Vernel Bossman

Vernel Bossman, 92, of Mesa, AZ, formerly of Mooreton, ND passed away on June 19, 2018.  Visitation will be held on Saturday, July 14, 2018 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, followed by a memorial service at 2:00 pm at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND.  Rev. Gordon Lee will officiate.  Burial will follow the service at Fairview Memorial Gardens, Wahpeton.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mooreton Lutheran Church, Mooreton American Legion Auxiliary, or a charity of your choice.  Arrangements have been entrusted with Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton.

Vernel Bossman was born in Bristow, Oklahoma July 19th, 1925 to Ira and Bertha Bethel.  She was the oldest daughter, had 6 older brothers, 2 younger brothers, and 3 younger sisters. She is survived by sister, Irma Conrad.  During the Dust Bowl, her family migrated from Oklahoma to California.  Her family sang cowboy songs, played cards, and worked hard together. At the age of 13, she borrowed her uncle’s car and went joy riding with 3 girlfriends.  They rolled the car and were thrown out.  The 2 girls that were bleeding were taken to the hospital but the girl with the fractured skull and Mom with a broken back were taken home.  When she couldn’t get up, she was taken to the hospital where they did not expect her to live.  She proved them wrong.  They told her parents she wouldn’t walk and she proved them wrong again.  The doctors wanted to re-break and properly set her back, but her parents would not allow that.  The doctors said she would probably not be able to have children, but she had 5.  When she was a high school sophomore, her family was in an automobile accident and her father broke both arms and her mother was also injured.  As the oldest daughter, she dropped out of school to care for the family.

During World War II, Mom worked in the office at the Mare Island Naval Base in San Francisco.  When she found out she could double her pay to $10 a day, she became a welder. Leslie Bossman was a Sgt. in the US Army Air Corp.  They met at a soda fountain and made a date to meet at a dance the next week.  They married March 31, 1944 when mom was 18.

After the war they moved to Mooreton, ND.  It was quite an adjustment moving so far away from family and experiencing cold winters.  They lived with Dad’s mother, Alice Evenson and step-father, A.F. Evenson.   Ferd Evenson was one of original founders of the Mooreton Lutheran Church. Dad worked for him and became the Standard Oil Bulk Agent and Service Station Owner.  Mom was busy being a homemaker and raising 5 children.  On most Saturdays, we would wake up to the smell of fresh baked, all we could eat caramel rolls.  She took us to Wahpeton for junior bowling league or roller skating.  When her shopping was finished, she would put on her skates and dance with the high school boys.  Mom took us to many Sunday movies so that Dad could do bookwork.  Mom was a very capable independent woman and could do most anything from rewiring the electric stove to loading the fuel truck and delivering to earthmovers constructing I-29.  She was a great role model for her kids.

She was an avid card player, bowler (601 series), reader, enjoyed crossword puzzles, great baker and pie maker.  She loved game shows and classic country music. She was the last charter member of the Mooreton American Legion Auxiliary, was active in Ladies Aid, Homemakers Club, and Card Club.   For the Mooreton Labor Day Celebration, she was always one of the top sales people for the car raffle tickets.

When she was born, they said she had a “Veil” over her face, meaning she was somewhat psychic.  She never forgot a telephone number she had dialed and when the telephone rang, she usually knew who was calling.  She loved her family and once you joined the family, you were treated equally for birthdays and holidays.  When we kids would squabble, she made us kiss and make-up.  One of her mottos was “If you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say anything at all”.  We are all sad that she is gone from this earth, but we know that she has found her eternal rest with Jesus and her husband and family.

Vernel is survived by her sister, Irma Conrad; daughters, Sharon (John) Long, Nancy (Dennis) VandeVegte, Kathleen (David) Kielb, and Valerie (Bryan) Platt; son, Curtis Bossman; eight grandchildren, Kaea (Guy) Beresford, Keith (Robin) Long, Benjamin (Leann) Kielb, Patrick (Dawn) Kielb, Joshua (Jennifer) Platt, Tessa (Andrew) Dysart, Emily (Ryan) McIntire, and Timothy (Christina) Bossman; and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Leslie, eight brothers, and two sisters.

Many of her Mooreton friends have passed on but some remain that may have stories to share.  We want family and friends to share memories during the memorial service.

Vernel's Memorial Folder