Verna "Bonnie" V. (Quitsch) Trego

Verna “Bonnie” V. Trego, 89, of Aberdeen, passed away Thursday, April 16, 2020, at Prairie Heights Healthcare in Aberdeen.  Her wishes were to be cremated.

Verna’s memorial service, for immediate family only, will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 24, 2020, at Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, with Pastor Mike Waldrop, of First United Methodist Church, officiating.

Burial follows at Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery in Aberdeen.

Family and friends may sign her online guestbook and also view her service via the live stream service link at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Verna V. Quitsch was born July 9, 1930, to Frederick and Lillian (Petersmeyer) Quitsch at Crandon, SD.  Following the death of her father in 1937, the family moved to Redfield, SD, where she grew up, attended school, and graduated from Redfield High School with the Class of 1950.

Following graduation, Verna worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company for two years before moving to Aberdeen, where she continued to work for the company for an additional five years.

On August 23, 1957, Verna married Clair H. Trego.  The couple farmed south of Aberdeen until 1987, when they moved into town.  In addition to being a farm wife, Verna also worked for the South Dakota School for the Visually Impaired as a dorm parent.  Verna and Clair raised three children and shared over 41 years of marriage before he passed away on March 9, 1999.  She continued to make Aberdeen her home until the time of her death.

Verna was a member of First United Methodist Church in Aberdeen, where she was active in the First United Methodist Church Women, Sarah Circle, Anglers Bible Study and Grief Support Group.  She was also a 60+ year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Minerva Chapter, Past Worthy Matron of the Orpah Chapter in Warner, SD, a former member of the Yelduz Shrine Auxiliary and a member of the Loyal West Gem Extension Club.

Verna enjoyed crocheting, doing embroidery, and watching television, especially Minnesota Twins baseball with her trusted can of Mello Yello.  She also enjoyed collecting spoons, sugar and creamer sets, angels, and red cardinals.  Over the years, Verna had accumulated a vast collection, most of which were given to her by family and friends.  In her younger years, Verna and Clair often gathered together with their Masonic friends and enjoyed camping with them at various parks and campgrounds throughout the state and even in Wyoming.  Following Clair’s death, Verna continued to camp with her daughter and especially enjoyed evenings spent in the backyard by the fire pit.  

Verna loved her pets, or her “livestock” as she called them, especially her Pekingese dogs “Buffy” and “Sandy”.  She also greatly enjoyed watching the birds and squirrels from her living room picture window.  Most of all, Verna cherished her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  It was actually her oldest grandchild who nicknamed her “Bonnie” and the name carried on through the years.

Grateful for sharing in Verna’s life are her sons, Craig (Colleen) Trego of Aberdeen and Curt (Shelly) Trego of Watertown, SD; her daughter, Nancy Trego of Aberdeen; six grandchildren:  Jill Craft, Sara (Jason) Gab, Kristi Trego, Krista (Adam) Peterka, Jacquelyn (Sam) Dooyema, and Mitchell Trego and special friend, Keri Ann Beadnell; four great-grandchildren:  Claire, Ava, Faith, and Luke; one sister, Lena Schornack Holgerson of Aberdeen; two nephews; one niece; and her special friend and caregiver, Donna Lou

Verna was preceded in death by her husband, Clair; parents, Frederick and Lillian; brothers, William and Eldon; and sisters, Erma and Emma. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to either Shriners Hospital for Children in Minneapolis, MN, the Yelduz Shrine Transportation Fund in Aberdeen or the Aberdeen Area Humane Society.

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