Verna E Williams

Verna Evelyn Williams, age 81, of Mankato died Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at Sunrise Cottages of Mankato.

Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 8, 2009 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Mankato with Rev. Al Girtz, officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Hills Memorial Park, Mankato. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Friday at Mankato Mortuary and will continue one hour before service at church on Saturday. Memorials may be given to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, ISJ Hospice Program, American Heart Fund, or donor's choice.

Verna was born August 25, 1927 to Joseph and Helga Bertine (Fossum) Bratland in St. James, Minnesota. She attended School District #32, rural St. James, graduated from St. James High School in 1945 and then attended Mankato Commercial College. She was united in marriage to Hayden David Williams on April 22, 1950 in Odin, MN. After their marriage they briefly lived in San Diego, CA while Hayden served in the U.S. Navy before making Mankato their permanent home. Verna was employed by Mankato Clinic, Northern States Power, and District #77 as cook manager in food service at Roosevelt School, from 1970 until retiring in 1994. Verna was an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and its organizations. She volunteered for many area organizations including Echo Food Shelf, VINE, and the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen. Verna was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved serving her family and others and went out of her way to lend a hand. Verna loved entertaining and socializing. She and her husband were involved in several card clubs, bowling leagues, church groups, and neighborhood functions.

Verna is survived by her three children, Thomas (Susan Witmer) Williams of Spring Lake, North Carolina, Laurie Baker of Jacksonville, FL, Nancy (Steve Schmiesing) Williams of North Mankato; nine grandchildren, Mark and Eric Witmer of Spring Lake, NC, Tonya and Shane Williams of Kasota, Hayden John Williams of Spring Lake, NC, Natalie and Maggie Williams of Boulder, CO, and Adam and Alexia Schmeising of North Mankato; three great-grandchildren, Athena, Serena, and Chase Williams of Kasota; sister, Muriel (Merrill) Johnson of Osage, IA; brother, Kenneth (Carol) Bratland of St. James; sister-in-law, Marion Williams of Mankato; brother-in-law, Red (Dolly) Herbst of Lake Crystal; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Verna was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Hayden on March 16, 1998; and son-in-law, Larry Baker on January 7, 2005.