Velda K. Schroeder, 86, of Redfield, SD died Friday, August 29, 2008 at the Eastern Star Home in Redfield. Her funeral will be Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Redfield. Reverend Tim Fugman will officiate. Burial will be in the Greenlawn Cemetery in Redfield. Visitation will be Monday from 2-8:00 p.m. with the family present from 5-7:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield. www.thelenfuneralhome.com

Velda Karna Schroeder was born August 30, 1921 to Carl and Anna Bertha Anderson in Lake Township in rural Spink County. As the youngest child, she joined sisters Ruth Bertha born in 1917 and Dorothy Martha born in 1918. Her grandparents were Albert and Bertha Otto and Lars and Karna Anderson. She attended four rural country schools in the Tulare and Redfield area. At age 11, she was confirmed at the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church. Her confirmation verse was Philippians 4:8.

Velda graduated in 1940 from Redfield High. Upon graduation she did clerical work at Ingals Rental & Real Estate and Farm Security Administration offices in Redfield. During WWII, she served as a price clerk in the Office of Price Administration, rationing commodities. She transferred to the Farm Security Administration in Leola and Ipswich and eventually returned to Redfield serving at the Bureau of Reclamation office.

On January 17, 1949 she married Walter Schroeder. They farmed in rural Crandon area until her husband died in 1976. She took pride in being a farmwife and mother. In 1977 she moved into Redfield working at the Redfield School, the county highway department and at the Eastern Star Home as a nurse's aid before retiring in 1981.

Upon retirement she took many bus trips seeing most of the United States.
She enjoyed gardening, growing flowers, cooking and playing cards; had a sincere appreciation for art and enjoyed sketching. As an avid fan of auction sales she enjoyed the hunt of collecting. She also enjoyed following the Tulare Chieftain Basketball games, especially when her son and grandchildren were playing. She would routinely make trips to Pukwana to visit family. More recently she closely cheered for the Minnesota Twins.

She was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Sarah Helene Circle, Redfield Community Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Eastern Star, Beef Country CowBelles, Loyal Workers Extension Club and State Extension Advisory Board.

Honors included her participation in the National Beef Cook-Off in Salt Lake City in 1976 and her Salute to Moms recognition in 2004.

Velda moved to the Eastern Star Home apartments in 2002 and transferred to the assisted living section in 2008.

She is survived by one son, Keith Schroeder and wife Linda, Redfield and one daughter, Karla Pazour and husband Tim, Pukwana; six grandchildren: John (Lori) Schroeder and children Luke, Morgan and Regan, Cozad, NE, Jim (Erin) Schroeder and children Cole and Katelyn, Redfield, Jodi (Benedikt Stabe) Schroeder, Cincinnati, OH, Jim Pazour, Pukwana, SD, Jennifer Pazour, Fayetteville, AR, and Joel Pazour, Pukwana; one sister, Ruth Anderson, Redfield; two sister-in-laws, Arleen Stewart, Vancouver, WA, and LaVern Ellwanger, Pierre; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, one sister, Dorothy Gilkison, one sister-in-law, LaVaun Stemper and one step-sister, Bernice Steinheuser.