Levern Friedrichs

Levern "Vern" Friedrichs, age 81 of Sauk Centre, died peacefully Saturday, June 20, 2009 at St. Michael's Nursing Home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota after a long illness.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 24 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Todd Schneider officiating. Military honors will be provided by Sauk Centre United Veterans Honor Guard with interment following in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and 8 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday followed by United Veterans prayer service at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Vern Friedrichs was born November 29, 1927 in Freeport, Minnesota to Roman and Johanna (Koch) Friedrichs. On September 20, 1950 he married DeLaine Schwanke at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. After his marriage he worked for Swift and Company until leaving for service in the U.S. Army in January of 1951. He was stationed at Camp Rucker, Alabama until October of 1953 and then returned to Swift and Company until April of 1954. He then farmed in the Grey Eagle area until retiring from farming in 1991 and moving to Sauk Lake in Sauk Centre. He enjoyed driving semi-trucks for Felling Trailers after moving to Sauk Centre. For the past seven months he had resided at St. Michael's Nursing Home.He was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church and American Legion Post 67. He will be missed by his dog, Trixie, who loved to go ice fishing with him.

Survivors include his wife, DeLaine Friedrichs of Sauk Centre; brothers and sisters, Arthur (Lila) Friedrichs of Hutchinson, Evelyn (Harold) Bisel of St. Cloud, Robert (June) Friedrichs of Sauk Centre, Tootie (Roger) Libbesmeier of St. Cloud, and Marcy (Terry) Heinen of Avon; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roman and Johanna (Koch) Friedrichs; sister, Arlene Schmitt; and brother, Richard Friedrichs.

Serving as casket bearers will be Harold Bisel, Roger Libbesmeier, Terry Heinen, David Becker, Bryon and Pat Friedrichs.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Michael's Hospital and Nursing Home in Sauk Centre.