Elaine Kelly

Elaine Eva (Jahner) Kelly was welcomed peacefully into rest on November 3, after a long and courageous journey through dementia. Her final days were filled with love, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, who found comfort knowing she would finally find the peace she so richly deserved.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at Bismarck Funeral Home with Rev. Sheila Heiser officiating. The burial will follow at 2:00 PM at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Family will begin greeting guests at 10:30 AM.

Elaine was born on November 12, 1941, as one of twelve beloved children of Mary and Ted Jahner, who affectionately called their family the “solid gold dozen.” Life’s path was not always an easy one for Elaine, but it was one she walked with strength and grace. In August 1965, she found her greatest happiness when she married Marvin Kelly, the love of her life. Together, they shared a quiet and fulfilling life where Elaine found joy in simple pleasures—playing guitar, tending to her flowers, baking, and sewing. She had a gift for creating abundance from little, always finding a way to turn “have not” into “have.”

Elaine’s family was her greatest treasure. She is survived by her daughters, Sheila Heiser of Bismarck and Nancy (David) Turner of Mandan, and was a proud grandmother to her three grandchildren: Zachary Turner of Mandan and Marcella and Olivia of Bismarck. Her grandchildren were the lights of her life, and Elaine never missed an opportunity to share her pride in them. Her smile lit up at the mere mention of their names, and her joy in being a grandmother was boundless.

Though dementia took many memories, her love remained unshakable. Her family was her anchor, and through every challenge, she never forgot her children or grandchildren—a gift we will always cherish.

Elaine’s spirit was a blend of resilience, stubbornness, and determination. She faced each day with strength and never lost her resolve, even when life tested her. In spite of the disease that gradually took its toll, she “got up” each day and did what needed to be done. She never gave up, a testament to her unwavering spirit.