Funeral services will be 10:30 am Thursday, April 10, 2008 at the Danzig Baptist Church, rural Avon, with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 12 noon to 5 pm at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Avon, followed by a 7:00 pm prayer service at the church.

Verna Amelia Berndt, daughter of Rudolph C. and Linda (Hinzman) Schaefer, was born November 17, 1930 on a farm near Avon, SD. She died Monday, April 7, 2008 at the Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton. Verna attained the age of 77 years, four months and 21 days.

Verna was baptized and confirmed at the Zion Lutheran Church in Avon. She attended Lutheran Parochial School through the eighth grade. Verna later transferred her membership to the Danzig Baptist Church. Verna married Lavern E. Berndt on September 24, 1950. Two children were born to their union. They lived on the family farm until October of 1986, when they moved into Tyndall. Lavern died November 20, 1986. Verna moved to Yankton in 1999.

Verna was also a member of the Avon American Legion Auxiliary, Yankton Senior Citizens and the Yankton Single Circulators. She will be remembered for her enjoyment of cooking, canning, watching baseball and being a Husker fan. Verna especially loved spending time with her family and grandchildren.

Thankful for having shared her life are her children: Barbara Hebner and husband, Fred of Tyndall, and Robert and wife, Jolene of Yankton; four grandchldren (and one on the way); three brothers: Junior and wife, Lila of Custer, Nilus and wife, Margene of Scotland, and Larry and wife, Sharon of Ohio; two sisters: Shirley Jurrens and husband, Keith of Shelby, NE, and Betty Strohfus of Yankton; sister-in-law, Eloise Schaefer of Georgia; special friend, Art Winckler of Yankton; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Verna was preceded in death by her husband; parents; brother, Ray; two infant brothers: Michael and Duane; two brothers-in-law: Darrel Goehring and Dick Strohfus; and special friend, Wallace Vilhauer.