Vera Ethel Bollinger was born October 15, 1894, in Island Lake, North Dakota, in rural Rolette County. She was the second child of Charles and Emma Bollinger. Charles August Bollinger was born in Monroe, Michigan, on April 13, 1865. Emma Jordan was born in Toledo, Ohio, on November 27, 1868. They were married on April 3, 1888 in Maybee, Michigan. Four days later they arrived in the Dakota Territory, where Charles operated a general store and blacksmith shop near York. Their first child, Lee Thurlow, was born April 22, 1893. The Bollinger family was active in civic, educational, social and religious activities. Charles Bollinger died September 25, 1947. Lee Bollinger died on April 29, 1951, followed by his mother, Emma Bollinger, on November 21, 1953.

Vera was educated in nearby Bisbee, and graduated from high school in 1912. She then went on to earn a teacher's certificate from the University of North Dakota in 1915; she followed this with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Speech in 1919 and a Master of Science in Education in 1930. Her thesis was entitled A Study of the Functioning of Deans of Girls in Secondary Schools.

Before returning to UND to complete her B.A., Vera taught grades five and six in Bathgate and Bisbee. After graduating, she became a high school principal and taught English in the Mayville school system. In 1921, she accepted a position as an English and speech teacher at Jamestown High School, where she also was involved with the debate and drama clubs, as well as the school newspaper. She also spent time as an assistant high school principal and Dean of Girls in the Fairbault, Minnesota, school system before returning to UND in 1929.

She stayed on at UND after completing her Master's degree in 1930. She served as speech instructor, matron of Davis Hall, assistant director of the Dakota Playmakers and pledge advisor for Kappa Alpha Theta. In 1936, Vera Bollinger moved to Valley City to work for Valley City State Teacher's College. She served there in various capacities until 1963. She was an English and speech instructor, Dean of Women and advisor of Women Students during this time. She retired in 1963 and was conferred Emeritus status by the college in May 1974. In May 1980, she received the prestigious Sioux Award from the University of North Dakota Alumni Association.

Besides a long life interest in education, Vera Bollinger was also an active member of the American Association of University Women, carrying her membership for over fifty years. She was also a member of P.E.O. Sisterhood, and helped to found Chapter T in Grand Forks. She was an honorary member of Zonta International, in addition to being a former president of the North Dakota Educational Association.

Vera Bollinger died on December 17, 1981, in Valley City.