Vera M. Gelderman, 87, of Brookings died Saturday at the United Retirement Center, Brookings. Vera was born July 7, 1920 near Verdi, MN to Henry and Anna (Brandt) Haper. She married John Mersch at Ward, SD on September 3, 1941 and together they had three children, Robert, Joyce and Leroy. John died April 21, 1948. Vera moved to Elkton, SD where she worked for the Elkton Record, Diamond Lunch Cafe and was also a cook at St. Mary's School. After the kids were grown she moved to Brookings where she worked at SDSU. Vera married Fred Gelderman on December 23, 1972 at Dell Rapids, SD. They moved to Rapid City and the following year moved to Hill City, SD where they were active in senior citizens, square dancing, and St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. They moved to Brookings in 2006 because of ill health and made their home at the United Retirement Center. Vera's hobbies included crocheting, ceramics, bead work and card playing. Vera donated her body to the Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion. Vera is survived by her husband, Fred; a daughter Joyce (Duane) Anderson, Aurora; 2 sons: Leroy (Barbara) Mersch, Sioux Falls and Robert (Carol) Mersch, Boise, ID; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a sister, Margaret Gelderman, Pipestone, MN and a brother, Francis (Loretta) Slayton, MN. She is preceded by her first husband, John, her parents, a brother, Ralph and a sister, Betty.
Funeral Mass will be 10:30 am Wednesday at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, Elkton. Arrangements by Skroch Funeral Chapel, Elkton.