Vera Elaine Crook, 85, of Redfield, SD, died Thursday, March 17, 2011 at the Golden Living Center in Redfield. Her funeral will be Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Redfield. Reverend Stephen Perry will officiate. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery near Frankfort, with a lunch at the church after the burial. Visitation will be Friday from 4-8:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield. www.thelenfuneralhome.com

Vera was born October 10, 1925 on the family farm near Frankfort, SD to Harry and Mabel (Boysen) Wiles. She attended all grades of school in Frankfort and married Roland "Rollie" Crook on June 1, 1944 in Frankfort. They started farming in the Frankfort area in 1944. A year later, they purchased a farm east of Frankfort, which they lived on and farmed until 1989. After they retired they built a new house in Redfield.

Vera enjoyed living on the farm and all the activities that went with it, such as mowing, raising flowers and growing trees. Roses were her favorite flowers but she liked all flowers and she had a tender heart towards all animals. She bottled fed many newborn animals even if that meant getting up at night.

Shortly after moving to Redfield, Vera had kidney failure and traveled to Aberdeen for dialysis treatments three times a week for 13 years. The nurses and patients at the treatment center were like a second family to her. She always enjoyed visiting with them and got to know them and their families.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church, Methodist Women, Sunday school teacher and Superintendant of Sunday School.

Vera is survived by her two sons: Ronald of Redfield; Gary and his friend Donna Johnson of Bryant, SD; and her daughter Dee Anna (Danny) Lake of Aberdeen, SD; four grandchildren, four great grandchildren and her sister Neva (Walt) Zell of Spearfish, SD and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rollie, in 2010, her parents, her sister Eleanor Kriman and two brothers: Evan and Merle.