Vernice Francis Bergren Doughten

Vernice Francis Bergren Doughten, a Secular Franciscan in the Lady Jacoba Fraternity, and a former Blaine County teacher, died October 2, 2024, at St. John's Lutheran Home in Billings, Montana, seven days away from her 103rd birthday.

Vernice was born, October 9, 1921, to Frank and Helen Bergren in Hogeland, Montana. Her parents raised her on the family's homestead, alongside her brothers and sisters, Gladys, Helen (Nana), Eloise, Bernard, and Frank (Junior) – all gone now. Grandpa Gardner, Uncle Francis, her mom's brother, and Aunt Marg, her mom's sister, also took an active role in family life, often living with them.

She graduated high school in 1939. She attended college at the Ursuline Center in Great Falls, Montana to become a teacher. She met Leon Doughten and married him in 1943 in Chinook, Montana. The couple moved to Hogeland and farmed. They had three children -- Bob, Jim, and Bill.

Later, the family moved to Chinook, where Vernice taught school in the area for twenty years. After she retired, she taught Bible Studies and Sunday School. She became a Secular Franciscan in 1992. She loved her students, her neighbors, and her fellow Franciscans.

On October 17, 2006, her husband, Leon, passed away. She moved to Great Falls in 2007, where she lived with her youngest son, Bill. Her middle son, Jim, was in a nursing home there suffering from multiple sclerosis. She visited Jim often until he died on August 13, 2014. In 2019, Vernice moved to Billings to live out her remaining years in her eldest son's, Bob's, care.

She is survived by her two sons, Bob Doughten and Diane Evans Doughten of Billings and Bill Doughten and Terry Cherney of Venice, Florida; grandchildren, Rob Doughten of Washington, D.C. and Christy Yochum of Billings; and great grandchildren, Mason and Madison Yochum of Helena, Montana; and numerous nieces and nephews. She loved her entire family, as it grew, and prayed for them daily.

Vernice's lifelong message was "God is love." She was the last of Frank and Helen Bergren's children to depart this Earth. She was ready to rejoin her mom and dad, brothers and sisters, husband, one of her sons, and countless other family members, friends, and neighbors in Heaven. Those of us who remain will miss her greatly until we are reunited. She didn't fear death because she knew love is eternal and God would take care of the rest.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 19, at St. Gabriel's Catholic Church in Chinook, Montana at 10 a.m. with burial following at Kuper Memorial Cemetery. A reception will be held at St. Gabriel's Catholic Church, after the burial, for family and friends – all are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Vernice's name to either EWTN, the Global Catholic Network, or a charity of your choice.

A00013B2024OC02