Verna Yoder

Verna Yoder, 84 of Arthur, IL passed away at 5:55 A.M. on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at Mason Point in Sullivan, IL.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the Arthur Mennonite Church. Rev. Glen Rhodes will officiate. Burial will be in the Arthur Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Friday, April 20, 2012 at the Arthur Mennonite Church. The Edwards Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.

Verna was born on April 23, 1927 in Arthur, IL. She was a daughter of Simon and Fannie (Diener) Otto. She married Willard K. Yoder on November 30, 1947 in Arthur, IL. He passed away on March 24, 1996.

She is survived by one son, Cleo Yoder formerly of Nokomis, FL; one daughter, Vera Jane Yoder of Maryville, TN; three sisters, Lydia Gingerich and her husband Eli of Tuscola, IL, Eliza Schrock of Lovington, IL and Katie Schrock of Arthur, IL; one brother, Robert Otto of Bella Vista, AR and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, three brothers, Obed Otto, Otis Otto and Andrew Otto, and one sister Barbara Miller.

Verna was a member of the Arthur Mennonite Church.

In the 1950s Verna and Willard bought Applegate’s Grocery Store located on route 133 in Arthur. They changed the name to Highway Market, and in 1951 they added soft serve ice-cream and later changed the name to Dairyland which they operated for 19 years. Verna was a school bus driver for the Arthur School District in the late 50s and 60s. She had worked at Rockome Gardens for 30 years and also had worked for Bernadine Yoder at Bernadine’s Needle Art for several years. Verna’s hobbies included gardening, sewing, and quilting. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and she truly loved children.

Memorials may be made to Lincolnland Hospice or the Arthur Mennonite Church or St Jude’s Research Hospital.