Verna Lucille Sillasen

Verna L. Sillasen, age 88, of Keystone, passed away on October 10, 2019 at Indian Hills Manor in Ogallala, NE.

Verna was born on July 5, 1931 to Coyle and Clara (Wilber) McGreer in Big Springs, NE. She was baptized and confirmed in the Big Springs Methodist Church. Verna attended school in Big Springs, graduating from Big Springs High School in 1949. She went on to work at Sixth Street Market in Ogallala as a checker.

Verna met Sillas James "Jim" Sillasen at a dance in Paxton while accompanying her brother and sister-in-law, Willie and Pat, to the dance. The next week, Jim went to Sixth Street and invited Verna to the picture show. When asked what movie they saw, he replied that he couldn’t recall but that it was probably a western. After they started dating, they never missed a dance. Jim and Verna were married on June 10, 1950 in Big Springs, NE. They lived their entire married life on the ranch at Keystone, NE, raising their family there. In addition to their three children, Verna was “mother” to many boys that came to work on the ranch. She cooked meals for haying and branding crews, and was well known for her cinnamon rolls and pies. She loved to cook and bake, keeping her kids and grandkids well supplied with treats.

Verna and Jim faithfully attended the Keystone Presbyterian Church. She was active in the Ladies Aid group and enjoyed Bible Study. She was a great prayer warrior, for which many of us are thankful.

For many years Verna was a member of the Key Club ladies group. She loved having her friends over for afternoon meetings and teas. After Jim and Verna built their new spacious home, they hosted several of the club Christmas parties. In her later years, she joined the Library Club and worked many election day dinners, making pies and washing countless dishes.

Jim and Verna moved to assisted living in Columbus, NE in 2017. They moved to Wel-Life Assisted Living at Ogallala in 2018. Verna moved to Indian Hills Manor in April 2019.

Verna is remembered as a loving mother and grandmother by her family.

She is survived by her husband, Jim of Ogallala; 2 daughters; Kathleen (Creighton) Miller, of North Platte, NE; Joanell (Ron) Klug, of Columbus, NE; 1 son; Lee (Brenda) Sillasen, of Keystone, NE; seven grandchildren; Andrew (Lynnette) Klug, of Columbus; Angela (Derek) Maursted; Karleen (Chad) Muhle, all of Omaha, NE; Darcey (Karl) Saxton, of Phoenix, AZ; Stacy Sillasen, of Lincoln, NE; Jason (Elizabeth) Sillasen, of Keystone; Erin (Lucas) Sillasen-Banks, of Pine, CO; ten great granddaughters; two great grandsons; several nieces and nephews; and many friends.

Preceding Verna in death were her parents; her mother and father-in-law, Andrew and Mabel Sillasen; two brothers: Harold (Virginia) McGreer; Wilber (Patricia) McGreer; and a sister-in-law Donna (Herb) Ledbetter.

A register book signing and greeting of friends from the family will be from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., Sunday, October 13, 2019, in the Draucker Funeral Home Chapel in Ogallala.

Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, October 14, 2019 from the New Hope Church of Ogallala with Ron Jay officiating.

The family chose cremation. A private family committal of the cremains will be held at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to the Paxton Volunteer Fire Department and Keystone Lemoyne Fire Department.

Online condolences may be left by signing the Guest Book at www.drauckerfuneralhome.com. Services will be live streamed.

Draucker Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.