Verna Wilhelmina Ness age 91 of Redwood Falls passed away Sunday, July 22, 2012 at Sunwood Good Samaritan Care Center in Redwood Falls.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.

Visitation is one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.  Interment is in Redwood Falls Cemetery. Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Verna Wilhelmina Ness was born March 2, 1921 in Granite Rock Township, Minnesota to William and Minnie (Haag) Hansen.  She was baptized April 17, 1921 and confirmed June 3, 1934.  Verna attended District #79 school and graduated from Milroy High School in 1939.  She attended Paul’s Hairdressing Academy in Minneapolis for four months.  Verna was a bookkeeper at Lucan Grain and Feed in Lucan and Gandrud’s Creamery in Redwood Falls.  She worked at Pine Tree Dairy Café before her marriage to William Russel Mills.  They got a job operating a café on the Milwaukee Railroad in Marmarth, ND.  After returning to Minnesota, they settled in Montevideo where Russ was a chef at a local café until his death in 1948.  Verna moved back to Lucan.  In 1952 she married Raymond Busiahn of Wood Lake.  They lived in the Granite Falls area until 1953 and then moved to Wood Lake where they farmed.  In 1963 they moved to North Redwood.  Ray passed away in August, 1965.  On December 27, 1965 Verna was united in marriage to Kenneth Ness in Watertown, SD.  Ken and Verna lived in North Redwood except for 4 years when they lived in Lucan.  They worked together in the food and beverage business 1968-1991.  They spent several winters in Apache Junction, AZ, where Kenneth passed away in January, 2004.  Verna moved to Lakeside Manor in October, 2005 and to Sunwood Care Center in July, 2011.  Verna was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and the Rebecca Circle.  She also belonged to the American Legion and VFW Auxiliary.  Verna enjoyed tending her flowers, watching the Minnesota Twins, spending winters in Arizona, and playing cards, from Old Maid with the grandchildren to 500 with her friends.  She loved being with her children and grandchildren.  Family and friends enjoyed her personality and quick wit, and her sense of humor helped see her through some of life’s challenges.  Verna was very accepting of people, and this is part of the legacy she left to her family.

Verna is survived by her children: Narda (Curt) Nelson of Fosston, Larry (Janelle) Mills of Bevier, MO, Tom (Robin) Busiahn of Falls Church, VA, and Linda (Steve) Eskeldson of Redwood Falls; step children: Ron (Karen) Ness of Redwood Falls, Judy (Dale) Rucker of Manassas, VA, Nancy (John) Bruggeman of St. Paul, Kathy Ness of Red Wing, Brian Ness of Red Wing, and Gary (Krista) Ness of Plymouth; and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren.  She is also survived by her sister Donna Munson of Walnut Grove; step sisters Deloras Sammons of Randall and Caroline Danielowski of Revere.  She is preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, son Gordon Mills, daughter Debra Kordovsky, 6 brothers, 1 half sister, and 1 step brother.