Verna Schell

Verna Schell, 85, Bismarck, died January 3, 2014, at the Baptist Home, Bismarck. Services will be held at 1:30 pm Thursday, January 9, at First Lutheran Church, Bismarck, with Rev. Marv Mutzenberger officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm Wednesday, January 8, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Verna was born February 27, 1928, at Minot, ND, the daughter of Lars and Sylvia Asplund Helstedt. She was raised and educated in Bergen, ND, and graduated from Velva High School. Verna married Waldo Hoechst in September of 1946. They lived in in Sawyer, ND, and Minot, ND. Waldo died in Minot on September 8, 1955. Verna moved to Bismarck and received her secretarial certificate in 1963 from Bismarck Junior College. She did secretarial work for ND Vocational Rehabilitation, ND AFL-CIO, and worked in the Burleigh County Superintendent of Schools office. She also was a secretary-bookkeeper for the Sakakawea Girl Scout Council, and Executive Secretary for the State Rehabilitation Program Planning Department. She married Edwin Schell on July 1, 1972, in Bismarck. The couple was Shaklee Supervisors with their Health Garden business. Verna was a member of First Lutheran Church where she was a WELCA member. She belonged to National Secretaries Association, Sakakawea Chapter of Bismarck-Mandan, the Paragon Homemaker's Club, Swedish 3-Crowns, and the Elan Art Gallery. She served as President of the ND Reflexology Association. Verna enjoyed singing and playing the piano, working in a large garden, and creating art work. Verna was always happiest when her sons, their wives, and grandchildren came to visit. She dearly loved her family and will in turn be deeply missed by her family and family friends. Verna is survived by her four sons, Richard Hoechst, Deering, ND, Lonnie Hoechst, Gwinner, ND, Mark Marlya Hoechst and Vernell Wanda Hoechst, all of Bismarck; ten grandchildren, Billie Clayton Case, Jared, Dane, Gregory Lindsey Hoechst, Nicole Jason Van Lishout, Luke Anne Hoechst, Brandon Lora Hoechst, Rose Hoechst, Sarah Kris Kline, Jessy Eric Hagen, 15 great-grandchildren; her brother, Rev. Lowell L. Helstedt, Lakeland, MN, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Waldo Hoechst; her second husband, Edwin Schell; and her sister, Mellicent Schadler.

Verna Schell

February 27, 1928 - January 3, 2014