Verna Rupp, 88, Hardwick, died Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2002, at Immanuel - St. Joseph's Hospital of Mankato.
Services were Saturday, Aug. 10, at Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick. The Rev. Mark Mumme officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.
Verna Rath was born to Rudolph and Anna (Scherff) Rath on April 14, 1914, on the family farm near Hardwick. She was raised and attended grade school in Hardwick. She graduated from Luverne High School in 1931. After high school she worked as chief operator at Jasper Telephone Co. in Hardwick.
She married Roy Rupp on Dec. 18, 1937, at the Lutheran parsonage in Luverne. They made their home on the Rupp family farm in Denver Township, north of Hardwick. After her family was grown, she went to work as a bookkeeper for J.C. Penney Co. in Luverne.
Mrs. Rupp was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick. She belonged to the LWML and through the years served in many of its leadership roles. She was church secretary, helped craft most of the banners in church and was a large part of the Lutheran Hour Ministries. She was involved in making quilts for World Relief, Share, and many other organizations. She loved to work in her flower and vegetable gardens and had one of the best-kept farmyards in the area. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles.
Survivors include her husband, Roy Rupp, Mankato; one son, Chuck (Gail) Rupp, Wilsonville, Ore.; one daughter, Pat (Gene) Glade, Mankato; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Gladys Kindt, Luverne; one brother-in-law, Herb Schmidt, Pipestone; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.
Mrs. Rupp was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Verdeen and Dale, and one sister, Excelda.
Engebretson Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.