Obituary for Verna O. Hemmingson
Verna O. Hemmingson, age 94, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Saturday, October 12, 2019 at Prairie Lakes Hospital. Verna O. Ochsner was born June 14, 1925 on a farm north of Alpena, South Dakota, to Nicolaus and Katherina Ochsner. She was baptized and confirmed in the Reformed Church of Alpena. She attended country schools near her family’s home and worked with her parents and siblings on the family farm.
She married Pete W. Hemmingson on August 28, 1949 at the Reformed Church of Alpena. They made their home and raised their four children in Huron, Bradley and Watertown. She joined Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown in 1974 and was a faithful member until her death. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, TOPS and other local organizations.
After her husband passed away December 10, 1992, she continued to live in their home in Watertown until 2017 when she moved into an apartment.
Verna loved gardening and canning every year while she lived in her home. She enjoyed emailing and sharing humor stories with family and friends. She was known as an expert lefsa baker, delighting her children and grandchildren with gifts of lefsa for many years. She worked with the Grace Lutheran Church fall lefsa bakers for more than 20 years until her health began to fail.
She loved music, which brought her great enjoyment. As a young woman, she and her sisters sang for church groups in the Alpena area. She taught herself how to play the organ and enjoyed playing and singing hymns until her passing.
Verna is survived by four daughters: Kay (Ted) Moe of Watertown, Jean (Jeff) Audiss of Pierre, Sandy (Bob) Wirkus of Summerset, and Holly Kleinsasser of Sioux Falls; seven grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; one great-grandchild, Lincoln Brenden; one son-in-law, Craig Kleinsasser; and nine brothers and sisters and their spouses: Ted (Lydia) Ochsner, Albert (Leah) Ochsner, Edna (Gideon) Neuharth, Ruth (Ed) Schnabel, Rueben (Orillia) Ochsner, Helmuth (Ruby) Ochsner, Calvin (Margaret) Ochsner, Ardella (Bill) Brandenburg, and Emil (Dorie) Ochsner.
Private funeral services will be held.
Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.
Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers include: sons-in-law, Ted Moe, Jeff Audiss, and Bob Wirkus; grandchildren and spouses, Angela (Jim) Czech, Jennifer (Wade) Brenden, Tyanne (Paul) Luken, Mark (Catherine) Wirkus, Brittany Audiss, Mike Wirkus, Jessica (Cody) Skinner; and her great-grandchildren: Theo, Sam, and Andrew Czech; Riley, Noah, Gracey, Annabelle, Jadey, Emma, Eden, Isaiah, and Finn Brenden; Kate and Ava Luken; Bradley and Molly Wirkus; and Paxton and Olivia Skinner.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.
She married Pete W. Hemmingson on August 28, 1949 at the Reformed Church of Alpena. They made their home and raised their four children in Huron, Bradley and Watertown. She joined Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown in 1974 and was a faithful member until her death. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, TOPS and other local organizations.
After her husband passed away December 10, 1992, she continued to live in their home in Watertown until 2017 when she moved into an apartment.
Verna loved gardening and canning every year while she lived in her home. She enjoyed emailing and sharing humor stories with family and friends. She was known as an expert lefsa baker, delighting her children and grandchildren with gifts of lefsa for many years. She worked with the Grace Lutheran Church fall lefsa bakers for more than 20 years until her health began to fail.
She loved music, which brought her great enjoyment. As a young woman, she and her sisters sang for church groups in the Alpena area. She taught herself how to play the organ and enjoyed playing and singing hymns until her passing.
Verna is survived by four daughters: Kay (Ted) Moe of Watertown, Jean (Jeff) Audiss of Pierre, Sandy (Bob) Wirkus of Summerset, and Holly Kleinsasser of Sioux Falls; seven grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; one great-grandchild, Lincoln Brenden; one son-in-law, Craig Kleinsasser; and nine brothers and sisters and their spouses: Ted (Lydia) Ochsner, Albert (Leah) Ochsner, Edna (Gideon) Neuharth, Ruth (Ed) Schnabel, Rueben (Orillia) Ochsner, Helmuth (Ruby) Ochsner, Calvin (Margaret) Ochsner, Ardella (Bill) Brandenburg, and Emil (Dorie) Ochsner.
Private funeral services will be held.
Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.
Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers include: sons-in-law, Ted Moe, Jeff Audiss, and Bob Wirkus; grandchildren and spouses, Angela (Jim) Czech, Jennifer (Wade) Brenden, Tyanne (Paul) Luken, Mark (Catherine) Wirkus, Brittany Audiss, Mike Wirkus, Jessica (Cody) Skinner; and her great-grandchildren: Theo, Sam, and Andrew Czech; Riley, Noah, Gracey, Annabelle, Jadey, Emma, Eden, Isaiah, and Finn Brenden; Kate and Ava Luken; Bradley and Molly Wirkus; and Paxton and Olivia Skinner.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.