Vergaline Holdren

Vergaline Adelle (Hanson) Holdren entered into eternal rest on February 22, 2020, at the age of 75 years, 1 month and 23 days, from a hard-fought battle against pancreatic cancer with the comfort of her loving family around her.

Vergaline was born on December 30, 1944, at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit, KS, to Chester (Chet) and Neita (McElroy) Hanson. During her formable years, she attended the local country school and completed her high school career at Mankato High School in 1962. During high school, she began dating the love of her life, Walter (Walt) Edwin Holdren. They dated and became engaged while Vergaline attended Brown Mackie School of Business in Salina, KS, where she earned her bookkeeping certificate.

Vergaline married Walt on February 23, 1963, and to this union they were blessed with three daughters, Rebecca Dawn, Roxanne Annette and Crystal Robin. As much as she loved her children, she was most proud of her grandchildren (Elliot, TeJay, Garrett, Ashley, Jacqueline, and Zachary) and all their accomplishments. She loved attending all the grandkids' athletic events, concerts, academic competitions, and other activities they participated in. She was their biggest fan and supporter in whatever they tried. She once said, "You don't want to get me started on them, for I can tell you they are the best and probably the smartest of all kids…maybe just a little spoiled."

When she was first married, she worked as a bookkeeper for the Sylvan Grove and Munden Public Schools as Walt took on various teaching jobs. In 1969, they moved to Belleville, KS, where she decided to stay home and raise her own family as well as babysit a few local children. She just loved kids and they loved her. Throughout her life, you would frequently catch her in a rocking chair with a baby in her arms. To get out of the house and make a few extra dollars, Vergaline became the number one neighborhood Tupperware dealer. She was able to share her joy and enthusiasm with others to create a fun and uplifting atmosphere. She loved going to the hostess' parties and showing all the new gadgets, many of which she still had years and years later.

In 1979, Vergaline and Walt moved back to Montrose, KS, to the family farm. She was a farm girl, born and raised, and this was where she was meant to be. Over the years, they would raise cattle, pigs, sheep, chickens, cats and a dog now and then. They never had milking cows though as they both had enough of that chore growing up. In the mornings, or late at night, you could find her on the deck enjoying the outdoors. If the night was clear, she would tell you how she could see each of the nearest towns in all four directions. In 1984, after her girls were older, Vergaline went to work as a bookkeeper at Jensen Oil and Gas, where in 1998, she was awarded the Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association of Kansas Employee of the Year. However, in 2001, she found her home at the Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems as an Admissions Clerk and as an officer of the MCHHS Auxiliary. She had the privilege of greeting and sharing her compassion with patients and families during their time of need as she checked them into the hospital. She loved her work and was able to give comfort and fellowship to all that came to her window. The impact she had could be witnessed when she became ill and those same people would shower her with cards and visits.

Vergaline was an avid gardener. Whether growing a four-patch garden, including enormous pumpkins, or reviving someone's wilting plant back to health, Vergaline definitely had a green thumb. Her passion for growing and nurturing things was evident not only in her ability to grow and maintain plants, but also in the way she grew and nurtured her family and others. She also enjoyed canning and sharing the fruits of her labor with everyone. For many years, she made wedding cakes for friends and family as her way of giving them a piece of herself and her love. Vergaline's other pastimes included knitting, crocheting, reading and completing Sudoku puzzles. She also had a love of games. It didn't matter if it was a card game with good friends like Jerry and Nancy Anderson, or playing a board game with her family, she just loved spending time together.

She also loved exploring and seeing new sites. It was a passion that took hold of her at a young age while traveling to many states with her parents. In the winter, you would find Walt and Vergaline venturing to Texas for a few weeks. After Walt passed, she became even more adventuresome in wanting to see the world. She went on a cruise to Panama City, a trip to Hawaii, hot air balloon watching in New Mexico, and visiting classmates in Texas. Her last and most treasured trip made was with her sisters back to their family's homeland in Norway. She loved genealogy and this trip made her genealogy research come to life. She was so excited to see where her family came from and walk the same ground as her ancestors. One favorite spot was the port where her family boarded a ship and immigrated to America.

Vergaline has always exemplified the teachings of Jesus. She never knew a stranger and if you were ever in need, Vergaline was there to lend a hand or a listening ear. As her disease progressed, she felt more and more drawn to faith. What brought her spirit a sense of peace toward the end was her decision to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and being baptized into His Kingdom on February 2, 2020, at the Beloit First United Methodist Church while surrounded by family and close friends.

Vergaline is preceded in death by her husband, Walt Holdren, her parents, Chet & Neita Hanson and Edwin & Ruth Holdren and brothers-in-law Randall Brooks and George Bighia.

She is survived by her daughters, Rebecca Holdren (John Powers) of Salina, Roxanne Kimminau (Todd) of Beloit, Crystal Vacura (Blake) of Omaha, NE, and her six grandchildren, Elliot Kimminau, Beloit, TeJay Kimminau, Sabetha, Garrett Kimminau, Beloit, Ashley Vacura, Omaha, NE, Jacqueline Holdren, Omaha, NE, and Zachary Vacura, Omaha, NE. She is also survived by her sisters, Oalga Bighia, Lonzy Hofmeister (Dallas) and sisters-in-law Mary Folsom, Betty Meis (Bill) and Janet Wilcox (David) and a whole host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

A celebration of life service for Vergaline Adelle (Hanson) Holdren, will be 10:00 AM Thursday, February 27, 2020, at the Beloit First United Methodist Church with Pastor Jim Brackett officiating. Arlene Zachary will be the pianist and Phil Vetter the vocalist. Pallbearers will be Elliot Kimminau, TeJay Kimminau, Garrett Kimminau, Zachary Vacura, Jerry Anderson, and Roger Rightmeier and honorary pallbearers will be Ashley Vacura and Jacqueline Holdren. Interment will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery by Montrose (rural Formoso). Visitation will be Wednesday, February 26, 2020, from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the Roberts Family Funeral Service, Beloit, with the family receiving friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Memorials may be given in Vergaline Adelle (Hanson) Holdren's memory to the Pleasant View Cemetery in Montrose, MCHHS Auxiliary, or the Solomon Valley Hospice in care of the mortuary.