Vernita Waller, 75

Vernita Waller, 75, of Hallock, Minnesota passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, November 14, 2015 at Kittson Memorial Healthcare Center.   Vernita was born November 26, 1939 to Herman and Annamae (Stimpson) Loer on the home farm in rural Humboldt, Minnesota.  She was baptized in the Methodist Church at Humboldt.  At 4 years of age, she traveled alone by train to Spooner, Wisconsin to spend time with her maternal grandmother. Growing up on the farm as a shy tomboy, she spent many hours helping her dad with chores and at a very young age, help prepare and cook meals for the harvest crews.  She attended school in Humboldt, with the exception of her junior year, when she attended Hallock High School due to construction of the Humboldt School.  She lived with Eileen Waller and her family that year, little did she know at the time, Eileen’s older brother, Kenny, would be her future husband. On November 11, 1960, Vernita and Kenneth married at the Humboldt Methodist Church.  They made their home in Hallock and raised four children there. During their married years, Kenny worked for BN Railroad and Vernita stayed busy raising children and worked various jobs in Hallock, including Gary’s Snack Bar, Diamond Furniture, Hallock Senior Citizens Director, Kittson County Enterprise, Cenex, Land O’Lakes Fertilizer Plant, Pepperoni Junction and retired from Hallock Electric.  Over the years, Vernita was active as a Cub Scout Leader, Trip Chaperone for the Good News Singers, the group of kids affectionately nicknamed her “Butch”. She was a past member of the Hallock Volunteer Ambulance.  After retirement she became involved in the Kittson Unit of the American Cancer Society as a coordinator for the Daffodil Days and Survivor Suppers at the Kittson County Relay for Life.  She was a member of the KMH auxiliary where she was the past vice president and was the organizer of blood drives since 2012.  Because she believed so strongly in the importance of donating blood, she gave over 6 gallons, but was unable to continue donating due to a diagnosis of breast cancer in 2004.  In addition to community service, she was an avid crocheter of many afghans, dolls and a variety of items, which she shared with family, friends, and many others that crossed her path.  She will be remembered for her radiant smile and contagious laugh that lightened and filled a room with joy.  Her compassion for others knew no boundaries, always ready to lend a helping hand or shoulder to a person in need.
Vernita is survived by her husband of 55 years, Kenneth; children, Roxanne Wells, West Fargo, ND, Duane (Wendy Nelson) of rural East Grand Forks, MN, Jodi (Darrel) Johnson of rural Hallock and Roberta (Todd) Scharpen , Fargo, ND; grandchildren, Ryan (Beatrice) Wells, Breanne (Zach) (Johnson) Beaudry, Lindsey Wells, Brandon Johnson, Kendra Johnson, Haley Waller, Michael Wells, and Kacie Waller, step grandchildren, Justin, Jared, Emily and Alyssa Scharpen and she was great grandma to Ian, Kiera, Damian, Olivia and Ruby; sisters, Carole (Manzie) Burt, Emerson, Manitoba and Alice (Ian) Paterson, Winnipeg; a brother, Roger (Vera) Loer, Humboldt; and nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in  death by her parents; an infant daughter; step mother, Lydia; grandparents; and a nephew,  Shane.
Funeral services are scheduled for Thursday, November 19th, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in Grace Lutheran Church, Hallock.  Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Hallock. Rev. Frank Johnson, presiding; Renee Wahl, organist and Sue Albrecht, soloist.  Honorary casket bearers and casket bearers will be Vernita’s grandchildren. Visitation will be held at Austin Funeral Chapel on Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m.