Mary Jane (Bessaw) Miller, 95, of Underwood, ND died Sunday, April 27, 2025, at St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck. Funeral Mass will be 10:00AM Friday, May 2, 2025, at St. Bonaventure's Catholic Church, Underwood, ND. Visitation will be 6:00-7:00PM with a Rosary starting at 7:00PM, Thursday, May 1, at the church. Burial will be in Underwood City Cemetery, Underwood.

Jane was born in Dunn County to homesteaders Joe and Stella (Hennemann) Bessaw on August 18, 1929. She was the youngest of eight siblings that grew up north of Werner ND. Jane attended school in Werner and played basketball, kittenball (girls' softball) and ran track as a Werner Warrior.

After graduating from high school, Jane followed her older sisters to McLean County. The construction of the Garrison Dam had begun, and Jane got a job at the Big Bend Drugstore and then began her teaching career at the Sitka School.

Jane met Mike Miller, a young farmer-rancher from Underwood at a New Years Eve dance and they were married on September 18, 1949, in Underwood ND.  At that time, Jane was teaching at the Buffalo Lake School and Mike was working construction. They lived in Underwood prior to moving to Mike's parents farm south of Underwood.  Their first daughter, Sandra Lyn, was born in 1950 and Jane took a teaching job at the Landenberger School. In 1955, Mike and Jane moved to Riverdale ND and welcomed daughter Mary Mike to their family.

In 1956, Mike and Jane purchased a ranch south of Riverdale. The young couple enjoyed horses, cattle and all things attached to them. Jane was born a rancher's daughter and became a rancher herself, working side-by-side with Mike, raising Angus cattle and making improvements to their ranch. In 1970, daughter Carol Ann joined the family.

Mike passed away in 2005 and Jane continued on the ranch, leasing her farmland but keeping her herd of Angus cattle. In 2016 she sold her cows to her daughters but never lost her love for her black cows. Along with the responsibilities of ranch life, Jane was a member of St Bonaventure Catholic Church, participated in St Anne's Altar Society, loved family gatherings, made friends easily, loved to dance, go out to breakfast and was a life-long Democrat. Her door was always open for a good visit. She loved her life and always made sure to put on lipstick before leaving the house!

Jane is survived by are her three daughters Sandra (Joe) LaDuke, Underwood ND, Mary Mike (Tom) Reim, Bismarck ND, and Carol (Chris) Williams, Vacaville, CA, grandchildren Jason (Brenda) LaDuke, Bismarck ND, Aaron LaDuke, Madison WI, Katie (Ryan) Fuller, Minnetonka MN, Mike (Jeanette) Reim, Underwood ND, Bill (Brittani) Reim, Bismarck ND, Julie (Jon) Scott, Kalispell MT, Ryan Williams, Phoenix AZ, and Brooke Williams, Long Beach CA, and great-grandchildren Joe, Ben and Lizzie LaDuke, Remington Fuller, Roman and Elaina Reim and Stella Scott, nieces Marie Young, JoAnn Payne, Nancy Miller, Vidette Bradley and one nephew John W Bessaw.

Jane was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, her parents, parents-in-law Guy and Dora Miller, siblings Vivian Sacre, May Jacobs, John Bessaw, Ardella Strand, Eleanor Ensrude, two infant sisters and nephew Tom Miller.