Verlaine Schlemmer, age 92, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and formerly of Marshall, Minnesota, passed away with family by her side on Sunday, January 5, 2020, at her home in Sioux Falls. Traditional Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 9, 2020, at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Marshall. The evening will close with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Private Interment will be at a later date in the St. Luke’s Lutheran Church Cemetery in Posen Township.
Verlaine Ellen House was born on December 21, 1927, in Wood Lake, MN to Vernon and Elda (Timm) House. Verlaine was baptized as an infant and confirmed in her youth at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in
Posen Township. She attended Posen Parochial School and then graduated from Wood Lake High School.
On July 22, 1945, Verlaine was united in marriage to Harold Schlemmer at St. Luke's Lutheran Church. To this union 7 children were born: Sandra, Gary, Richard, Bradley, Deborah, David, and Marty. In 1957, after farming for 12 years, the family moved to Milroy. Verlaine was a loving mother, homemaker, and business partner with her husband as they owned and operated Schlemmer Trucking. After the couple shared over 53 years of marriage, Harold passed away on September 14, 1998.
Verlaine was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Milroy where she taught Bible School, Sunday School, played the organ and piano, and sang in the choir. Her hobbies included photography (especially nature scenes with sunsets, sunrises, and clouds) and tracking family history. Verlaine was intentional about spending time with her grandchildren, particularly as they played baseball.
Verlaine died on Sunday, January 5, 2020, in Sioux Falls, SD, 15 days following her 92nd birthday.
Blessed be her memory.
She is survived by her 5 sons, Gary (Jill) of Milroy, Richard (Mary) of Milroy, Bradley (Sandy) of Tracy, David of DePere, WI, Marty (Roxie) of Sioux Falls, SD; son-in-law, Terry (Sandy) Redding of Marshall; 14 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; sister, Dorothy Gilb of Marshall; sister-in-law, Marilyn Brusven of Cottonwood.
Verlaine was preceded in death by her parents, Vernon and Elda House; husband, Harold Schlemmer; daughters, Sandra Schlemmer and Deborah Redding; daughter-in-law, Debra Schlemmer; sister, Frances Kvam; and brother, Douglas House.