Vern Yochim

Vern Yochim, 92, passed away on June 24, 2023 at the Barrett Care Center, peacefully with his wife by his side.

A funeral service was held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, June 30, 2023, at Messiah Lutheran Church, Hoffman, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment at Aeneas Cemetery, rural Kensington.

Vern Harold Yochim was born on Easter Sunday, April 5, 1931, on the Evergreen Farm, Highway 27 to Alexander and Tryphena Yochim. He was baptized on September 12, 1931, and confirmed June 30, 1946, in Zion Lutheran Church by Pastor Lohman. After completing school in District 1 Elk Lake, Vern worked for several farmers in the area. When his father passed away in 1950, he continued to work on the home farm and for area farmers. In the winter months, he made ice for Hjelles on Barrett Lake.

He loved to roller skate and met and started dating Beverly Nadgwick. They were married at Aeneas Lutheran Church in Swan Lake Township one evening on November 6, 1954. They lived near Hoffman, working as a couple for a farmer before they started farming with his father-in-law. He continued to work for neighbors and made ice at Barrett in the winter.

They were blessed with two boys and three girls. Around 1959, he purchased a portable feed mill. After 18 years, he retired the feed mill and began working with his son Evan, farming and milking cows while Evan went trucking. He also milked for neighbors.

In 1988, the couple bought their first farm site. Vern started working for Andes Tower Hills as a ski lift operator for nine years before retiring.

He loved John Wayne movies, Texas Style Wrestling, Stock Car racing and Nascar. He built six hayracks, and enjoyed repairing machinery and working outside. He cherished spending time with his family and grandchildren. He loved to eat popcorn and peanuts, and enjoyed being around animals, especially cats.

Vern is survived by his loving wife Beverly; son Evan (Roseann) Yochim of Hoffman, MN, daughter Kerry (Doug) Rockwell of Fargo, ND, daughter Wanda (Jerry) Cin of Morris, MN, daughter Rebecca (Alan) Anderson of Hoffman, MN, and son Mark (special friend Jeanne) of Garfield, MN. Twelve grandchildren Heath Yochim, Dana Yochim, Lyle Yochim, Sara (Austin) Mettler, Lindsey (Matthew) Walstad, Angie (Jon) Knecht, Haley (Thomas) Ferguson, Erica (Jeremiah) Johnson, LeAnn (Steven) Bjerken, Maria (Jeffrey) McSorley, Jennifer (Dan) Erickson, and Aaron Anderson. Thirteen great grandchildren Nola Yochim, Danny, Kelso, SJ Marie, Kylen Mettler, Matthew and Korina Knecht, Scarlett and Maximus Ferguson, August and Lilly Johnson, Eowyn Bjerken, Isaac Erickson; three brothers Ted (Donna) Yochim, Sisseton, SD, Leonard Yochim, Minneapolis, MN, Larry Yochim, Golden Valley, MN; two brothers-in-law Marlin (Barb) Nadgwick, Hoffman, MN, Robert (Linda) Nadgwick, Alexandria, MN; two sisters-in-law Lorraine Bredy, Hoffman, MN, Pamela (Ellis) Hein, Owatonna, MN, along with many nieces, nephews and cousins. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister-in-law Ila Yochim, one brother-in-law Gordon Bredy and one granddaughter Amber Yochim. 

Arrangements with Erickson-Smith Funeral Home of Hoffman.