Mass of Christian Burial for Veronica "Verna" Mary Steen, 86, of Hettinger, ND will be Friday, May 26, 2006 at 9:30 a.m. at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Hettinger. Fr. John Mathai will officiate and burial will follow at the Hettinger Cemetery. Visitations will be from 1:00 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 25, 2006 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger and one hour prior to the service at the Church on Friday morning. A Rosary/Family gathering will be Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. at the Funeral Home.

VERONICA MARY "Verna" MATCHEY was born on April 7, 1920 to Thomas and Mary (Wiench) Matchey near Whitehall, WI. Verna graduated from Independence High School in 1937. She worked at a hat shop in Milwaukee, WI then later worked for Remington Rand Defense in Denver, CO, loading bullets before World War II. Verna worked for Trane Weigh and Gauge Company in LaCrosse, WI and made casings for the "big guns" during WWII. Verna moved to Bowman, ND in 1947 and met Walter Steen in Hettinger, ND. They were married at St. Mary's Cathedral in Moorhead, MN on June 7, 1948. Six children were born to this union; Howard, Thomas, Neola, Neva, Michael and Paul. Together, they farmed southwest of Bucyrus, ND until 1979, when they retired and moved to Belle Fourche, SD. Walter and Verna returned to Hettinger in 1981 and Walter passed from this life in 1982. Verna continued to live in Hettinger. She entered the Hillcrest Care Center in Hettinger in July of 2002 and passed away on Sunday, May 21, 2006 surrounded by her family.

Verna was an avid fisherman throughout her life and especially enjoyed the frequent visits from her special "coffee buddy"/nephew, Rodney Enerson. She'll be remembered at the Care Center for her wonderful laughter and her sense of humor. Verna will be truly missed by all who knew her.

Grateful for having shared her life are her children, Howard (Joyce) Steen, Hettinger, Neola Ulrich, Elgin, ND, Neva (Brian) Scoular, Lemmon, SD and Mike (Michelle) Steen, Bismarck, ND; brother and sister-in-law, Laddie (Audrey) Matchey, Independence, WI; 12 Grandchildren, Kerry (Shannon) Steen, Matt (Jodi) Somers, Christy (Tony) Walter, Lisa (Mike) Stymeist, Megan (Joe) Blankenship, Allison Ulrich, Ryan (Rondi) Scoular, Leah Scoular, Adam, Marissa, Jordan and Eric Steen; 9 Great Grandchildren, Derek, Makenzie and Kade Steen, Aimee Sperling, Olivia Somers, Hailey Walter, Hannah, Hunter and Hayden Stymeist; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Preceding Verna in death were her parents, her husband, Walter in 1982, sons, Thomas and Paul, brothers, Andrew, Phillip and Dominic Matchey, sisters, Monica Liley, Kathryn and Carolyn Matchey and Clara Quackenbush.