Verna Newell

Verna Newell 85 of Webster died on Thursday, May 17, 2018 at Bethesda Home in Webster. Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Thursday May 24, 2018 at Fiksdal Funeral Service in Webster. Rev. Mike DeKraai will officiate. Burial will be in the Webster Cemetery. Visitation and a time of fellowship with refreshments will begin at 12:00 P.M. and continue until the service. Verna Mae Flora was born on April 27, 1933 to Orval and Berenice (Johnson) Flora at Clark, South Dakota. At a young age, her family relocated to Iowa, but returned to Clark in 1950. Verna graduated from Clark High School in 1951. After her education, she moved to Watertown and worked at an insurance company and at a drugstore, where she met the love of her life John “Jack” Newell. On August 27, 1961 the couple married at Florence, South Dakota. They made their home on the Newell family farm near Florence. To this marriage two sons were born Tom and Jim. The family moved around a bit until 1968, when they settled in Webster, South Dakota. Verna took employment at the Coast to Coast Hardware Store, Perebooms Café, A&W Restaurant, as well as doing seamstress work from their home. Due to failing health, Verna became a resident at Bethesda Home in Webster. After several years, Jack joined her at Bethesda until his passing in 2017. Verna was a member at St. Johns Lutheran Church where she was active in Circle. She was a talented seamstress and also enjoyed gardening and playing piano. She had a kind heart and was a friend to all who knew her. Verna passed away Thursday May 17, 2018 at Webster, South Dakota at the age of 85 years and 20 days. She will be forever loved by her sons Tom Newell of Pierre, SD, and Jim (Julie) Newell of Morton, IL, three grandchildren, Elizabeth, Joshua, and Adam, and one great-grandson Ezekiel Walter. She is also survived by her brother Levi Flora of Clark, SD and several nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jack, and one sister Doris Collins.