Verda Mae Akre, 91, formerly of Sisseton S.D. died Sunday Feb. 12, 2012 at the Aurora- Brule Nursing Home in White Lake, SD. Funeral services will be Friday Feb. 17, 2012 at 2:00 PM at Grace Lutheran Church in Sisseton. Officiating will be Rev. William Schruba with organist Mona Greseth and soloist Rebecca Lindal. Pallbearers will be Kent Elliott, Dennis Carlson, Spike Nehls, Roger Sonstegard, Butch Greseth, and Terry Christensen. Honorary Pallbearers are "all of Verda's Family and Friends". Burial will be in the Sisseton Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 PM with a prayer service at 7 PM on Thursday Feb. 16th at the Cahill Funeral Chapel in Sisseton, SD.
Verda Mae Akre daughter of John Warren & Alta (McGrath) Smith was born on May 13, 1920 in Faulkton, SD. The first years of her life were spent living on the Smith Brothers' Ranch in Seneca, SD. She attended high school in Faulkton and then went on to the School of Commerce in Aberdeen, SD. After she received her business degree she moved to Veblen, SD where her parents were living.
She was united in marriage to Palmer C. Akre on Nov. 2, 1944 in Veblen and they made their home on a farm east of Veblen. They later moved to Sisseton.
In 1943 she was employed by Dr. W C Brinkman of Veblen as his office nurse. She also began to work in the Veblen Hospital as well for 15 years until the hospital closed. At this time, she moved with her family to Eugene, Oregon for the winter and worked at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene. Shortly after that, she began working at the Roberts County Community Hospital in Sisseton. Her duties consisted of charge nurse, surgical scrub and 24 hour call. After the hospital closed, she went to work for Coteau de Prairie hospital in Sisseton where she worked until she retired. She was their surgical scrub nurse and did the central supply work. She was a dedicated employee for 46 + years in the medical field.
Verda was a very quiet dedicated person who gave gentle attention to patients who appreciated her confident ways that encouraged them towards recovery.
After her retirement, she enjoyed traveling. She visited Canada, Maine, Pennsylvania, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. She was never too busy to lend a helping hand to friends and neighbors as a very meticulous seamstress. She sewed many garments for special occasions in the Sisseton area for many years. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Sisseton, SD and she was a member of Grace Lutheran Ladies Circle for many years.
Grateful for having shared in her life are her two daughters: Gay (Lyle) Moore of Kennebec, SD, and Ann (Larry) Thiel of Fort Wayne, IN. Grandchildren: Rebecca (Wayne) Lindal of Mozart, Sask. Canada, Natalie (Chipp) Gerlach of Mt Vernon, SD, Paul (Toni) Thiel of Hamilton, IN, Holly (Matt) Rider of Fort Wayne, IN. and Eric Thiel (fiancé Nikki Synal) of Muncie , IN. She also is survived by 12 great grandchildren. One brother Glenn (Norma) Smith of Sisseton, SD, one sister Clarice Enquist of Great Falls, MT, one sister-in-law Lita Smith of Shreveport, LA.
She is preceded in death by her husband: Palmer C. Akre, her parents: John Warren & Alta Smith and one brother: Gale A. Smith
For Verda's obituary and on-line registry please visit www.cahillfuneralchapel.com