Vernice Mienert

Vernice Mienert, age 85, of Fosston, MN, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 5th, at her home in Breckenridge, MN surrounded by loved ones. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 15th, at Bethel Assembly Church in Fosston with Pastor Seth Johnson officiating. Interment will be in Brandsvold Cemetery, rural Fosston, in the spring. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.

Vernice was born January 28, 1936, to John and Inga (Teigen) Pederson in Crookston, Minnesota. She graduated from Fosston High School in 1954. On August 30, 1958 she married Leonard Mienert.

Vernice and Leonard raised their four children while working together on their farm in rural Fosston. In November 2020 they moved to Breckenridge, Minnesota. Vernice worked at Fosston Municipal Nursing Home and with home health before retiring in 1998. She loved caring for others.

In recent years she enjoyed spending time at our family lake cabin. She loved serving her famous company meatballs and gravy and making rhubarb dessert, a cherished family favorite. She could often be found playing a lively game of hand and foot which always accompanied her signature emphatic utterance of “Uff Da’s” when she didn’t get the cards she needed!

Vernice was known for the warmth of her delightful and infectious laugh. Her way of making others feel special and her legacy of love for her family and Jesus. Her favorite song “Days of Elijah” got her clapping and praising Jesus in hope for eternity. In recent months during her time in hospice was touched with tears as she took in the meaning of the song in preparing for her heavenly home.

She was preceded in death by her son, Gary; her parents; and brothers, Howard, David, Edgar, Daniel, and Gerald Pederson; and sisters, Audrey Strom and Lois Grove.

She is survived by her husband, Leonard; daughter, Julie (Larry) Wiertzema; son, James (Wendy) Mienert; daughter, Rebecca (Dan) Thiel; grandchildren, Melinda (Keo) Sengsavang, Luke (Maggie) Wiertzema, Anna (Ben) Gurney, Adam (Sydney) Wiertzema, and Lee (Jennifer) Ramsey; six great grandchildren, Reagan, Logan & Esther Gurney, and Josiah, Claire & Alice Wiertzema; brothers, Joel (Betty) Pederson and Mike (Iris) Ophus; and sister, Carol (Paul) Sykes.