Verna J. Mathews

Jan 14, 1942 -

Oct 27, 2021

Verna J. Mathews, 79, passed away at home surrounded by family and friends on Oct. 27, 2021, after a courageous battle with lung cancer.

Verna was born on Jan. 14, 1942, in Winner, S.D., to Theodore "Ted" and Edna Engel. She grew up on the family farm near Hamill, S.D., and graduated from Winner High School in 1959. After high school she moved to San Diego, Calif., to live with her aunt Mary Jane. It was there she met the love of her life, Lloyd "Mat" Mathews. They were married on March 5, 1960, after a whirlwind two-week courtship.

Verna and Mat moved to Oklahoma City, Okla., in 1960, where Mat attended training for his job with the FAA. Their son, William "Bill," was born there in 1961, and later that year the family moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where Mat worked for the FAA. Their daughter, Sarah, was born in 1963. Verna was home alone with two small children during the 1964 earthquake and would often tell of how the community took care of each other after that traumatic event.

In 1965, the family moved to Palmdale, Calif., and then Omak, Wash., where Mat worked for COMSAT. In 1971, the Mathews returned to Anchorage to stay. Verna loved Alaska - the mountains she could see from her home, the family camping trips with children and grandchildren, and the long summer daylight hours when she could work in her garden and greenhouse.

Verna worked at Sears for many years in the contract sales department. But, her favorite role was that of homemaker and wife, mom and grandma. She baked dinner rolls, canned zucchini relish, dried apples and made apricot jam from her fruit trees to share with others, sewed pajamas and aprons, and she especially loved gardening and growing flowers and vegetables. She loved to "get her hands in the dirt" and couldn't wait to get her greenhouse and gardens going each spring. Verna also loved babies and children and was an adopted "grandma" to many who came into her life over the years. She enjoyed going to their basketball and volleyball games, music concerts and plays, and spending time with young people.

Verna is survived by her daughter, Sarah; son, Bill and wife Susan; grandson, Grant and wife Blair; granddaughter, Katie; and great-granddaughters, Cora and Penelope, all of Anchorage. She is also survived by brothers, Roger Engel, Ken and wife Susie Engel of Hamill; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mat; her parents; and three siblings, Roy and Bob Engel and Donna Zemina.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at 2 p.m., at the chapel at Anchorage Grace Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Christian School, 12407 Pintail St., Anchorage, AK 99516; or to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America by donating online.