Vera H. Anderson, age 92, of Lusk, passed away on Sunday afternoon, March 5, 2006, at the Niobrara Health and Life Center in Lusk. At Vera’s request, she was cremated and a private family service will take place at a later date. A complete obituary will be printed next week.

Cicmanec-Pier Funeral Home in Lusk is in charge of arrangements.

The Lusk Herald

March 15, 2006
Vera Helen Anderson

Vera died March 5, 2006, in Lusk. She was born Feb. 12, 1914, in Delhi, Iowa to Gerald Francis McElmeel and Winifred (Mitchell) McElmeel. She was the oldest of four sisters.

The family moved to Sioux County, Neb., in 1917. Vera went to the rural school until eighth grade then attended Crawford High School, graduating in 1929. She spent the next year at Chadron State College and earned her first teaching certificate. She taught her first term in Garden County, Neb. She continued teaching in Sioux County, Neb. the next year. She met her husband there. They were married and resided on her husband’s ranch South of Harrison. Three sons were born, Gerald, Charles (Larry) and Calvin.

She loved the outdoors, her home and learned to do most ranch work. She also continued to teach and performed numerous volunteer activities. Many summers found her attending the summer sessions of college to improve her teaching skills. She held a Bachelors and a Masters Degree from Chadron State College, coupled with extensive work from the Universities of Nebraska and Wyoming.

She moved from the ranch to Niobrara County in 1962 after the death of her husband. She taught five years at Van Tassell, seven years at Manville and 15 years at Lusk Elementary. She developed and implemented the Special Education program at Lusk Elementary for Niobrara County. After retirement in 1984, she spent many years at the Wyoming Women’s Center, where she performed tutoring and academic testing.

Throughout the years, she held positions in various organizations. She loved her home and family, was a good friend and neighbor to all who knew her. Her contributions to Niobrara County as one of Lusk’s distinguished, but humble, elderly citizens was captured by declaration on Feb. 12, 2006 as “Vera Anderson Day.”

She was preceded in death by her husband, John, her parents, her sisters Mrs. Bernice Dill, Mrs. Zeta Smith and Mrs. Opal Henry.

She is survived by her son Gerald Anderson and his wife Marlene of Harrison, Neb.; her son Larry Anderson of Renton, Wash.; and her son Calvin Anderson and his wife Susan of Benton, Pa., as well as grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Services will be private at the family's convenience in Harrison. It was Vera’s wish that there be no memorials or flowers.

Cicmanec-Pier Funeral Home was in charge of the cremation arrangements.