Lenore Venjohn
March 28, 1912 ~ October 12, 2013
Lenore Venjohn, 101, of Miller, passed away Saturday, October 12, 2013 at the Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital, Miller.
Mass
of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at St. Ann’s
Catholic Church, Miller with Fathers Tom Clement and Chester Murtha,
celebrants. Burial followed at St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery, Miller. Rosary service was held at 6:30 p.m., and scripture
service held at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 15, 2013, all at the church.
Lenore Cecelia Clement Venjohn was born on March 28, 1912, the 2nd of 9 children, to Hubert John and Elizabeth Mary (Klausing) Clement in Delphos, Ohio. She attended grade school in Delphos, Ohio area, often driving a team of horses, with her sister and younger brothers. Lenore graduated from Miller High School in 1932. On February 28, 1933, Lenore married John Venjohn at St. Liborious Church, Polo, S.D.
Lenore worked many years for other families, caring for new mothers or the elderly, while doing the daily chores of carrying water, milking cows, washing clothes on a washboard or whatever was needed. John and Lenore, together, were so proud of their farm and the raising of their seven children. Lenore also wrote the “Polo News” for the Miller Press, cooked for the Polo School children each Thursday, for many years.
After 34 years, John and Lenore retired to Miller, S.D. in 1967. Lenore continued to care for children and often said was happiest when she had “her” children safe around her. She was also proud to have been a Catholic Daughter for over 70 years. Her Catholic Faith was a strong force in her life and carried her through the two World Wars, Flu epidemic, the “dirty thirties”, and so many more challenges.
Grateful for having shared her life are four daughters, Betty Bowar, Lafayette, CO.; Vonnie (Chuck) Bowar, Faulkton, SD; Joyce Venjohn, Sherwood, OR; Sharon (Bob) Gustafson, Rapid City,SD; three sons, Jerome (Janet) Venjohn, Lincoln, CA; Vern (Kay) Venjohn, Lakeland, FL; Rick (Pam) Venjohn, Eagan, MN; 19 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren, and more than 14 great, great grandchildren; one brother, Hubert (Betty) Clement, Miller, SD; three sister-in-laws: Betty Clement, Miller, SD; Delores Clement, Orient, SD and Annie (Venjohn) Elgar, Lisle, IL; and many loving nieces and nephews.
Lenore was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, John; her sister, Valeta; 6 brothers, Bernard, Richard, Ernest, John, Paul, Louis; two grandchildren; two sons-in- law, Larry Brock and Joe Bowar.
Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Lenore’s arrangements.View current weather.
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Your mother lived a full life. I always enjoyed taking communion to her when she was at Miller Manor. She was so appreciated of us doing this for her. It made it more worth while doing this. She will be missed. Joan Joy.
Aunt Lenore was such a special lady! She would do anything for us & always had a treat for us in the kitchen! She was always a “giver” and always sent something home with us. My son Steven was so proud that she lived to be 101 years old. When we went to her 100th birthday party, he was so excited to go back to school to tell everyone that his Great Aunt was 100 years old! (and a great looking one at that) Cheerish the memories!
Rest in Peace Aunt Lenore!
Lenore always was a tough but very caring person. Tough as in a survivor!! The rosary was always with her and she turned to her faith in every moment of every day! She taught me how to persevere in many of lifes trials. I think if it was her will she would still be with us today!! The kitchen was her sanctuary…always baking and cooking those delicious meals and making sure everyone had enough to eat! Great memories and a long good life! Your Mother was a fine woman to say the least!! Will miss her.
Lenore took such great care of me. She made the best mac and cheese. I could never thank her enough for her kindness!
My condolences to all of Lenore’s family. Lenore was a great lady and true friend to all who knew her. I have no doubt she is now in heaven with our Lord and Savior. God Bless all of you in this time of grief. My prayers are with you.
Vonnie and Chuck Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your families
Your mother lived a long life, I always enjoyed visiting with her.
My sympathy to all of her family.
Patty Fawcett
Our sympathy is extended to all of Lenore’s family.
I have such good memories of Lenore and know what a trooper she was. She was an amazing person and I always enjoyed my visits with her. She had such strength and determination and excitement about life and love of her family. God Bless you all.
Shortly after we moved back to South Dakota in 1994, Aunt Lenore invited my Dad (her brother) and us to pick crabapples on her farm place near Polo, SD. She knew that I made jellies to enter into the Women’s Building during the South Dakota State Fair. Thanks to her my crabapple jelly received a first-place blue ribbon award. Aunt Lenore celebrated her 100th birthday during March 2012 and the Venjohn family hosted a celebration. As with all Venjohn and Clement socials, there was a huge gathering of family and friends. Aunt Lenore knew everyone and made a point of visiting with us all. She mentioned that her farm homestead still had crabapple trees and invited us to harvest them for making jelly. She will be remembered as a most gracious lady. We will miss her handwritten Christmas card and note this holiday season.
Aunt Lenore was my God Mother. I know she prayed for me and I will continue to pray for her. When I think of her life I am reminded of how well she could persevere thru rough situations. Memories of her great example lives on through all of us. She always had a kind word for me. My prayers are with you all. May she rest in peace.
To the Family of Lenore Venjohn,
I wanted to express my deepest sympathy and concern for you and also share with you the wonderful hope for our dead loved ones. As you grieve Lenore’s death, please reflect on the hope in question, which comes from Jehovah God. By means of the Bible, He allows us to understand how He’ll eliminate death for good one day and bring our dead loved ones back to life again. This is evident in (Isaiah 25: 8), (John 5: 28), (1 Corinthians 15:26), (Revelation 21:3 and 4), which can comfort you in your sorrow. God’s promises are guaranteed because He cannot lie (Titus 1: 2). Moreover John 11 verses 11-14, 39, 43, and 44 attests that Jesus, whom God appoints to bring the dead back to life, can do it since he demonstrated that when he resurrected Lazarus and two other individuals while on earth. As you await the fulfillment of the resurrection, please heed Jesus’ counsel found at John 17 verse 3 by taking steps to gain accurate knowledge of Jehovah and Jesus through a FREE Bible study with the Witnesses. Notice that in the preceding verse Jesus compares the true knowledge of God and Jesus to “EVERLASTING LIFE”, which will be enjoyed here on earth when it becomes a paradise where you can be re-united with Lenore again in a world free of SICKNESS, VIOLENCE, WAR, OLD AGE etc… (Isaiah 33:24), (Ps 37: 9-11 and 29), (Psalms 46: 8 and 9), (Job: 33:25).