Verna Ahern-Shreves, 102 years old, of Sioux Falls, SD, passed away on November 14, 2012,
at Dow-Rummel. Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10:30 am Monday, November 19, 2012 at
Christ the King Catholic Church, 1501 West 26th, Sioux Falls. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the
Mass, also at Christ the King.
Verna Elizabeth Hugh was born December 6, 1909, in Pueblo, Colorado, to John and Marie (Caldwell) Hugh.
As a teenager, her family moved to Denver, CO where she graduated from East High School. Verna was
united in marriage to Gerald Ahern at the Cathedral in Denver in 1940. The couple moved to Sioux Falls,
South Dakota in 1945, and in 1948 started the Ahern Insurance Co., where Verna served as Vice-President,
until 1979. Verna was active in her church, Christ The King, and also loved to play Bridge. She was an avid
golfer, and was twice chairman of the Women's Golf of Minnehaha Country Club. Verna worked on many
city tournaments.
Her husband, Gerald, passed away on February 7, 1986. Verna married Dr. Howard Shreves in Sioux Falls,
on February 2, 2001. Dr. Howard Shreves passed away on April 1, 2003. Those left to cherish Verna's
memory include: three step-sons, Bruce (Jackie) Shreves, and John (Vicky) Shreves, both of New Orleans,
LA and Dr. Thomas (Carol) Shreves of Iowa City, IA; eight step-daughters, Dr. Patricia (Denny) Saracco
Lang of Brawley, CA, Helen Shreves of Denver, CO, Mary (John) Shreves Anderson of Willow, AK, Dr.
Angela (Gary) Shreves Spadafor of Phoenix, AZ, Widdy (Jeff) Shreves Bird of St. Louis Park, MN,
Catherine (Tom) Shreves Bird of Minneapolis, MN, Margaret (Bill) Shreves Marshall of Minneapolis,
MN, and Teresa Shreves of New Zealand; the Ahern nieces and nephews, Patricia (Richard) Bies of
Pequot Lakes, MN, Margaret Likar, of Duluth, MN, Jean (Donald) McNeely of Vadnais Heights, Ellen
Giles of South St. Paul, MN, Kathleen (Gene) Hiber of West Lakeland, MN, and John (Janet) Ahern
of Hudson, WI,; 21 step-grandchildren; and 3 step-great-grandchildren. Verna is preceded in death
by: her parents; her husbands Gerald and Howard; and
nephews Joseph Ahern and Daniel Collins.
All Memorials should be directed to: Avera McKennan Hospice Units or Christ the King Catholic Church. |