchildren, Chad (Jenna) Joyce, Tyler Joyce, Tanner Joyce, Stacey (Diana) Mitchell, Blake (Martha) Mitchell, Darin (Kathy) Barker, Shani (Darin) Peichel, Nicole Kaleva, Amber Amerman; and great grandchildren, Caroline, Jillian, Penelope, Jaide, Madeline, Hailey, Julia, Harper, Gillian, Maggie, Abigail, and Noah; plus several nieces and nephews.

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