Vernace Stokke, 83, of Thief River Falls, MN, formerly of Newfolden, MN, died on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at the Thief River Care in Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral service will be at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, April 1, 2011 at Westaker Lutheran Church in Newfolden, MN with Pastor Phil Rokke and Pastor George Davis and officiating. Burial will be in Westaker Cemetery, Newfolden.

Visitation will be from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Thursday, March 31, 2011 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.

Vernace Jean (Hjelle) Stokke was born on December 4, 1927 in Newfolden, MN, the daughter of Oscar and Selma (Strand) Hjelle. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith. Vernace attended school in Newfolden and later worked on the family farm and at the Farmers Store in Viking for a period of time before she was married.

Vernace was united in marriage to Percey Stokke on March 14, 1947 in Viking. To this union were born four children, Marlys, Byron, Coco and Kim.

Vernace was an excellent cook and baker. She liked to collect recipes and it was not unusual to find her looking through cookbooks or cutting new recipes from the newspaper with the plan of preparing them for her family in the future. Vernace loved the holidays and she always baked many kinds of cookies and breads to share with the friends that she entertained. One of her favorite entertaining events was to host the Womens Mission Fellowship Christmas party every year.

Vernace enjoyed decorating her home for the holidays, especially with her lights and manger scene, where people could drive by and be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas.

Gardening was one of Vernaces favorite summer past times. Vernace loved flowers and was happy to share their beauty with all who drove past her home.

Vernace was a loving wife, mother, sister and friend. She took great interest in the activities that her children and grandchildren were involved and she was very proud of their accomplishments. She was very loving and kind and she has left her family with many fond memories of the times they spent together.

Vernace was an active member of the Ladies Aid and Womens Mission Fellowship at Westaker Free Lutheran until her move to Thief River Falls after the death of her husband. She was always willing to bring food of any kind or serve lunch whenever she was asked throughout her years of attendance at Westaker and she enjoyed the fellowship that was shared with her many friends in the church. Vernace sang with her husband, Percey, for many funerals and church events and up until the last year, would even sit down and play a song or two (by ear) on the piano for her friends and family.

After Perceys death, Vernace moved to Thief River Falls to be nearer to her children. Her final days were spent at the Thief River Falls Care Center where she was a member of the choir.

Vernace is survived by 3 daughters: Marlys (Doug) Olson, Coco (Casey) Kayser and Kim (Gerard) Novak all of Thief River Falls, MN and son, Byron (Cheryl) Stokke of McGregor, MN, 10 grandchildren: Jodi (Bruce) Hansen, Robert (Marilyn) Olson, Shaine (Rita) Olson, Chris (Jennifer) Stokke, Kara (Jeff) Hillman, Kevin Stokke, Craig Stokke, McKenzie Kayser, Derek Kayser, and Alyssa Novak, 10 great grandchildren: Chris Taylor, Nick Olson, Mason Olson, Ethan Olson, Kaitlyn Stokke, Cullen Stokke, Connor Stokke, Christian Hillman, Ava Hillman and Ryder Stokke, 1 sister, Ardelle Hjelle, Thief River Falls, MN, sisters-in-law, Marville Hjelle and Gloria Anderson, Thief River Falls, and Vernette Stokke, Newfolden, many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, |God-sons, Barry Hanson and Luke Johnson, as well as many friends, especially those at Greenleaf Assisted Living Center, Thief River Falls, MN.

Vernace was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 54 years, Percey, sisters, Maxine Prickett, Amy, Mae and June Hjelle, brothers, Orville, Virgil, and Roger Hjelle and father and mother-in-law, Hjalmer and Louella Stokke, brothers-in-law, Harvey Stokke, Robert Prickett and Elmer Anderson.

ORGANIST: Kathy Rokke
SOLOIST: Marlys Olson, Clark Hjelle, and Ryan Hjelle
SELECTIONS: I Want to See My Savior First of All, & He the Pearly Gates Will Open
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: Nearer My God to Thee & Jesus Savior Pilot Me
PALLBEARERS: Chris Stokke, Kevin Stokke, Craig Stokke, Robert Olson, Shaine Olson, and
Derek Kayser
HONORARY PALLBEARERS: Vernaces Grandchildren, Alyssa Novak, McKenzie Kayser,
Kara Hillman, and Jodi Hansen