Velma Winquist

Velma Elayne Winquist was born on her grandparents? farm south of Kiron, Iowa, March 7, 1921, the daughter of Edner G. and Pearl R. Beaumont Larson. When she was nearly four years of age she was overjoyed with the birth of her brother, Warren. Velma was raised on the farm and received her elementary education at the Otter Creek No. 6 rural school before graduating from Kiron High School with the class of 1938. Following high school, Velma was employed doing domestic work for attorney Thad Snell of Ida Grove and later for Granny Adams at the Adam?s Ranch at Odebolt. Between jobs she was forced to return home to rest due to severe asthma and allergies. In 1942, she was offered and accepted a position at the Kiron State Bank. On November 18, 1950, Velma was united in marriage with Waldo Winquist at the Baptist Parsonage in Kiron. They made their home on the Winquist homestead and their union was blessed with one daughter, Colleen. Velma continued working at the bank until 1986 when she retired after a successful 44 year career. Velma and Waldo moved into Kiron in 1975 and following their retirements they enjoyed traveling to Alaska, Hawaii and most parts of the continental United States. Velma accepted the Lord as her Savior as a youngster and joined the First Baptist Church in Kiron where through the years she served as an organist, pianist, sang in the choir, and in her youth was a member of the B.Y. P. W. Waldo died September 18, 2003 and Velma remained at their home in Kiron until moving to Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison January 28, 2009. Velma died at Eventide, Saturday, February 28, 2009, having been blessed with 87 years, 11 months and 21 days. Velma was preceded in death by her parents, Edner and Pearl Larson and husband, Waldo. Those remaining to cherish her memory include one daughter, Colleen and husband, Scott Jones of Liberty, Missouri, four grandchildren, Lindsey and Zach Jones of Columbia, Missouri and Creighton and Madison Jones of Liberty, Missouri, one brother, Warren Larson of Kiron, three sisters-in-law, Shirley Winquist of Denison, Eleanora Otto of Minnetonka, Minnesota and Florence Winquist of St. Anthony, Minnesota, other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 5, 2009, at the First Baptist Church in Kiron, Iowa, with Pastor John Aiken officiating. Special music was provided by Nancy Brown and Carol Schlappi singing two duets, "In the Garden" and "Over the Sunset Mountain" with Mrs. John W. Larson serving as pianist. Organist for the service was Wilma Anderson. Pallbearers included Alan Gustafson, John Gustafson, Stanley Swensen, Dwain Swensen, John W. Larson and Chuck Ballantine. Interment was at the Kiron Cemetery, Kiron, Iowa. Following the services the family invited everyone to return to the church and join them for fellowship and a luncheon prepared and served by the First Baptist Social Committee. Memorials have been established to Crawford County Area Hospice in Denison or First Baptist Church in Kiron. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com , was in charge of arrangements.