Verlene Kaiser, age 84, of Winner, passed away on Sunday, August 7, 2016 at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Facility. Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, August 11, 2016 at the United Methodist Church in Winner. Burial will be held at a later date. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service.

V erlene Claudette Long was born on February 27, 1932. She was the youngest child of Joe and Mabel (Putzier) Long. Verlene grew up in the Witten and Clearfield Area. She attended Star Prairie School and then Winner High School. At the age of 16, she started to work in Winner as an operator for the telephone company.

On May 28, 1949 she married Henry (Hienie) Kaiser. To this union, 3 children were born; Brenda in 1950, Janine in 1952 (deceased in 1956) and Keith in 1958. Mom stayed at home with us kids until we were older and then resumed her employment with the telephone company from which she retired at age 55.

Mom and Dad enjoyed camping, boating, and fishing with their kids, grandkids, and friends. They took a few bigger trips in their motorhome. They enjoyed following and watching the grandkids participate in  sporting events. There was a lot of good times enjoyed in that motorhome. Mom also enjoyed making scrapbooks and photo albums of her family, as well as tending to her flowers.

She leaves behind her daughter, Brenda of Winner and her son Keith (Carmen) of Sioux Falls; Along with her treasured grandchildren; Mike Bartels of Winner, Ron (Kim) Bartels of Sioux Falls, Chris (Karrisa) Bartels of Winner, Trent Bartels of Winner, Tara (Duane) Pajl of Witten, Cody (Theresa) Bartels of Rapid City, Amanda (Jonah) Sachtjen of Winner, and Josh (Lindsay) Kaiser of Sioux Falls, and 13 great-grandchildren. Also blessed to have shared her life are her very special sister in law, Jeanette Long, and lifelong friend Velda Kindt.

Mom was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years Hienie; her baby daughter Janine, her parents, Joe and Mabel Long, infant brother Loren, two sisters Happy (Junior) Small and Roman (Willard) Lefler, three brothers Jim (Jenny) Long, Gaylord (Lilly) Long, and Pete Long, and son-in-law Bob Brook.