Verdelle Raph, age 75, of New Prague, formerly of Browns Valley, MN, died Sunday, November 17, 2013 at her home. Verdelle was born August 9, 1938 in Browns Valley to Arthur H. & Carolyn W.E. (Leurhke) Schaunaman. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Browns Valley and attended Browns Valley Public Schools. She married Harvey M. Peterson in 1954 in Browns Valley and then married Earl E. Raph in Burnsville in 1980. Verdelle worked as a laborer in manufacturing and in retail sales at Kmart in Burnsville. She loved to read and travel and was a passionate Minnesota Twins fan. Her family, her friends at New Prague Silver Sneakers Club, and her friends and neighbors were so very important to her. The family is extremely grateful to Dr. Jaya and Dr. Norma Theissen, who were so good to Verdelle.
Verdelle is survived by daughter, Debra (& Keith) Muirhead of Montgomery; son, Brent (& Susan) Peterson of Richfield; stepchildren, Janet (& Darwin) Zingelman of Ruthton, MN, Shirley (& Lance) Preston of Pipestone, MN, Donna Legler of Blaine, MN, Joan (& Ray) Bast of Hopkins, MN, LeRoy (& Rita) Raph of Cologne, MN, Millard (& Dorothy) Raph of Excelsior, MN, Kathy (& Mike) Pieper of Maple Lake, MN, Karen (& Mike) McGuire of Maple Grove, MN, Sue (& Trent) Burns of Maple Grove, MN; sister, Ardys Morse of Pequot Lakes, MN; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Earl Raph in 2000; her parents; and 2 sisters, Renata Iverson & Leona Salewske.
Funeral Services will be held Monday, November 25, 2013 at 1:00 PM at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Chaska, MN with Reverend Allen D. Holthus officiating. Visitation will be held Sunday, November 24th from 3 – 7 PM at Bruzek Funeral Home and one hour prior to service on Monday at church. Burial will take place at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Chaska. Serving as pallbearers will be Verdelle’s grandchildren, Kristian, Andrew, & Cody Muirhead, Courtney & Juan Sanchez, Alex Peterson. Lunch will follow burial at church. Memorials preferred.
