Verna Elizabeth (Horst) Brandt was born April 20, 1926, to John and Marie (Ross) Horst. She was the second of 10 children in the family and passed away Jan. 11, 2025.
As a young girl, she was baptized and confirmed at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ruskin. Verna attended grade school at Oak, and high school at Nelson Public School, graduating with the class of 1944. After graduating from high school, she taught at school in Nuckolls County for five years prior to her marriage. On June 26, 1949, Verna was united in marriage to Lester Leo Brandt at St. Mark Lutheran Church, and to this union five sons were born: Richard, Roger, Kenneth, Keith and Norman.
Together, they made their home farming near Hardy for several years and then moved to Jewell County, Kansas, for three years. In 1960, they moved to a farm in Saline County, where they lived for over 50 years. Then they moved to the Sunshine Villa in Milligan for a few years before moving to the Friendship Terrace in Friend for a few years, until she began needing extra care in 2022.
Over the years, Verna was a busy homemaker, farm wife and mother, and later spent many days babysitting her grandchildren. She raised, dressed, and froze chickens for many years and also kept layer hens and sold many eggs. She grew a big garden and canned and froze the produce for her family. She also did housecleaning for elderly residents of Saline County through the Saline County Aging program. Additionally, she worked occasionally, as needed, at the Alpo plant in Crete, mixing up the coating for pet food.
She was an active member of St. Johns Lutheran Church in Cordova. Along with being a member of the Dorcas LWML, she served her church in many ways, including teaching Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and sixth grade confirmation classes.
Verna enjoyed many craft projects, including embroidery, and she loved quilting. She made baby and graduation quilts for all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also quilted for world relief.
She is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and Janet Brandt, Lincoln, Roger and Dianne Brandt, Exeter, Kenneth and Diane (Dee) Brandt, Wheatland, Wyoming, Keith and Miriam Brandt, Exeter and Norman and Cindy Brandt, Friend; 18 grandchildren and spouses, Stacy (Steve) Uno, Seattle, Washington, Shari (Nathan) Humphrey, Kansas City, Missouri, Shannon (Tom) Stuhr, Milligan, Jordyn Brandt, Overland Park, Kansas, Trystan (Hannah) Brandt, Omaha, Peytan (Avis) Brandt, Friend, Sean (Tina) Brandt, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Daniel (Kaylie) Brandt, Rapid City, South Dakota, Micah Brandt and Mathew Futch, Wheatland, Nathaniel (Kaci) Brandt, Exeter, Morgan Brandt, Dorchester, Dalton (Tonya) Brandt, Friend, Joshua (Stephanie) Brandt, Friend, Dylan (Brooke) Brandt, Waverly, Katie Brandt, Lincoln, Cameryn Brandt, Lincoln,and Jaxon and Sadie Brandt, Friend; six step-grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren;, and four great-grandchildren; sisters, Norma Walker, Winfield, Alabama, Lila Honeycutt, Haven, Kansas, Donna Genung, Deshler, sisters-in-law, Lana Horst, Edgar, Marietta Free, Hebron, and a host of other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Lester; her parents; sisters, Evaline Hinz, Lillie Hofferber and Vera Schriever; brothers, Robert, Alfred and John Horst; daughter-in-law, Lori Brandt; brothers-in-law, Eldred Hinz, Eugene Walker, Myron Schriever, Donald Hofferber, Gary Honeycutt, Roger Dondlinger, Russell Genung, Victor Judy, Henry Free, Vernon Schoof, Dale Brandt and Donald Brandt; and sisters-in-law, Janice Horst, Gertrude Brandt and Fern Schoof.
Visitation is Monday, Jan. 20, from 1 – 7 p.m. at Lauber Funeral Home in Friend with family greeting and receiving relatives and friends from 5 – 7 p.m. and one hour prior to the service. The funeral service will be Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 10:30 a.m. at the St. John’s Lutheran Church, Cordova, with a graveside service at Zastrow Cemetery, rural Cordova. Memorial contributions are suggested to the church or Ridgewood Rehab and Care Center, Seward.
Arrangements by Lauber Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
