Veda Mae Klaassen

VEDA MAE KLAASSEN was born on May 6, 1929, to Harry and Margaret (Duin) Blau on the family farm near George, Iowa. She was raised on the farm and attended country school through the eighth grade. On March 8, 1950, Veda Mae was united in marriage to Donald Klaassen at the Blau family home. Their marriage was blessed with four children; Herbert, Curtis, Colleen and Byron.

Following their marriage they farmed near Ocheyedan, Iowa. In January of 1958, Veda Mae and Donald moved near Sherman, South Dakota where they continued to farm. Through the years spent on the farm, Veda Mae was an ambitious homemaker who enjoyed tending her large flower and vegetable gardens and helping Donald with the farm. After Donald passed away in October 1997, she continued living on the farm until she moved to Luverne, Minnesota in March 2005. In July 2012, Veda Mae moved to Bethany Meadows in Brandon, South Dakota, where she resided until July 2015, when she moved to the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, Minnesota. On Monday, August 31, 2015, Veda Mae died peacefully at the Sanford Luverne Hospital at the age of 86 years, three months, and 25 days.

Veda Mae was a member of the American Reformed Church in Luverne. Through her years in the Reformed Church she belonged to Esther Circle, taught Sunday School and participated in Bible study. A favorite pastime was listening to gospel music and the “Old Time Fiddlers”. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, needlepoint along with painting and other arts and crafts. She had an incredible ability to create something amazing from something basic, old, worn out or considered junk. Veda Mae loved traveling with Donald and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Veda Mae is lovingly remembered by her three children, Curtis (Susan) of Adel, Iowa, Colleen Zweep of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Byron (Sheryl) of Sherman, South Dakota; grandchildren, Aaron Klaassen, Sara Klaassen, Jesse (Jaime) Zweep, Abby (Ryan) Brost, Emily (Tom) Leuthold, Ashley (Dustin) Wade, Ryan (Lyndsey) Hanson, Stacie Klaassen (Chris McNaughton), and Zachary Klaassen; four great-grandchildren, Brooke and Blake Wade, and Macee and Preslee Kiss; five siblings, Fredrick (Nancy) Blau of Reading, Minnesota, Velva Korthals of George, Iowa, Nina Fae Zylstra of Turlock, California, Harry Marvin (Barbara) Blau of Sibley, Iowa, and Geraldine Harms of Clear Lake, South Dakota, and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; infant son, Herbert; son-in-law, Jerry Zweep; parents; and three siblings, Margaret Kitchenmaster, Bernard Blau and Kenneth Blau.