Jean A. Doll

Jean Ardyth Doll, a life-long resident of Bismarck, went to her heavenly reward on March 2, 2025 after a lengthy illness.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Bismarck. Burial will immediately follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bismarck. The family will be receiving guests at 1:00 p.m. with a Rosary beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Jean was born on April 6, 1935 in Bismarck to Clayton “Bus” Lester Finlayson and his wife, Florence Mary Wynkoop Finlayson.

At the young of age 2, Jean’s family life was forever altered by the unexpected passing of her father who was employed with the Bismarck Fire Department. While responding to a fire in the early morning hours, the department’s Seagrave fire truck tipped over, killing him instantly. 

Her mother never remarried. Jean grew up without her father, the only child of her parents’ union. But she did not grow up without a loving family: in addition to her mother, there were many loving uncles, aunts, and cousins from the branches of the Finlayson, Wynkoop, and Monette families that cared a great deal for her, as did her fathers co-workers at the Bismarck Fire Department. 

Jean was raised to be fiercely independent, contributing to the family at an early age out of necessity. Less than five years old, and with every penny counting, she would personally deliver her mother’s payments for local bills to save the family the expense of stamps otherwise needed for mailing. Raised in the Catholic faith, her mother did everything possible to ensure that Jean was able to attend Cathedral of the Holy Spirit Grade and Saint Mary’s Central High Schools. 

Jean married Donald Aloysius Doll, a union that produced four children, Gregory, Camile, Christie, and Erik. Determined to provide the very best for her family, and while raising a household of children, Jean furthered her education, attending Bismarck Junior College and the University of Mary, eventually earning her bachelor’s degree in social work. Jean and Donald worked for different state agencies, but they both recognized the importance of their work and took great pride in it. 

Following Donald’s passing in 1989, Jean continued to reside in Bismarck. In her retirement years, she did some volunteer work and enjoyed forming new friendships and re-establishing old ones. She was also an avid reader, a trait she inherited from her mother, and had a keen interest in current events, government, politics, and finance. Her Catholic faith, her children, her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were her greatest joys.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; great-grandson, Benedict Kvidt; and many special uncles, aunts, and cousins.

She is survived by her four children, Greg (Lynn), Bismarck; Camile (Corwin) Sateren, Ashland, WI; Christie (John) Ahern, St. Paul, MN; Erik (Julie) Doll, Munster, IN; eight grandchildren, Emily (Blake) Kvidt; Laura (Anthony) Humes; Kaia Sateren; Paul Sateren; Madeline (Jack) Hawksford; Bridget Ahern; Elizabeth (Justin) Vause; and Jacob Storm; five great-grandsons, Ambrose, Dominic and Anthony Kvidt; Edward “Teddy” Humes; Henry Vause; and many special cousins.

Jean cared a great deal for her family and friends. Her memory will forever remain in our hearts and minds, and she will be greatly missed.

Memorial donations may be directed to St. Mary’s Central High School, 5802 Ridgeland Drive, Bismarck, ND, or to The God’s Child Project, Bismarck, ND.