Verna Hotvedt

Verna Viola Hotvedt of Hanover Park, IL, formerly of Hoffman, MN, passed away peacefully at the age of ninety-three years after a long battle with Alzheimer's at Hanover Park on October 5, 2016.

Verna was born in Hoffman, Grant County, MN on December 21, 1922 to Cleve F. and Ellen B. (Finstad) Thorstad. Verna attended country school in rural Hoffman and attended high school at Hoffman. Following school she worked as a waitress in Hoffman.

Verna married Kenneth J. Hotvedt in March, 1942. The couple first made their home in Hoffman and later rented a farm near Hoffman. They were blessed with seven children. Ken's work in construction kept the family moving around the state. While Ken worked on the Al-Can Highway Verna lived with her parents. The family moved to Minneapolis in 1955 and then to Illinois in 1957. Verna worked for Motorola for twelve years before taking a job in the transportation industry. She retired from the transportation company at age seventy-eight; but only because the company was sold.

Verna enjoyed doing craftwork and painting statues and figurines. She liked to sew and spend time in her flower garden.

Verna is preceded in death by her loving husband Kenneth, in 1973; her sons, Roy, Lloyd and Gary Hotvedt; her daughters, Kaylene and Joan; her parents, Cleve and Ellen Thorstad; three sisters, Elnora O'Bryan, Evelyn Johnson and Ellen Olson; and three brothers, Clarence, Roger, and Vernon Thorstad.

Verna is survived by her son, James Hotvedt; daughter, Kerry Snow and husband, Bob; nine grandchildren, Brenda, Britney, Carol, Frank, Kerry, Lenora, Lori, Manfred and Verna; twenty-four great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 11 AM Saturday, October 8, 2016 at Messiah Lutheran Church, 502 Kentucky Avenue, Hoffman, MN 56339. Reverend Nathan Thompson will officiate. Interment will follow at Land Cemetery at Hoffman. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 PM Friday at the Anderson Funeral Home, 920 Co Rd 44 NW, Alexandria, MN and also one hour prior to the service at church.