Verna Lifto, 62

Verna Rosella (Scharpen/Crow) Lifto, 62, of Maiden Rock, Wis., died Friday, Jan. 20, at her home.

Verna was born on Feb. 22, 1949, in Red Wing, Minn., the daughter of Reuben and Rosella (Luhman) Scharpen.

Verna taught school in the Ellsworth School District for 38 years, 34 of those at Prairie View Elementary and 4 at Sunnyside.

She had many pastimes that she enjoyed, including gardening, reading, quilting, traveling, golfing, riding cycle with her husband, stamping, cooking, mowing her lawn, and long walks, but most of all she loved spending time with her family and friends and living life to its fullest.

Verna was kind, patient, and compassionate, along with a strong faith, and was always happy.

She was a member of Eidsvold Lutheran Church, Esdaile.

Verna is survived by her husband, Mike Lifto, Maiden Rock; three children: Tracey (Crow) and her husband, Dan Tracy, and their children, Meghan, Connor, and Emily, Woodbury, Minn.; Ross Crow and his girlfriend, Betty Miller, Hastings, Minn.; Nate Crow, Woodbury; stepchildren: Mike Lifto Jr. and his wife, Julie, and their children, Derek and Brett, Plum City, Wis.; Jeremy Lifto and his wife, Crystal, and their children, Dylan and Peyton, North Branch, Minn.; Nicole Decker and her husband, Ryan, and their son Corbin, Stillwater, Minn.; Ryan Lifto and his wife, Lindsey, and their children, Cash and Rhyanne, Ellsworth, Wis.; three brothers and one sister: Lyle (Lavonne) Scharpen, Goodhue, Minn.; Myron (Lois) Scharpen, Zumbrota, Minn.; Willis (Nancy) Scharpen, Goodhue; Colleen (Tom) Storandt, La Crescent, Minn. She is further survived by nieces, nephews, and other relatives and many friends.

Verna was preceded in death by her parents; brother Milo; an infant sister; daughter in-law Victoria; sister in-law Barb; and grandson Hunter.

Memorials are preferred to: Hope Lodge, CaringBridge, or to the Verna Lifto Prairie View School Scholarship Fund.

Funeral services for Verna will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at English Lutheran Church, Ellsworth. Rev. Mary Eide will officiate. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Hill Funeral Home, Ellsworth, and for 1 hour before the service at the church on Thursday.

Casketbearers will be David Scharpen, Matt Scharpen, Michael Scharpen, Erica Storandt, Barb Johnson, and Nancy O'Neil.

To send an online condolence to the family, go to www.hillfuneralservice.com. Hill Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Ellsworth, is assisting the family with arrangements.

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