1917
Veronica
2014
Veronica Smith
March 9, 1917 — June 21, 2014
The funeral for Veronica Smith, of Morris, Minnesota will be held on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at the Assumption Catholic Church in Morris. Celebrant for the funeral will be Father Todd Schneider. Visitation will be held at Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris on Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. and one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday. Burial will be at the St. Theresia's Cemetery, Donnelly.
Veronica Mary Blees was born on March 9, 1917 to Henry and Mary (Kremer) Blees in Donnelly Township Stevens County, MN. Veronica was baptized and confirmed at St. Theresia's Catholic Church in Donnelly, MN. She graduated from high school in 1936 from the Alberta School and continued her education at Moorhead State University graduating with a teaching degree in 1938. Veronica started her teaching career in a one room school house near Donnelly, MN from 1938-1939. She was then united in marriage to Kenneth Smith in a double wedding with her sister Barbara Blees and Kenneth's brother Grant on August 14, 1940 at St. Theresia's Catholic Church. Together they had three sons: Charles, James and Leon. Veronica stayed at home with her children raising them and being a homemaker for the next 13 years before returning to her teaching career in 1955. She taught in the Donnelly School and later moved to the Alberta School System. When Chokio and Alberta schools joined, she also taught in Chokio and retired in 1976 after 17 years in the Chokio Alberta School System.
Veronica was a lifelong member of St. Theresia's Catholic Church in Donnelly, MN and later became a member at Assumption Catholic Church in Morris, MN. She was a member of the Country Girls homemakers group and loved gardening and making crafts in preparation for her entries at the Stevens County Fair. She was an avid reader and loved to read books from the library. Veronica was a bowler in her early years of retirement and received many awards for her bowling talents. She loved to sew, grow her garden and cook/bake for her family. Her grandchildren always knew where her candy and baked goods were to be found and always in ample supply. Veronica is most known for her commitment to teaching, dating back to her students and carrying on through her family. She taught her children how to be responsible young men, taught her grandchildren how to plant/care for a garden, mow lawn and become bakers and taught her great grandchildren how to play board games.
Veronica died on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at the Courage Cottage in Morris, MN. She lived to reach the age of 97 years old.
She is survived by her sons, Charles (Gwen) of Madison, MN, James (Beverly) of Glenwood, MN and daughter-in-law Marilyn Smith of Donnelly, MN. Grandchildren Stacy Lund, Corey (Karla) Smith, Michelle (Marvin) Vande Loo, Chris (Janelle) Smith, Cathy (Lorin) Miller, Steven (Kathleen) Fischer along with 8 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her son Leon, her brothers William, John and Isadore Blees, sisters Katherine Itzen, Barbara Danzeisen and Margaret Itzen.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Courage Cottage in Morris, MN.
Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris, Minnesota is in charge of the funeral arrangements.
Veronica Mary Blees was born on March 9, 1917 to Henry and Mary (Kremer) Blees in Donnelly Township Stevens County, MN. Veronica was baptized and confirmed at St. Theresia's Catholic Church in Donnelly, MN. She graduated from high school in 1936 from the Alberta School and continued her education at Moorhead State University graduating with a teaching degree in 1938. Veronica started her teaching career in a one room school house near Donnelly, MN from 1938-1939. She was then united in marriage to Kenneth Smith in a double wedding with her sister Barbara Blees and Kenneth's brother Grant on August 14, 1940 at St. Theresia's Catholic Church. Together they had three sons: Charles, James and Leon. Veronica stayed at home with her children raising them and being a homemaker for the next 13 years before returning to her teaching career in 1955. She taught in the Donnelly School and later moved to the Alberta School System. When Chokio and Alberta schools joined, she also taught in Chokio and retired in 1976 after 17 years in the Chokio Alberta School System.
Veronica was a lifelong member of St. Theresia's Catholic Church in Donnelly, MN and later became a member at Assumption Catholic Church in Morris, MN. She was a member of the Country Girls homemakers group and loved gardening and making crafts in preparation for her entries at the Stevens County Fair. She was an avid reader and loved to read books from the library. Veronica was a bowler in her early years of retirement and received many awards for her bowling talents. She loved to sew, grow her garden and cook/bake for her family. Her grandchildren always knew where her candy and baked goods were to be found and always in ample supply. Veronica is most known for her commitment to teaching, dating back to her students and carrying on through her family. She taught her children how to be responsible young men, taught her grandchildren how to plant/care for a garden, mow lawn and become bakers and taught her great grandchildren how to play board games.
Veronica died on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at the Courage Cottage in Morris, MN. She lived to reach the age of 97 years old.
She is survived by her sons, Charles (Gwen) of Madison, MN, James (Beverly) of Glenwood, MN and daughter-in-law Marilyn Smith of Donnelly, MN. Grandchildren Stacy Lund, Corey (Karla) Smith, Michelle (Marvin) Vande Loo, Chris (Janelle) Smith, Cathy (Lorin) Miller, Steven (Kathleen) Fischer along with 8 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her son Leon, her brothers William, John and Isadore Blees, sisters Katherine Itzen, Barbara Danzeisen and Margaret Itzen.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Courage Cottage in Morris, MN.
Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris, Minnesota is in charge of the funeral arrangements.
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