DE  SMET — Vera (Lorenz) Raether, 97, of De Smet, passed away on Wednesday, June 17, 2020.

She resided at Good Samaritan Nursing Home in De Smet.

Vera will be interred beside Leonard at Restlawn Memory Gardens in Huron, with a memorial plaque in Iroquois. Due to COVID restrictions, Services and Celebration of Life are pending.

Vera was born March 2, 1923, in Esmond, the daughter of Paul A. Lorenz and Emma (Weitzel) Lorenz. Vera attended Elementary School in Esmond High School in Iroquois and attended the Northwest Business College, Huron. Following

college, Vera worked for the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) in Huron.
Vera married Leonard H. Raether on November, 29, 1945, and thereafter, Vera and Leonard farmed near Iroquois. They were blessed with two children, Jerry and Cheryl.

In 1965, Vera returned to a payroll position. She worked for Raven Industries, Inc., in De Smet as a company product-line Inspector for 20 years. Many friendships developed there, and have continued since her retirement from Raven in 1988. Concurrent with her retirement, Leonard also retired, they sold their farm, and moved to De Smet.

Vera enjoyed her many groups: dance, cards, coffee, golf, travel, her church, and she loved to cook. She entertained many family and friends. In short, Vera thrived to socialize. She was spirited and had a quick-witted mind throughout her life. Always humble.  

Vera is survived by her son, Jerry (Jane) Raether of Ogallala, Neb.; and her daughter, Cheryl (Stephen) Raether Rockwood of Poway, Calif; her grandchildren, Todd (Jennifer) Raether of Gordon Neb., Joel (Kim) Raether of Denver, Colo., and Michael (Jessie) Bryant of Wheat Ridge, Colo.; and by numerous caring step-grandchildren; great and great-great step-grandchildren; three sister-in-laws, Margaret (Raether) Heavirland, Betty (Raether) Shafer, and Darlene (Raether) Knouse; brother-in-law, Dale (Sue) Raether.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard Raether; her parents and grandparents and by her in-laws, Herman (Margaret/Mary) Raether; brothers, Jabe and Clarence Lorenz; sisters, Lucille DeJong, Fern Cronin and Faye Fisher; brothers-in-law, Herbert, Herman Jr., and Leander Raether, William Cronin, Harry DeJong, Wayne Fisher, Kenneth Heavirland, Danny Knouse, Adrian Ruby, Stu Shafer; and by sisters-in-law, Betty, Florence, and Pat Raether; and a step-grandson.  

Vera was one of the last-living, second-generation descendants of her grandparents, Frank John Lorenz, Sr., and Anna (Reimann) Lorenz who immigrated from Hamburg, Germany in 1893.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Good Samaritan Nursing Home of De Smet, would be appreciated.

Visit www.osthusfuneralhome.com

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