Jerry Kolden, 69, Garrison, formerly of Roseglen, died on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at a Bismarck hospital. Funeral services will be held on Monday at 11:00 am at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garrison. Burial will be at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Roseglen at 2:00 pm.
Visitation will be held on Sunday from Noon to 7pm at Thompson Funeral Home in Garrison.

Jerry was born October 10, 1945 in Minot, ND to Lloyd and Blenda (Johnson) Kolden. He was raised on the family farm near Roseglen and attended school in White Shield, graduating from White Shield High School in 1965.

Following graduation, Jerry remained on the farm and helped his father and brother with the farming operation. In 1968, Jerry was in a tragic car accident that left him with a severe spinal injury. The doctors had little hope of Jerry surviving, certainly to never walk again. After a year of intense therapy and Jerry's resilience and determination, he proved everyone wrong. He was not only alive, but returned to his duties on the farm.

As the years went by, the lingering effects from the accident would show here and there, but Jerry never complained or let it get him down. He lived a happy, independent life in a number of different places, including, Minot, Mandan and Bismarck, before moving to the Prairie View Nursing Home in Underwood. When the nursing home in Underwood closed Jerry, along with many of the staff in Underwood, moved to the Benedictine Living Center in Garrison. It was a very seamless transition and Jerry felt right at home.

Jerry enjoyed visiting and in the summer could be seen motoring around on his four wheel cart, orange flag signaling his arrival to the many activities that Jerry loved to watch. He very much enjoyed stopping and watching crews work, no matter the job. His favorite viewing pleasure however, was finding Larry and Dick from Giffey's Yard and Garden, and supervising them on the yard they were mowing at that particular time.

Jerry is survived by his sisters, Linda Semmen, Spokane, WA, Pat (Bruce) Bentz, Riverdale, ND; brother, Terry (Jean) Kolden, Roseglen; nieces, Debbie Semmen, Tacoma, WA, Tami (Jim) Hulm, Bismarck, ND, Tarrin (Mitch) Baumgartner, Detroit Lake, MN; nephews, Michael Semmen, San Francisco, CA, Sean (Stacey) Bentz, Dickinson, ND, Dustin (Julie) Bentz, Washburn, ND, Rustin Bentz, Jamestown, ND, Justin Bentz, Hensler, ND, Travis (Dawn) Kolden, Roseglen, ND, and Joshua (Kate) Kolden, Center ND; and 6 great nieces and 8 great nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Blenda Kolden, and his brother, Teddy Kolden, and a nephew, Johnny Semmen.