1945
Juliann
2013
Juliann Kraft
July 20, 1945 — October 13, 2013
Juliann (Julie) Kraft, 68, Bismarck, died October 13, 2013 with her children by her side.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am Friday, October 18 at Church of the Ascension, Bismarck, with Rev. Edwin Wehner officiating. Burial will be at St. Philomena’s Catholic Cemetery, Selfridge.
Visitation will be held from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm Thursday, October 17 at Weigel Funeral Home, 309 4th Ave NW, Mandan, with a Rosary/Parish Vigil at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.
Juliann was born July 20, 1945 in Bismarck to Jacob (Jack) and Rose (Blotske) Kraft. Growing up on the family farm north of Selfridge, Juliann spent most of her time outdoors. She loved riding horses and looking after the cows. Juliann attended St. Philomena Catholic School and graduated from Selfridge High School in 1963 as valedictorian. Julie went on to Dickinson State College and received her teaching certificate. She taught elementary at Lambert (Lambert, MT) and Leahy (Raleigh, ND) Public Schools. Juliann married Frank Kraft on June 20, 1967. They lived in Seattle, WA for a year and at that time Julie worked at the post office. They moved back to North Dakota and made their home on the Kraft farm west of Shields. She traded in a teaching career for raising her six children, milking cows, ranching, selling Avon and homemaking. Julie had a zest for life that was multifaceted; she enjoyed photography, genealogy, dancing, sewing, cooking and baking, polkas and waltzes, historical romance novels, auctions and rummage sales, road trips, wagon trains and anything to do with livestock and country living. She was active in the St. James Alter Society, Shields Homemaker’s Club, West River Teamsters and was on numerous committees over the years planning community events. Juliann met life’s joys, blessings, sorrows and disappointments with a sense of humor that will always be remembered by those whose lives she has touched.
Juliann is survived by her five children; Tina (Michael) Hanson, McGregor, ND, Jack (Debbie) Kraft, Glen Ullin, ND, Richard (Tami) Kraft, Battle Mountain, NV, Laura Kraft, Bellevue, WA and Jody Kraft (Luis Mendez), McGregor, ND; ten grandchildren; Melissa, Jennifer, Pamela, Bradlee, Kassidy, Shaylee, Genesis, Jenilynn, Nora, and Isaak; two great-grandchildren; Victor and Kendra; one sister, Marie (Pete) Schmidt, Lynnwood, WA; two brothers; Pat (Terry) Kraft, Tacoma, WA and Ron (Kristie) Kraft, Seattle, WA; one sister-in-law, Ann Kraft, Mount Vernon, WA; nieces and nephews; and many cousins.
Juliann was preceded in death by her son, Douglas; her parents, Jack and Rose; and her brother, Larry.
Go to www.weigelfuneral.com to sign the online guestbook and view tribute photos.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am Friday, October 18 at Church of the Ascension, Bismarck, with Rev. Edwin Wehner officiating. Burial will be at St. Philomena’s Catholic Cemetery, Selfridge.
Visitation will be held from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm Thursday, October 17 at Weigel Funeral Home, 309 4th Ave NW, Mandan, with a Rosary/Parish Vigil at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.
Juliann was born July 20, 1945 in Bismarck to Jacob (Jack) and Rose (Blotske) Kraft. Growing up on the family farm north of Selfridge, Juliann spent most of her time outdoors. She loved riding horses and looking after the cows. Juliann attended St. Philomena Catholic School and graduated from Selfridge High School in 1963 as valedictorian. Julie went on to Dickinson State College and received her teaching certificate. She taught elementary at Lambert (Lambert, MT) and Leahy (Raleigh, ND) Public Schools. Juliann married Frank Kraft on June 20, 1967. They lived in Seattle, WA for a year and at that time Julie worked at the post office. They moved back to North Dakota and made their home on the Kraft farm west of Shields. She traded in a teaching career for raising her six children, milking cows, ranching, selling Avon and homemaking. Julie had a zest for life that was multifaceted; she enjoyed photography, genealogy, dancing, sewing, cooking and baking, polkas and waltzes, historical romance novels, auctions and rummage sales, road trips, wagon trains and anything to do with livestock and country living. She was active in the St. James Alter Society, Shields Homemaker’s Club, West River Teamsters and was on numerous committees over the years planning community events. Juliann met life’s joys, blessings, sorrows and disappointments with a sense of humor that will always be remembered by those whose lives she has touched.
Juliann is survived by her five children; Tina (Michael) Hanson, McGregor, ND, Jack (Debbie) Kraft, Glen Ullin, ND, Richard (Tami) Kraft, Battle Mountain, NV, Laura Kraft, Bellevue, WA and Jody Kraft (Luis Mendez), McGregor, ND; ten grandchildren; Melissa, Jennifer, Pamela, Bradlee, Kassidy, Shaylee, Genesis, Jenilynn, Nora, and Isaak; two great-grandchildren; Victor and Kendra; one sister, Marie (Pete) Schmidt, Lynnwood, WA; two brothers; Pat (Terry) Kraft, Tacoma, WA and Ron (Kristie) Kraft, Seattle, WA; one sister-in-law, Ann Kraft, Mount Vernon, WA; nieces and nephews; and many cousins.
Juliann was preceded in death by her son, Douglas; her parents, Jack and Rose; and her brother, Larry.
Go to www.weigelfuneral.com to sign the online guestbook and view tribute photos.
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