- Date Of Birth: December 15, 1925
- Date Of Death: December 18, 2010
- State: Idaho
Verna N. Feller, 85, of Caldwell, passed away on Saturday, December 18, 2010, at a Nampa hospital after a lifelong battle with diabetes and other related illnesses.
Verna was born on December 15, 1925, to Arnold E. Naef and Margaret Whitehead Naef at Jerome, Idaho. She grew up in Dayton, Idaho, and on June 26, 1942, in Logan, Utah she married her high school sweetheart, Darwin L. Feller. Both she and Darwin studied electrical engineering at the University of Utah. Then in 1944 Darwin enlisted in the Navy and left to serve his country in the South Pacific during WWII. In 1946, he was granted an honorable discharge at the end of the war.
Upon returning to the states, he met his first son, Bob, who was, by then, one year old. They started a trucking career hauling milk to Preston, Idaho, and to the Smithfield Swiss Cheese plant in Smithfield, Utah. Cristy was born in Preston, Idaho. Then the family moved to Caldwell, Idaho, where son Jackie was born and they started six additional milk routes. They later moved to Rupert, Idaho, where they homesteaded 80 acres. It was in Rupert that they lost their precious little 18-month old Jackie to quick pneumonia. Heartbroken, they moved back to Caldwell in 1953 where they started the Darwin L. Feller Trucking Co. hauling potatoes for Simplot and Ore-Ida as well as sugar beets for the Amalgamated Sugar Co. During this time, Bill and Dixie were born. Also during this time, they spent time as land developers. In 1977, because of her failing health due to diabetes, Darwin retired, turning over the business to his two sons.
As the years passed, Verna’s diabetes continued to take its toll on her tiny body but Darwin cared and watched over her with such devoted love and tenderness. He always said if he was offered 3 wishes he’d only need one. His one wish was, “… that little mother would have her health back.” As his health started to fail, his only concern was that he could live just one day after she was gone so he could know that she was taken care of. Darwin passed away on Friday, August 13, 1999, due to complications related to emphysema. Their story truly was a Love Story.
The family wishes to thank the following angels whose compassionate care was so appreciated. Dr. Michael Dee and nurse Ray at the Saltzer Medical Center in Nampa, Idaho.
Verna is survived by son, Bob Feller and his wife, Helen of Caldwell; daughter, Cristy Kelley and her husband, Larry of Caldwell; son, Bill Feller of Nampa; and daughter, Dixie Grant of Boise; four grandchildren, Shane Kelley and his wife Sharon of Nampa; JR Kelley of Nampa; Stephanie Franklin and her husband, Derek of Nampa; and Andrew Feller; five great-grandchildren, Justin Kelley and Cory Kelley of Purdy, Missouri and Dominick Franklin of Nampa, Alivia Kelley and Luke Kelley of Nampa; one brother, Arnold Naef, Jr.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Darwin and son, Jackie; her parents; her brothers, Paul Naef and Ray Naef; her sisters, Fern Larson and Blanche Christensen.
