Verna Yoder

Verna Yoder, 88, died Tuesday, February 21, 2023, in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Funeral Services have been set for 10:00AM, Monday, February 27, 2023, at the Fairview Mennonite Church. Burial will follow at the Haven Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-8:00 PM Sunday, February 26, 2023, at the Fairview Mennonite Church. Beatty-Peterseim Funeral, Cremation Care and Monument Services has been entrusted with her care locally.

Verna ( Slabaugh )Yoder  was born August 2,1934 to Simon & Susie ( Hochstetler) Slabaugh.  Verna was born and raised in Nappanee, Ind.  Verna met Menno M. Yoder when he was in 1W service at Chicago, IL. when he came to Indiana for weekend visits.  Menno & Verna were married on August 30, 1956 in Nappanee, Ind. They lived on the Simon Slabaugh farm until January 1969 when they moved to Kalona, Iowa. They were married 16 years 8 months when Menno was suddenly killed in a farm accident on May 19, 1973 leaving Verna a widow with 3 adopted children to raise.

Verna is survived by 2 daughters, 1 son, 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Lena Sue (Andrew Fehr) from Halsey, Oregon, Loriann (Mike Crist) and Timothy Yoder.

Crystal (Randy Bergey), Francis ( Jessica) Fehr, Cameron ( Kendra) Fehr, Kailene ( Paul Peachey), Angela (Jessiah Bleige), Raquel Fehr, Matthew Crist, Racheal Crist, Kyle VanName, Hunter Yoder & Hadley Yoder

Verna is survived by 4 sisters; Martha Schmucker, Barbara Hochstetler, Esther Swartz, & Sue Mast.  2 brothers; Edward Slabaugh, & Howard Slabaugh. 2 sisters-in-law; Annie Ropp, & Mary Ellen Slabaugh, 1 brother –in-law; John Henry Yoder and many nieces and nephews.

Verna was proceeded in death by her husband Menno, Parents Simon & Susie Slabaugh, 5 brothers: Omer, John, Glenn, Simon Jr., Larry and 1 sister Mary.

Verna supported herself with Yoder’s Country Bakery (1975-1980) in Kalona, Iowa with baking for flea markets, the Country Store and selling to summertime tours from her house. Her move to Spencer, WI. took her baking & noodle-making to another level of owning Yoder’s Variety Store.  She did a lot of sewing for people that came to her fabric store. In June of 1990 Verna with her daughter Loriann moved to Breman. IN. where Verna was close to her family. She worked at Burkholder’s for many years. Her love for cleaning made the place spotless and attractive. Verna was diagnosed with bone cancer a month before her 80^th birthday. She fought the cancer battle for many years.  The last years of her life she moved to Harrisonburg, Va. where her son Tim helped to care for her faithfully until he had to place her in a nursing home. 

The Family wishes to THANK YOU for your expressions of love & sympathy during this time. It is greatly appreciated and will be remembered.