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Verna Garnmeister

Lead Summary

Verna Mae Garnmeister, 95, Luverne, died Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, at the Good Samaritan Society — Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. Inurnment will follow at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.
Verna Mae Stange was born on May 20, 1924, to Reinhold and Anna Marie (Bunge) Stange at home in Sioux County, Iowa. She was raised on the family farm and attended school in Hull, Iowa, graduating in 1942. After graduation Verna worked as a telephone operator in Hull.
On Jan. 8, 1950, she married Rufus Garnmeister at St. Paul Lutheran Church of rural Hull. The couple settled on a farm in Springwater Township in Rock County, 13 miles Northwest of Luverne. There they worked the land and raised their three daughters, Paula, Mary, and Ruth. In 1964 Verna began her catering career at the Blue Mound Inn near Luverne, and she continued there until her retirement in 1990.
In 2001 after 51 years on the farm, Verna and Rufus moved to Luverne. Throughout their retirement years, Verna and Rufus were able to enjoy travels throughout the United States and Israel. On April 25, 2015, Rufus preceded Verna in death.
Verna was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. she was active in several circles, the Women’s Society, and served as a Stephen Minister. She helped with the monthly church newsletter, the funeral committee and the quilting group. Verna was a member of the Enterprise Extension Club and enjoyed tending to her vegetable and flower gardens. She enjoyed sewing and volunteering for many activities and creating new recipes including watermelon pickles, corncob jelly and homemade root beer. Verna always fostered a strong relationship between her family and God and cherished the time spent with them.
Verna is survived by three daughters, Paula (John) Peterson of Aurora, Colorado, Mary (Claude) Vahle of Highland, California, and Ruth (Scott) Kannenberg of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; five grandchildren, Sarah (Kevin), John (Amie), Andrew (Sheri), Kathryn (Luke), and Jared (Margaryta); and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Rufus; her parents, Reinhold and Anna Stange; a brother, Paul Stange; and a sister, Marjorie Anderson.
 Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
 (1017 F)

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