1936
Verna
2006
Verna Nilson
September 20, 1936 — October 4, 2006
Verna Ruby Nilson was born along with her twin brother, Vernon, on September 20, 1936 to parents Roy and Josie (Jensen) Banister on the family farm in rural Morris, MN. At the age of eighteen months she went to live with her aunt and uncle, Hanna and Roy Heaivilin, whom she lived with until marrying William Nilson. As a young girl, she attended country school before completing the eleventh grade. Following her education she met and married William Nilson. The couple were married in Elim Lutheran Church in Clinton on October 29, 1955. To this union were born seven children; Elden, Vernon, Brad, Vic, Timmy, Audrey, and Val. Verna and William celebrated fifty years together before her passing.
Verna took raising her children very seriously. As William worked road construction, she took care of the kids and took care of the household. She was a wonderful cook and baker, her caramel rolls being a favorite of her kids. As her children grew and married and then had children of their own, she found new joy in spending time with her grandchildren and then great-grandchildren.
Verna passed away on Wednesday, October 4, 2006 at the Holy Trinity Hospital in Graceville, MN. Preceding her in death are her parents; Roy and Josie Banister, her aunt and uncle; Roy and Hanna Heaivilin, son; Timmy Nilson, twin brother; Vernon Banister, mother and father-in-law; Victor and Elin Nilson, two sisters-in-law; Sonja Watkins and Lorene Drewelow, and two bothers-in-law; Carl and David Nilson.
Surviving Verna are her husband, William Nilson; four sons, Elden (Phyllis) Nilson, Vernon Nilson, Brad Nilson, and Vic (Darcy) Nilson; and two daughters, Audrey (Dale) Gary and Val (Randy Murray) Carlson. She is also survived by seventeen grandchildren; Casey Nilson, Dalton Nilson, Bryce Nilson, Zach Leuthardt, Jim Morrissette, Steve Morrissette, Steve Gary, Brandon Gary, Seth Gary, Austin Nilson, Matt Nilson, Cody Nilson, Patrick Nilson, Chelsie Leuthardt, Amber Gary, Kim Morrissette, and Kerri Sabolik; fourteen great-grandchildren; one brother, Donald (Gillette) Banister; and four sisters, Hazel Olson, Vivian Bjorlin, Grace (Earl) Steuck, and Jeanette (Verdi) Schmidtz.
Verna took raising her children very seriously. As William worked road construction, she took care of the kids and took care of the household. She was a wonderful cook and baker, her caramel rolls being a favorite of her kids. As her children grew and married and then had children of their own, she found new joy in spending time with her grandchildren and then great-grandchildren.
Verna passed away on Wednesday, October 4, 2006 at the Holy Trinity Hospital in Graceville, MN. Preceding her in death are her parents; Roy and Josie Banister, her aunt and uncle; Roy and Hanna Heaivilin, son; Timmy Nilson, twin brother; Vernon Banister, mother and father-in-law; Victor and Elin Nilson, two sisters-in-law; Sonja Watkins and Lorene Drewelow, and two bothers-in-law; Carl and David Nilson.
Surviving Verna are her husband, William Nilson; four sons, Elden (Phyllis) Nilson, Vernon Nilson, Brad Nilson, and Vic (Darcy) Nilson; and two daughters, Audrey (Dale) Gary and Val (Randy Murray) Carlson. She is also survived by seventeen grandchildren; Casey Nilson, Dalton Nilson, Bryce Nilson, Zach Leuthardt, Jim Morrissette, Steve Morrissette, Steve Gary, Brandon Gary, Seth Gary, Austin Nilson, Matt Nilson, Cody Nilson, Patrick Nilson, Chelsie Leuthardt, Amber Gary, Kim Morrissette, and Kerri Sabolik; fourteen great-grandchildren; one brother, Donald (Gillette) Banister; and four sisters, Hazel Olson, Vivian Bjorlin, Grace (Earl) Steuck, and Jeanette (Verdi) Schmidtz.