The sun has set on a beautiful life. Verna Mathilda (Nelson) Kraft, 96, passed away on January 2 in Rochester, Minnesota at Cottagewood Memory Care. She was born September 1, 1927 in her sister’s home in Austin Minnesota. Verna lived in numerous SE MN communities, moving as her father’s blacksmith’s business necessitated. After attending 8 different schools, she spent her high school years in Austin. She married Lawrence Kraft March 21, 1944 in San Diego, CA at the Naval Hospital. Soon after, their first child Judy was born. After he returned from the war, they made their way back to Minnesota and moved to a farm in Dexter. During that time, a daughter, Debi and a son, Larry, were born. In 1957 the family relocated to a farm near Spring Valley. During that time, Verna contended with no indoor bathroom or running water, she did a large amount of baking and field work. She raised ducks, chickens, and had a substantial garden and orchard. In the early 60’s she took a job as a waitress at the Coffee Shop Café, riding the school bus to and from work, since she did not drive. In 1968, she became a bookkeeper and clerk for their business, the Spring Valley Sales Barn. In 1971, she became a book keeper at Biel Implement. After moving to Stewartville in 1974, Verna worked for many years at Sears in Rochester, working in both the paint department and then in the automotive department. She loved to tell stories of how she won over customers and her co-workers as she was the only female in those departments for many years. In 2003, Lawrence and Verna moved to a townhome in Rochester. Lawrence died in 2006 but she remained independent and was still driving until she was 92! At that time she moved to Homestead Senior Living. In December 2022, she moved to Cottagewood Memory Care.