VERA M. NELSON, 76, of Cherokee, Iowa passed away Thursday afternoon, September 17, 2015 in the Countryside Estates in Cherokee, Iowa.

Memorial services will be held on Monday, September 21st, at 2 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Cherokee, Iowa. Pastor Jon Riggert will officiate. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Cherokee. There will be a family prayer service at 1:45 p.m.at the church on Monday. Visitation will be on Sunday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. with the family present from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Vera was born on July 22, 1939 At their home in Centerville, South Dakota to Stanley & Verla (Holt) Knudson. She was baptized Lutheran and grew up in Centerville with her parents and five brothers and sisters. She graduated from Centerville High School in 1958. She was married to Bennett Nelson on August 15, 1958 at the Scandia Lutheran Church in Centerville. They moved to Germany after Bennett was drafted into the Army. In June of 1959 they were blessed with Doug, the first of three children. Upon discharge from the Army they moved back to South Dakota and farmed. During this time they were again blessed with two more children, Neal and Beth. In 1967 they moved to Cherokee where Bennett started work at Wilson Foods and Vera assumed her duties as a stay at home mom. During the years she also held several different jobs outside the home. By the time Bennett retired from the packing plant their three children had given them eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Retirement allowed them time to relax, visit family and enjoyed coffee and ice tea with friends. Vera was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Cherokee where she helped out on various committees over the years. She enjoyed quilting, crocheting, knitting and sharing her creations with her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father Stanley, a grandson Joseph McDonald, an infant sister LaVonne and a brother-in-law Woody Northcutt.

She is survived by her husband Bennett, her three children: Doug Nelson of Cherokee, Iowa; Neal (Tammy) Nelson of Cherokee, Iowa; Beth (Mark) Euchner of Ida Grove, Iowa; 7 grandchidlren: Kathryn Johnson of North Carolina; Wendy Goosen (Cloyd) of Larrabee, Iowa; Derek Euchner of Houston, Texas; Rachel Euchner (Dustin Reitz) of Sioux City, Iowa; Krystal Nelson of Cherokee, Iowa; Tyler Euchner of Ida Grove, Iowa; Amber Reichert of Aurelia, Iowa; 7 great grandchildren: her mother Verla Knudson of Brookings, South Dakota; her brothers and sisters: Kenneth (Joan) Knusdson of Brookings, South Dakota; Gordon (Jeanne) Knudson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Betty Northcutt of Arlington, South Dakota; Gail (Steve) Montieth of Arlington, South Dakota; Jim (Tyke) Knudson of Brookings, South Dakota; also several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews.