Verna Boehs

Verna Alice Schmidt was born on March 11, 1934, to Ferdie and Irene Sebrandt Schmidt on the family farm near Cement, Oklahoma. She peacefully passed away November 17, 2020, at Okeene Hospital, reaching the age of 86 years.

Growing up near Cement, Verna was the oldest of twelve children, and from an early age she shared in the work of caring for her siblings. At the age of sixteen, to help support her family, she started her first job caring for an elderly lady. Her early years prepared her for a life of working hard and making do with what she had. On January 29, 1950, Verna was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite at Chickasha by Minister Ed Unruh.

Verna was joined in marriage to Vernon Koehn of Fairview, Oklahoma, on December 12, 1954. To this union were born one daughter and two sons. Vernon was sick for much of their married life, and they only shared nine years together before he passed away. She raised her family alone for nineteen years before marrying Walter Boehs of Isabella, Oklahoma, on May 14, 1983.

The time that she and Walt gave as missionaries in the Philippines was a highlight of Verna’s life, as well as the two years they spent as house parents at the Bethel Home girls’ unit. Her family was another very important part of her life, and she always had a way of making us feel accepted. Verna’s faith in God was of utmost importance to her. She was a person of strong conviction, steady, and without pretense. Always thankful, she especially appreciated the care she received in her last months. Her final testimony was of peace with God.

Left with many memories are her children, Bernice and Doug Koehn of Hardinsburg, Indiana, Mervin Koehn of Fairview, Leonard and Lisa Koehn of Isabella, and Vickie and Chris Nightingale of Cleo Springs; ten grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three sisters, Lenora Unruh of Cement, Ethelene and Raymond Unruh of Bradley, Arkansas, and Belinda and Willis Koehn of Scio, Oregon; five brothers, Gilmer and Margaret Schmidt of Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, Roger and Carolyn Schmidt of Chickasha,  Elgin and Bonnie Schmidt of Macon, Mississippi, Lendon and Karen Schmidt of Ninnekah,  and Eulan and Ladonna Schmidt of Geiger, Alabama; one sister-in-law, Rosetta Schmidt of Livingston, California; and one brother-in-law, Gilbert Unruh of Chickasha.

She was preceded in death by both of her husbands; her parents; an infant grandson, Albert; two sisters, and one brother.

Service for Verna will be Saturday, November 21, 2020 at 10:30 at Church of God in Christ, Mennonite near Fairview.  Burial will follow at Cedar Cemetery with arrangements by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Okeene.  Viewing will be Friday at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Viewing and memories will be Friday evening at the church beginning at 6:30 p.m.  www.lanmanmemorials.com  Facebook: Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Okeene.