Verna Halvorson

Verna Hannah Halvorson, age 104, of Mankato, formerly of Easton and Wells, died late Wednesday evening, November 10, 2004 at Mankato House Health Care Center, where she had been a resident for over four years.

Funeral services will be held 1:30 p.m., Sunday at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Mankato with Rev. Steve Kosberg officiating. Burial will be in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Visitation will be held one hour before services at the church on Sunday. Mankato Mortuary is handling arrangements.

Verna was born on December 8, 1899 in Wells, the daughter of John and Mathilda (Sinn) Tenhoff. She grew up in Sherburn, MN. On September 3, 1927, she married Bernie Halvorson in Trimont and they honeymooned in Europe. They moved to Easton where they owned and operated a cafe and tavern for many years. Verna was a charter member of the Easton Legion Auxiliary and a past president in 1949 and 1950. She was also a member of the Wells VFW Auxiliary. She moved to Wells in 1977 where she lived until she moved to Mankato in 1992 with her daughter, Sydneye Sue. Verna enjoyed writing articles for the Wells Mirror in the 1950s, cooking, and baking bread for her family.

Verna is survived by her daughter, Sydneye Sue and husband, James Chirpich, Mankato; son, Duane and wife, Annie Halvorson, Casper, WY; granddaughters, Lynn and husband Dennis Sovell, Wells, Lori and husband Chris Scruggs, Mapleton, Lana Anderson, Mapleton, Sara Chirpich, Medford, Sheila and husband Randy Jahnke, Mankato, Stacy and husband Kelly DeGroat, Audubon, Sheri and husband Carey Pope, Billings, MT, Emily Halvorson, Corvallis, OR; grandsons, Troy Chirpich, Mankato, Chad Chirpich and wife Jennifer, Mankato, David Chirpich, Mankato, Clint Chirpich, Mankato; 22 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren; nephews, Gene Clemens, Atlantic Beach, FL, Jim Clemens, Jonesboro, GA, Robert Meininger, Grand Rapids; nieces Lois Schultz, Maplewood, and Lucile Morgan, Aston, PA.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bernie; brother, Marland; sisters, Eva, Ella, Ruth and Mabel; grandson, Travis John Chirpich; and great-granddaughter Shelly Rae Plotz.