1916
Verna
2014
Verna Hawkinson
July 30, 1916 — October 16, 2014
Funeral services for Verna Hawkinson of Morris, MN will be held Saturday, October 25, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Morris. Reverend Paul Erdal will be officiating. Visitation will be held Friday from 5 to 7 PM with a prayer service at 6:30 PM at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris and for one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Burial will be in Summit Cemetery in Morris.
Verna Eleanor Benson, daughter of Benjamin and Lena (Birkland) Benson, was born July 30, 1916 in Graettinger, Iowa. When she was a toddler her family moved to the Stevens County area, where Verna attended rural schools through the eighth grade. Verna was confirmed at Scandia Lutheran Church in Cyrus, MN by Pastor A.G. Quammen on May 29, 1932. Following her schooling, she helped out her parents around the family farm. On May 10, 1936, she was united in marriage to Arthur Hawkinson at the Elbow Lake Lutheran Parsonage. Four children were born to this union Sharon, Ronald, Richard, and Cheryl. In the spring of 1944, the couple made their home on a farm outside of Morris. By late fall Verna was expecting her third child when Arthur got polio, and the family had to move into town. Once all of her children had started school, Verna worked full time at the Jane Morris Shop. In 1974, she got started her second job at the Morris Hospital in the dietary department. Verna would work 12 hour days splitting her time between two shifts at the hospital and one at the Jane Morris Shop. Since she did not drive Verna would run from one job to the other. When the dress shop was sold, she worked full time at the hospital until 1986 when she retired.
Verna was a member of the VFW and American Legion Auxiliaries and the Sons of Norway. She was also a long time member of First Lutheran Church, joining the congregation on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1941. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, scrapbooks, playing cards, and especially spending time with her family and friends.
Verna died on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at West Wind Village in Morris. She lived to reach the age of 98 years.
She is survived by three children: Sharon Chamberlin of Glenwood, Richard Hawkinson of Morris and Cheryl (Keith) Hawkinson of Glenwood; nine grandchildren: Tammy (Tom) Ogdahl, Tim (Laurie) Soderholm, Jeff (Dianna) Soderholm, Kim (Charles) Troth, Jon (Robyn) Hawkinson, Joe Hawkinson, Dan Hawkinson, Tom (Lindsey) Hawkinson and Kevin (Marnie) Hawkinson; 12 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband: Arthur Hawkinson; son: Ronald Hawkinson; grandson: Jay Soderholm; son-in-law: Lloyd Chamberlin; four brothers: Virgil, Lowell, Lyle, and Joseph; two sisters: Mildred and Ethel.
Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements.
Verna Eleanor Benson, daughter of Benjamin and Lena (Birkland) Benson, was born July 30, 1916 in Graettinger, Iowa. When she was a toddler her family moved to the Stevens County area, where Verna attended rural schools through the eighth grade. Verna was confirmed at Scandia Lutheran Church in Cyrus, MN by Pastor A.G. Quammen on May 29, 1932. Following her schooling, she helped out her parents around the family farm. On May 10, 1936, she was united in marriage to Arthur Hawkinson at the Elbow Lake Lutheran Parsonage. Four children were born to this union Sharon, Ronald, Richard, and Cheryl. In the spring of 1944, the couple made their home on a farm outside of Morris. By late fall Verna was expecting her third child when Arthur got polio, and the family had to move into town. Once all of her children had started school, Verna worked full time at the Jane Morris Shop. In 1974, she got started her second job at the Morris Hospital in the dietary department. Verna would work 12 hour days splitting her time between two shifts at the hospital and one at the Jane Morris Shop. Since she did not drive Verna would run from one job to the other. When the dress shop was sold, she worked full time at the hospital until 1986 when she retired.
Verna was a member of the VFW and American Legion Auxiliaries and the Sons of Norway. She was also a long time member of First Lutheran Church, joining the congregation on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1941. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, scrapbooks, playing cards, and especially spending time with her family and friends.
Verna died on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at West Wind Village in Morris. She lived to reach the age of 98 years.
She is survived by three children: Sharon Chamberlin of Glenwood, Richard Hawkinson of Morris and Cheryl (Keith) Hawkinson of Glenwood; nine grandchildren: Tammy (Tom) Ogdahl, Tim (Laurie) Soderholm, Jeff (Dianna) Soderholm, Kim (Charles) Troth, Jon (Robyn) Hawkinson, Joe Hawkinson, Dan Hawkinson, Tom (Lindsey) Hawkinson and Kevin (Marnie) Hawkinson; 12 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband: Arthur Hawkinson; son: Ronald Hawkinson; grandson: Jay Soderholm; son-in-law: Lloyd Chamberlin; four brothers: Virgil, Lowell, Lyle, and Joseph; two sisters: Mildred and Ethel.
Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements.
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