Aberdeen - Mass of Christian Burial for Verna Mary Hilzendeger, 72, Aberdeen, will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2005, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 409 Second Ave. N.E. with Father Gregory Tschakert officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Liturgical wake service will be 6:30 p.m. Monday at Schriver's Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, 414 Fifth Ave. N.W. Visitation is 3 to 8 p.m. Monday at the mortuary and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Verna passed away Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005, at the Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D. Verna Mary Senger was born Oct. 22, 1932, to John and Marie (Schneider) Senger in Linton, N.D. She attended school and graduated high school in Edgley, N.D. She married Anthony "Tony" Hilzendeger Oct. 5, 1953, in Edgley. They made their home in Edgley until moving to Aberdeen in 1957. Verna was employed with Presentation College from 1974 to 1981. Tony was transferred to Brookings in 1982 and after his retirement in 1988 they returned to Aberdeen. Verna loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren's activities, football and embroidering. Verna spent time at her daughter's daycare where she was known as "Grandma Digger". She was a devoted Catholic and Democrat. Preceding her in death are her husband Tony in June 1998, her parents, one brother Wendelin Senger and one sister Berneice Schlosser. Grateful for having shared her life are her children, Rita (Bruce) Zeller and Curtis (Connie) Hilzendeger both of Aberdeen, and Anthony Hilzendeger Jr. of Sioux Falls, S.D. Eight grandchildren, Christen (Jim) Salfrank of Mobridge, S.D, Matthew Zeller, Alison Zeller, Rachel Zeller, Tony Hilzendeger, Tyler Hilzendeger, Chris Hilzendeger and Collin Hilzendeger all of Aberdeen. One great-grandson, Drew Salfrank. One sister, Irene Glass of Milwaukee, Wis., and her brother Eugene (Jane) Senger of Kennewick, Wash. Pallbearers will be Tony and Tyler Hilzendeger, Matt Zeller, Jim Salfrank, Mike Miller and Rick Kline. Honorary pallbearers will be all her grandchildren and her great-grandson.
Published in the Aberdeen News on 10/3/2005.