With a peaceful spirit and her faith in the promise of eternal life, Verna Vande Hoven, age 86, of Carrington, ND, passed away on Wednesday, October 26, 2016, at Sanford Medical Center, Bismarck, ND.

Verna Louise Park was born on July 27, 1930, to Irving and Blanche (Lepper) Park in Littlefork, MN. In 1942, her family moved to Barlow, ND, where she attended Nordmore Country School until her junior year. She was a confirmed member of Kvernes Lutheran Church, rural Carrington, ND.

On October 7, 1949, Verna married Christ Vande Hoven at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Carrington. Together they raised their ten children on their family farm. With that many children underfoot, you can guess that first and foremost, she was a busy mom, along with being a housewife, farm laborer and entertainer. She was an excellent cook, and relatives longed for her fried chicken, homemade bread and caramel rolls. As her children grew and became more independent of her care and nurturing, she ventured out to share her cooking talents with patrons of the Prairie Inn and Chieftain.

After her marriage ended in 1996, Verna moved to Carrington where she spent the rest of her remaining life as an independent woman. In 2006, she was baptized at Faith Baptist Church in Carrington, where she developed a strong, familial bond with her church family. Verna loved people and enjoyed spending time throughout her later years playing bingo and attending card parties at the Senior Center.  She also enjoyed her service as a member of the McCreary-Bonderud VFW Auxiliary 3524.

Verna is survived by her children: Roger (Ann) Vande Hoven, Carrington; Larry (Belinda) Vande Hoven, Carrington; Terry (Dora) Vande Hoven, American Canyon, CA; Kristy (Barney) Heitkamp, Fargo; Tammy (Cliff) Peterson, Jamestown; Chuck (Vicki Verke) Vande Hoven, Carrington; Stacey (Michael) Gussiaas, New Rockford; and Kerri Heid, Carrington, and a son-in- law James Huling, Chenoa, IL. She also leaves behind a legacy of 20 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren, as well as her four sisters, Betty Kollman, South Sioux City, IA; Florence (Bill) Matzig, Duncanville, TX; Ethel Blake, Phoenix, AZ; and RuthAnn (Jerry) Kanwischer, Fessenden, and two sisters-in-law, Pat Park, Hillsboro and Joni Park, Carrington.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her former husband, her children, Alice and Dale, and 5 infant sons; her grandson, Travis Vande Hoven; and her siblings, LaDonna, Irving Jr., Harold “Red”, John, and Wallace.