Verla Mae (Hilpipre) WOODARD SNITSELAAR SMITH

HILPIPRE, SMITH, LOUX, WOODARD, SNITSELAAR, SITTS, KELLING

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/2/2008 at 09:56:25

Wright County Monitor
October 2, 2008

Verla Mae (Hilpipre) Smith, 89, of Clarion passed away Friday, September 12, 2008 at Wright Medical Center, Clarion. A memorial service was held Monday, September 22 at the United Church of Christ Congregational, Clarion. Pastor Geoffrey White will officiate the 2 p.m. service. Inurnment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion.

Verla Mae Hilpipre was born July 3, 1919 in Wright County, the daughter of Paul and Fannie (Loux) Hilpipre. She graduated from Clarion High School in 1938 and worked as a personal assistant and companion. On Marcy 12, 1941, she married John G. Woodard. They had one daughter, Janeen. John was killed in action on April 14, 1945, in Germany. Verla married Gary Snitselaar on April 22, 1947. They farmed south of Clarion until his death on March 1, 1962. Verla moved to Clarion and worked at the Fashionette and Tomke's until she married Don Smith on June 21, 1976. Don passed away March 9, 1991. Verla was a longtime member of the United Church of Christ Congregational. She enjoyed reading and knitting.

She is survived by one daughter, Janeen (Hans) Sitts; three grandchildren and one great-grandson; stepson Ron Kelling and wife, Janean; two step-granddaughters; three step-great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Robert Woodard and wife, Margaret of Albert Lea, Minnesota; a sister-in-law, Doris Hilpipre of Clarion, along with many nieces and nephews. Verla was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; one stepson, Jack Smith; and one brother, Marvin.