Lillian Kary

Lillian Kary, 96, Bismarck, died September 3, 2024, at St. Vincent’s Care Center, Bismarck. 

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 AM on Monday, September 9, 2024, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Bismarck, with Fr. John Paul Gardner celebrating. Burial will be at 1 PM at Mandan Union Cemetery. 

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 PM on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan, with a Parish Rosary and Vigil at 7 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. 

Lillian was born August 21, 1928, in Morton County, the daughter of Matt and Rose (Schmidt) Barnhardt. She was raised and educated in the Crown Butte and Center areas. Lillian graduated from Mandan High School in 1947, and then attended Dickinson State College where she received her teacher’s certification. On June 21, 1950, Lillian married Matt Kary at St. Vincent’s Church in Crown Butte. Lillian worked as a clerk at JC Penney’s and taught grades 1-8 in a one room school house in the Crown Butte area in the early 1950’s. Lillian and Matt moved to Bismarck in 1955 with their two daughters. Lillian helped Matt with his Kirby vacuum cleaner business. Later she worked as a bookkeeper for Lindsay Water Softener. In 1961, she and Matt moved to the house she would live in for the next 60 plus years, where they had another daughter. Lillian also enjoyed selling Avon for 20 years. Lillian ended her working career as a concession station manager at the Bismarck Civic Center when she retired at age 82. 

Lillian enjoyed many activities including gardening, sewing, crafts, bowling, embroidery, and playing cards and Farkle with her grandchildren. She was a charter member of the Church of Corpus Christi and was a member of the Ladies Guild as well as the Mandan Women of the Moose. 

Blessed to have shared in her life are her three daughters and their husbands, RaeAnn (George) Kirick, Wilton, LuWayne (Kenneth) Barnes, Fargo, and Lori (Jim) Lind, Bismarck; 8 grandchildren, Leonard (Leah) Crouse, LeeAnn (Jody) Gordon, Erin Barnes, Casey (Mandy) Crouse, Amber (Dustin) Duff, Jamie (Derrick) Van Zoest, Kyra (Noah) Johnson, and Chris (Carla) Barnes; 9 great grandchildren, Caiden, Tanna, Phoenix, Liam M., Lexi, Brynley, Evelyn, Scarlette, Liam B., and soon to be another baby girl; one brother, Larry (Glorine) Barnhardt, Mexico; two sisters, Claudia (Lou) Fondrick, Salem, OR and Lorraine (Frank) Schank, Dickinson; three sisters-in-law, Gloria Blasey, Mandan, Francie Barnhardt, Lincoln, NE, and Mary Ann Barnhardt, Bismarck; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Lillian was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Matt; 3 brothers, Peter, Robert, and Jacob Barnhardt; brothers and sisters-in-law, Monica (Tony) Boehm, Al (Ann) Kary, John (Verna) Kary, Joe (Frances Geiger) Kary, George (Frances) Kary, Jack (Luella) Kary, Harry (Rose) Kary, Rose (Leo) Dinius, Ralph (Rose) Kary, and Tony (Pauline) Kary; and son-in-law, Leonard Crouse III.

To view the funeral livestream please go to the church You Tube channel, Corpus Christi - You Tube