Vernon "Vern" Cunningham

Vernon “Vern” Cunningham, 83, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away Saturday, December 18, 2021 at Bethesda Home of Aberdeen.

Mass of Christian Burial is 10:30 a.m., Monday, December 27, 2021 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Aberdeen, with Fr. Andrew Dickinson officiating.

Visitation is 4:00-5:00 p.m., Sunday, at the mortuary with a Liturgical Wake and Rosary at 5:00 p.m.  Visitation continues one hour before Mass at the church.

Burial is at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.  Family and friends may sign the online guestbook and also view the service at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Vernon C. Cunningham was born September 28, 1938 to Raymond and Estelle “Stella” (Blanchette) Cunningham in Aberdeen, SD.

Vernon married Vivian Lickfelt on January 18th, 1958 in Aberdeen, SD and they shared 63 years of marriage and raised four children.

Vern was a hard worker and began working at Jackson Hardware as a teenager.  He worked for Norm Cain and then for George Parsch at Parsch Hardware where he became owner from 1977 until 1985.  After closing his hardware store, he went to work for Lickfelt Electric and Hoggs Restaurant before retiring.  Realizing retirement wasn’t for him quite yet, he went back to work for Presentation College.

Vern loved his time camping with family.  He built their first camper and the family enjoyed many years traveling with the “white square wooden box” while all the other family members traveled in their buses.  Vern was the best polka dancer ever and mom and dad would make it look so easy.  Attending car races and all the Northern, Presentation, and Aberdeen Central basketball games were a big part of his life.  Vern and Viv spent many nights playing pinochle and hand and foot with family and friends.  He taught us kids how to play pinochle at an early age with all the neighborhood kids.  Vern loved spending time with his family, especially attending all the activities of his grandchildren.  He was always working on some kind of project, whether it was at his home or serving others with shingling a roof or doing simple repairs.  He loved his trips to Texas to help Lynn work on his ranch.  Vern was a loving husband, father, grandpa and great grandpa.  He was a kind and gentle man with a huge sense of humor.  He always made us laugh one way or another.

Grateful for having shared Vern’s life are his wife; children: Lynn (Laurie) Cunningham, Lynda (Dan) Mardian, Scott (Lori) Cunningham, and Sherrie (Robert) Loebs; siblings: Melvin Cunningham, Shirley (Chuck) Manning, and Sharon (Gary) Kraft; grandchildren: Shane (Kelsey) Cunningham, Lance Mardian, Derek (Coryn) Mardian, Cody (Abby) Mardian, Samantha (Nic) Hoch, Robin (Kyle Tempel) Loebs, Chris (Megan) Loebs, and grand-puppy, Buster; eight great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Vern was preceded in death by his parents; siblings: Marjorie, Lloyd, Albert, Don, Cal, Violet, Audrey, and Merle; and special friend, Gerald Haar.

In Lieu of flowers memorials can be sent to: Special Olympics South Dakota, 800 E. I-90 Lane, Sioux Falls, SD 57104

The family would like to thank the staff at Bethesda Home for the great care and all the kindness given to Vern.