Verna Mae Lee, a beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away peacefully on December 2, 2023, in Jamestown. She was 86.

She spent her life as a devoted caregiver. The daughter of John and Erma (Moresette) English, a railroad worker and homemaker, Verna Lee was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As a teen, she attended school in Toronto, Ontario. Then, at age 19, she met Bernard Lee – the Jamestown man to whom she would be married to until his death in 2005 – and, together, they settled on a farm in south Stutsman County.

Sharing a love for gardening and agriculture, Bernard and Verna Lee farmed for 15 years. The had six children during that time. In the 1970’s, after retiring from farming, the family briefly moved to a house in Jamestown before building what would be their forever home west of town. The house remains in the family.

Extending her caretaking beyond the home, Verna Lee worked for 40 years at The Anne Carlsen Center, helping disabled children and teens as an aide. She was selfless, hard working, and patient. In her golden years, she enjoyed traveling to Canada to visit family or Florida for warm weather.

Verna Lee is survived by five children, 10 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. They are sons James (Della) Lee, Jamestown, ND, Warren (Lynn) Lee, Bismarck, ND, Dwayne Lee, Jamestown, ND, Bryan Lee, Jamestown, ND; daughter Carolyn (Kim) Schrenk, Jamestown, ND; grandchildren Jonathan, Tyler, Blake, Joshua, Angelia, James, Brandy, Cassandra, Jessica, Benjamin; great grandchildren Sophia, Ava, Zachary, Colby, Hope, Joel, Josiah, Peighton, Tayden, and Nyha. She is also survived by a dear nephew, Robert English.

Verna was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Bernard Lee, and daughter Cheryl Bond, as well as her parents and five siblings.

A memorial service will take place at 2:00 PM, Thursday, December 7, 2023 at Eddy Funeral Home with Deacon Ken Votava as the officiant. Her interment into the Calvary Cemetery will follow. The service will be livestreamed on her obituary page on eddyfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Verna Lee’s 8 year old grandchild Colby Schrenk Benefit fund @gatecity bank who was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in February.

Eddy Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.