Verna Martha (Bendickson) Koep, age 84, passed away peacefully at her home Dec. 11, 2021. Funeral services for her and her husband, Dennis Koep, were 11 a.m. Dec. 17 at Love of Christ Lutheran Church in St. Cloud. The Rev. Steve Klemp will officiate and burial will be at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Sauk Rapids. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church. Arrangements are entrusted to Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Sauk Rapids.
Verna was born Aug. 19, 1937, in Girard Township, Henning, to Edwin and Martha Bendickson. She was baptized as an infant into the Christian faith by the Rev. J. L. Drage in Henning Nov. 9, 1937. She renewed her baptismal vow through the Rite of Confirmation by the Rev. A. E. Beck at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Henning.
She attended her first school years at a rural school near Henning and the remaining years at the Henning Public School, graduating in 1955. After graduation, she enrolled at the Fergus Falls School of Beauty Culture, and pursued a career in hairdressing and cosmetology. After graduating from beauty school, she was employed at the Vanity Beauty Salon in Henning until her marriage to Dennis Koep in 1957, when they moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota. They lived in various parts of North Dakota and South Dakota while on road construction before moving to Brainerd where they lived for 5 1/2 years. In 1968, she and her husband and children moved to Sauk Rapids where they have resided up to the present time.
Along with her many years as a wife, mother and homemaker, Verna was a Girl Scout leader for three years. She then became employed full-time at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Nursing Home for 12 years. Upon retirement, she then assisted her husband in operating a telephone book delivery route for several years. She was very skilled in sewing for her family in the early years when they were growing up. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sauk Rapids and then became a long time member of Love of Christ Lutheran Church, St. Cloud. She enjoyed singing with the Prayer and Praise Fellowship at church. She enjoyed reading Christian books and non-fiction stories about real life people. She loved all kinds of music, especially gospel and country, and music from the big bands. She enjoyed many trips with her husband in their motorhome traveling to the east, west and southern United States. Her main attractions were Virginia Beach, Virginia; Pigeon Forge Tennessee; and attending various shows in Branson, Missouri. Other favorite places were The Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage, Missouri, and the music theaters in Mountain View, Arkansas. She will always be remembered with the most uplifting laughter and joy in all things.
Verna is survived by her children David (Sandra) Koep of Rice, Marla (Terry) Elness of Sauk Rapids, Brenda (David) Hallman of Maple Grove, and Sandra (Wayne) Rymer of Alexandria; six grandchildren Kyle, Drew, Candice, Kelly, Jordan and Megan; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her mother, father, brother Merlin Bendickson, sister-in-law Joyce Bendickson, and husband, Dennis, on Nov. 29, 2021.
Obituary, guest book and video tribute available online at www.williamsdingmann.com.
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