Veva Wernke, age 97, of Wall, South Dakota, died on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at Clarkson Health Care in Rapid City.
Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. with a vigil/rosary service at 7 p.m. Sunday, June 1, 2025 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Wall.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 2, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Wall with Father Jonathan Dillon as celebrant.
Interment will follow at the Wall Cemetery.
Veva E. Haidle was born July 3, 1927, in Bonesteel, South Dakota to Curtis and Bertha (Pyle) Haidle. She grew up on a farm near St. Charles, SD where she attended her first 10 years of school. Her folks moved to Minnesota where she then attended her junior year at Onamia, Minnesota before moving to California where she made her home with her grandmother. Veva graduated from Redondo Beach High School in Redondo Beach, CA. Upon graduating she worked for the U.S. Navy on Terminal Island for one year before returning home.
Veva was united in marriage to Kenneth E. Wernke on October 5, 1946 at Fairfax, SD by Father Dube.
They made their home in Armour, SD where she worked for the County Extension service and the county agent until Ken was called to active duty by the Navy during the Korean War. They made their home in Bremerton, WA where they resided until June when she moved to Hayward, CA to be near her brother while Ken was overseas. After his discharge in 1952, the family moved to White River, SD for a year on her brother’s ranch before moving to Armour, SD. While living in Armour, Veva worked for the SD Selective Service.
In 1956 the family moved to Wall, SD where Veva worked as a clerk for Shelton’s V-Store for 10 years prior to working as a supervisor at the Wall Drug Store, a position she held until retiring in 1988 after 11 years of service. Ken and Veva then did some travelling to see family and sightseeing. They continued to make their home in Wall.
Veva was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and was president of the Altar Society. She served as Den Mother for the Cub Scouts, was a member of the Wall P.T.A., and was also a member of the Carroll McDonald American Legion Auxiliary. Veva enjoyed the Young At Heart gatherings and Badland Quilters.
Veva was a busy hobbyist teaching herself to sew, delving in ceramics, wood working, tole painting, hardanger embroidery, and quilting. She made many special friends over the years and had a walking companion named “Buffy” for 19 years.
Grateful for having shared her life are her four sons, Doug (Sue) Wernke of Rapid City, SD, Michael (Editha) Wernke of Chandler, AZ, David (Sonia) Wernke of Redmond, OR, and Mark (Caitlin) Wernke of Grand Junction, CO; five grandchildren, Michael, Kevin, Matthew, Jonathan, and Thomas; one step-grandson Ryker; two step-granddaughters Codie and Carlie; a special companion “Toby”; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Veva was preceded in death by her husband, Kenny, in 1999; infant son Patrick; her parents Curtis and Bertha Haidle; three brothers Ross, Harvey and Ben Haidle; one sister Lucine Smizer; one grandson Jonathan Wernke; and her fluffy little companion “Buffy”.
Arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Wall.
