Verna L. Swenson
Verna L. Swenson, 94, of Williston, passed away at the Bethel Lutheran Nursing Home on Sunday morning, April 1, 2012.
Her funeral service was held on Thursday, April 5, 2012, at the Chapel at First Lutheran Church. Reverend Martin Mock officiated and interment followed at the Riverview Cemetery in Williston.
Verna Hancock was born Dec. 9, 1917 in McKenzie County, N.D. to Bruce and Lottie (Bredahl) Hancock. She was one of four Hancock children.
She was raised on the family farm. Like most farm kids, she helped around the farm, enjoyed exploring and playing outdoors, and loved riding her horse. She learned to play the piano at a young age and could pick up any tune by ear.
On Oct. 27, 1941, Verna was united in marriage to Orville Swenson in Sidney. To the couple were born three children. The family made their home on the farm in Athens Township until moving to Williston in the early 1950s. However, summers were spent on the farm.
Always one to volunteer and be involved in her church, Verna served in the Ladies Aid at East Fork Lutheran Church, Faith Lutheran Church and later First Lutheran in Williston. Verna helped make lefse every year at the annual Lutefisk dinner. She also fondly looked forward to gatherings of her birthday club.
Verna liked to cook and bake. A testament to her cooking ability was Orville’s never uttering an unkind word about her food creations. Family meals were important to the Swensons, and the family was together for three meals a day. Her diminutive stature forced Verna to become an expert seamstress, constantly altering her clothes to fit. She also made many a garment for her children.
She liked to shop and could tell others of the location of merchandise in a store better than most clerks. Verna also liked to go for drives about town, and can be remembered as the one peering through the steering wheel and the dash as she made her way in her car. Verna was never one to sit idly, but was forever on the go.
Surviving Verna are her daughter, Myrna (Ernie) Keller of Great Falls, Mont., daughter, Oral Johnson of Williston; and son, Bing (Linda) Swenson of Williston; six grandchildren, Krista Goulet of Great Falls, Stacie Johnson of Los Angeles, Calif., Spencer (Gretchen) Johnson of Williston, Tanya (Mike) Haley of Seeley Lake, Mont., Adeana (David) Johnsen of Oregon, and Trent (Tiffani) Swenson of Bozeman, Mont.; 11 great-grandchildren; her sister, Mildred (Helmer, deceased) Helgeson of Williston; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded by her parents; two siblings and their spouses, sister, Laura (Harry) Fossum, brother, Milton (Rita) Hancock; and son-in-law, Garry Johnson.
Friends are welcome to visit www.eversonfh.com to share memories of Verna or leave condolences for her family.