Verda Tomsha, 90, of Mesa, AZ and formerly of Tulare, SD died Wednesday, March 5, 2008 in Mesa. Her funeral will be Friday, March 14, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at the Tulare United Church in Tulare. Reverend Deb Mack will officiate. Burial will be in the Tulare Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 1-8:00 p.m. with the family present at 5:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield
www.thelenfuneralhome.com

Verda was born June 22, 1917 to Joseph and Serena (Avery) Smith on a farm west of Tulare. The fourth of eight children, she attended schools in rural Garfield Township, Redfield and Tulare. Verda left school after her freshman year to help her family on the farm and married Harry Lee Tomsha on March 10, 1934 in Aberdeen, SD. They farmed three miles north of Tulare on Highway 281 for fifty years. To this union were born five children, Leattrice Elaine, Harriet Ann, Geneva Mae, Harry James Jr. and Pamela Ann. They wintered in Mesa, AZ during retirement years.

Multi-talented and creative, she enjoyed working on the farm and raising chickens, crocheting, sewing, singing, listening to poetry, square dancing, traveling and playing bingo. She especially enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren and living life to the fullest.

She leaves to mourn, but celebrate her life, daughters Leattrice ( Del) Droste and Geneva Sheflo both of Mesa, AZ; Harriet (Terry) Otto of Cheyenne, WY; Pamela Lueth and her fiancAC. Jim Bell of, Kansas City, MO; daughter-in-law Linda Tomsha of Tulare; fourteen grandchildren; fourteen great grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren; two sisters: Marjorie Traver of Calamus, IA; and Josie Christopherson of Wolsey, SD; one brother-in-law Elmer Tomsha of Tulare and numerous nieces and nephews.

Verda was preceded in death by her husband Harry Tomsha in 1984; her son Harry Jr. in 2003, her parents, three sisters: Sarah Brugger, Vera Miller and Mildred Tschetter; two brothers: Leigh Smith and Jim Smith and two sons-in-law Daryl Weideman and Robert Sheflo.