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Vernis Nelson

Oct. 4, 1928-Nov. 12, 2020

Vernis Aveline (Rodin)

Nelson, 92, Minot, ND,

formerly of Kenmare and

Sherwood, died Nov 12,

2020, at Trinity Homes,

Minot, ND.

Vernis was born October 4, 1928, in Kenmare,

ND to Joseph and Alma

(Ekstrom) Rodin. She attended country school

and graduated from Kenmare High School in

1945. She attended the

Teacher Preparatory program at Minot State College at 16 years old, then

taught in country schools

in the Kenmare area- Little Red School House,

Kandiyohi, and Niobe. On

July 1, 1953, Vernis married Clifford Nelson at the

Baptist Church in Niobe.

They lived in Washington

D.C., until 1954 when

Clifford was discharged

from the U.S. Army. They

returned to the Niobe and

Kenmare area to farm until moving to rural Sherwood in 1962. Vernis supported and helped Clifford with his work –

farming, raising Registered Quarter Horses,

beef and dairy cattle and

his work in the oilfield.

Clifford’s health led them

to move into Kenmare in

1985, where she continued to live after his death

that same year. She

served as the Secretary of

the Northwest Saddle

Club for 25 years. She

worked as an occasional

office assistant in the

State Farm Insurance office and as Church Secretary at Faith Baptist

Church for 25 years. She

played piano and accordion with other Kenmare

musicians, entertaining

the residents of area nursing homes. She spent

many hours and years as a

volunteer at the Kenmare

Nursing Home, where she

received the Kenmare

Volunteer of the Year

award for her service.

She enjoyed calling Bingo,

fixing hair and reading

the paper to the residents.

She loved her years of

teaching and was happy

to share her memories of

those years with anyone,

especially former students

who visited.

Vernis moved to Minot

in 2013, living first at

Brentmoor (now known as

Elmcroft), then Trinity

Homes in 2017.

Vernis had a strong

faith and desire for everyone to know Jesus. She

was a member of Stafford

Baptist Church, rural Norma until its closure in

1985. She then became a

member of Faith Baptist

Church, Kenmare. She

served those churches in

many ways. She taught

Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, played

piano, served as Deaconess, Ladies’ Aid

President, Bible Study

leader, and AWANA Commander. She enjoyed

hosting missionaries and

keeping in touch by writing letters to those in the

mission field. Vernis

especially enjoyed supporting her grandchildren

at their numerous activities, and could be found

at their sporting events,

concerts, and other competitions. Her home time

was spent working crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, and watching any

and all sports on TV, or

listening to games on the

radio. In Minot, she attended Heritage Baptist

Church. At Trinity

Homes, she could sometimes be found sitting on

the floor in the hallway in

her favorite cross-legged

position, with her Bible

on her lap.

Vernis was preceded in

death by her parents, husband, and one grandchild.

She is survived by her 5

children: Ronald (Susan)

Nelson, Fergus Falls, MN;

Donovan (Marla) Nelson,

Donnybrook, ND; Roxann

(Rodley) Jepsen, rural

Bowbells, ND; Jacqueline

(Lorrie) Chumley,

Bismarck, ND; and Peggy

Nelson, Minot, ND;

Grandchildren: Erin (Pat)

Motschenbacher and

Tony (Alissa) Nelson;

Nathaniel (Chastity)

Nelson, Jennifer (Austin)

Lindsey and Nicholas

(Abby) Nelson; Garrett

Jepsen, Kalene Jepsen and

Marie (Josh) Blegen;

Amanda (Jordon)

Williams, Matthew (fiancee Kinsey) Chumley,

Hannah Chumley and

Emma Chumley. Vernis

has 21 great- grandchildren. Vernis is also survived by her 2 brothers,

Merrill (LaDonna) Rodin

and Jim (Wanda) Rodin,

Kenmare.

Special thanks go to the

staff at Trinity Homes for

their loving care, and

Thompson Larson Funeral

Services for assistance

with arrangements.

Celebrating the Life of

Vernis:

Due to the Coronavirus

Pandemic, A Private Family Funeral by invitation

will be held Monday, November16, 2020, at 10:30

a.m. at Faith Baptist

Church in Kenmare.

A Public Graveside

Service will be held on

Monday, November 16,

2020, at Lakeview

Cemetery, Kenmare, ND.

Due to the Coronavirus

Pandemic, please observe

social distancing.

Visitation: Will be one

hour before the Funeral.

Memorials: In lieu of

flowers, memorials are

preferred to Child

Evangelism and FaHoCha

Bible Conference.

Masks will be highly

encouraged.

The service will be

livestreamed for the public to view and can be accessed by going to

YouTube

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youtube.com/ channel/

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Those wishing to sign

the online register and

share memories may access the online obituaries

section at (www. thompsonlarson.com).