Verna Marilyn Van Driel, 89, Luverne, died Friday, May 10, 2019, under hospice care at the Sanford Luverne Hospital.
A memorial service was Tuesday, May 14, at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. Burial followed at Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery in Hills.
Verna Lawrence was born on April 19, 1930, to David and Alice (Ellingson) Lawrence in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She was baptized in 1930 in Sioux Falls. When Verna was eight years old, her family moved to Volin, South Dakota, where she began her education. She was confirmed in the Christian faith in 1944. When she was 16, the family moved back to Sioux Falls. She graduated from Washington High School in 1949. Verna worked at Morrell’s for a year before taking a position with the South Dakota Children’s Home in July 1950 as a house mother for just over a year.
On April 25, 1952, Verna married Claude Van Driel at First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. The couple spent their first year of marriage in Rapid City, South Dakota, where Claude was stationed with the Air Force. They returned to the southwest Minnesota area one year later and began farming near Hills.
Verna and Claude raised their four children on the farm where she was a housewife for the next 36 years. In 1989 they retired and moved to Luverne. This move allowed Verna to enjoy one of her passions, swimming, as often as possible.
Verna was active in the Lutheran Church as a Sunday school teacher and a member of ladies circle and adult education classes. The family enjoyed many special days at Shetek Lutheran Bible Camp. She was involved in her community with the Extension Club, 4-H and a 4-H alumni group, YMW. She enjoyed sewing, scrapbooking and extensive traveling with Claude.
Verna is survived by her husband, Claude, of Luverne; children Jayne (Ronald) Peterson of St. Cloud, and Bette (Arthur) Krause of Colorado Springs, Colorado; son-in-law Dale Reiman of Iowa City, Iowa; six grandchildren, Brian Peterson, Tracy Voegele, Jack Peterson, Danielle Reiman, Alexander Krause and Marcus Krause; three great-granddaughters, Parker and Ava Peterson and Elle Voegele; and a sister, Arlene Warner of Bentonville, Arkansas.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Bruce Van Driel; a daughter, Mary Alice Reiman; a granddaughter, Moriah Reiman; brothers Clifford, Leland, Ellsworth and David Lawrence; and a sister, Leona Hanson.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
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