Verna Evelyn Garber (Clark), 99, of Huntsville, Al, and formerly of Cando, ND, was born July 2, 1924, and entered rest on May 30, 2024.   A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Dunnigan-Dix Funeral Home in Cando, ND on Thursday, July 11, 2024 at 2:00 pm.  Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service.  Burial will be at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Cando, ND.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Cando American Legion Post #79, P.O. Box 863, Cando, ND  58324.

She is survived by her daughters, Connie Watkins (Allen) and Colleen Tronson (Steve), her grandchildren, Lewis Tronson, Charles Tronson, Nicholas Hansen and Tyler Rose and great grandchild Dominick Hansen.  She is also survived by beloved family members, Greg (Naomi), Bruce (Sheila), Dean (Michelle) and Keith (Kim) Garber, Kristina Garber O'Connor (Andy), Shanna Flanagan (Chris), Kellie Garber, Francesca, Aiden, Jevan and Orla O'Connor, Elise, Sydney, Isabel and Katrin Flanagan, Alex Garber (Danielle), Chase, Jared, Alayna and Jordan Garber and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in rest by her husband William Nicholas in 1970.  In 1974 she married Rufus William Garber, who entered rest in 2012.  She was also preceded in rest by her family of origin, Walter and Ruby Clark (Erion), Clarice Reed (Lawrence), Dorothy Hauptli (Leonard), Marcia Rowell (Mark), Walter Clark (Signe), Hazel Newhouse (Percy) and Bob Clark (LaVerne).

Verna was born near Mohall, ND, where her parents farmed.  She attended rural schools.  Her parents moved to Mylo, and then near Wolford.  As a sophomore, she joined her sister Dorothy, who by then had several small children.  She helped with the children while she finished high school in Wabasso, MN, which she did with honors.

As WWII loomed, there was a shortage of teachers, and she returned to ND to earn what was known as a 60-quarter hour teaching certificate.  She had several teaching jobs that led to a position in Perth, ND, teaching grades 1-4.  There she met and married Bill Nicholas, who owned the local grocery store along with his brother John.

When Connie was born, she left teaching for 12 years.  During that time, the family moved to Cando, ND where Colleen was born.  John and Bill started the meat processing plant in Cando.   Post-war enrollments in Cando schools were high, and Verna was asked to return to teaching, where she taught music for one year.  That year, Bill passed away suddenly.  They had been married 21 years.  The following year she returned to teach fourth grade and stayed in that role for 20 years. During those years, she received her Bachelor's degree in teaching from Mayville College, and married Bill Garber, owner of Sammy's Men's and Boys' Wear in Cando.  They enjoyed 37 years of marriage.  When Verna retired, she had a total of 32 years of teaching, including the rural teaching positions.  She enjoyed bowling, women's clubs, dancing, quilting, travelling and baking really good flat bread, cabbage rolls and apple pie.  Most of all, she loved and nurtured her family and friends.