Lillian Vurm

Lillian A. Vurm, 94, died on Monday, August 13, 2012 at the Weston County Manor Special Care Unit, in Newcastle WY. Lillian was born in Dolton, SD to Olga C. (Hanson) and John H. Dirks on November 13, 1917 and was married to Joe Vurm of Parker, SD on June 6, 1936 in Humboldt, SD. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, August 18, 2012 at Grace Lutheran Church, Parker, SD with Pastor Don Reiffenberg officiating. Lillian will be buried next to her devoted husband Joe at Rose Hill Cemetery in Parker immediately following. Arrangements were made by Hofmeister/Jones Funeral Home, Parker, SD, with the assistance of Worden Funeral Directors in Newcastle, WY. Grateful for having shared her long life are her only child, daughter, Carolyn J. Anderson of Aurora, CO; her grandchildren, Peggy (Dr. Mike) Jording of Newcastle, WY; Dr. Jon (Dr. Young) Anderson of Montville, NJ; Heidi Colucci of Columbus, OH and Rolf Anderson of Aurora, CO; her great grandchildren, Joe (Larissa) Jording, Denver, CO and Alex (Hanna) Jording, Arvada, CO; Siera and Dante Colucci, Columbus, OH; and Robyn, Col and Milo Anderson, Montville, NJ; her sister, Evelyn R. Knoff and her sister-in-law, Cleopha Dirks, both of Sioux Falls, SD, brother-in-law Charles Hall, Lakewood, CO and several nieces and nephews from across the United States. Lillian was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Joe in December 1988; her brothers Irwin J., Melvin H., Oliver G. and Harold C. Dirks; her sisters Gladys Dirks, Esther D. Hall and an infant sister, Viola; her son-in-law Roger A. Anderson; and several sisters- and brothers-in-law. Lillian was baptized and confirmed at Pleasant Prairie Lutheran Church near Bridgewater, SD. This church was served by the Pastor who served the Grace, Bethany and Salem Lutheran Congregations. She graduated from Dolton High School in 1936. Lillian and her husband Joe were Charter Members of Grace Lutheran Church in Parker, SD. Lillian was the last surviving Charter Member. Their daughter, Carolyn, was the first child baptized at Grace. In the early years Lillian worked as secretary to the Pastor and during interim Pastors. She was a proud member of the Grace Senior Choir, and especially enjoyed singing in their concerts. During her earlier years Lillian held several Ladies Aid (now WELCA) offices, taught Sunday School, was on the Banner and Memorial Committees, and she and Joe helped with the Church’s Fair stand each summer. She was secretary at the Turner County Extension Service office for 15 years and was awarded the State Secretary of the Year Award. She then worked for the ASCS office in Parker for 20 years receiving the Certificate of Merit from the U S Department of Agriculture. Lillian enjoyed working each summer as the Turner County Fair Office secretary. She worked part-time for a few years after her retirement for the Honey World Office in Parker. Lillian was interested in crafts of many types and was very artistically talented. She enjoyed visiting her sisters and brothers in Sioux Falls, shopping, decorating each of her homes, gardening, fishing, and various craft groups and Extension Club of which she was a member over the years. Lillian and Joe enjoyed their many trips to Florida during the winter months to visit Joe’s sister, Elsie and her husband, Melvin Wilck, in Pt. Charlotte, FL. They also enjoyed the frequent visits with their daughter’s family from Colorado and in her later years Lillian enjoyed the family reunions at various resorts until she was no longer able to travel. Lillian was a resident of Parker from 1936 until she moved to Sioux Falls in 2002 and lived in various care facilities there. In December 2005 she moved to Custer Regional Care Center, Custer, SD and in July, 2006 she moved to the Weston County Manor, Special Care Unit, Newcastle, WY so that she could receive closer care for her Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases and be near her granddaughter Peggy Jording who was a vigilant and loving care-giver for “Grandma Lillian”.