Vernon was never known by his first name, but always called by his middle name. He was a practical joker from an early age, and never changed. Between him and his brother, Howard, the two of them enjoyed practical jokes their whole lives.
Vernon was in the military in WWI. After the war he married his high school sweetheart, Wanda Milliken, and went to work as a switchman on the Southern Pacific Railroad. He remained with the Railroad until retirement.
In 1938 the apartment he and his family lived in above the J.C. Penney store in Huron, SD caught fire at 4 AM, and Vernon was in the process of getting his family out plus a few necessities, and a gas main blew. He was at the top of the stairs, and was blown down the stairs. He was fine, but his eldest daughter, Ruth suffered cuts on the top of her head from the showroom windows that exploded.
They decided to move the family to California, where they remained.
After his wife died, Vernon stayed with different family members, always helping out one family or another. He spent many years at Marge's home in Santa Clara, CA caring for their mother, Ivia, doing the yard work, cooking, cleaning, ironing, etc. When I (Donna) would visit from southern CA for a few days, he would escape for a much needed, and deserved relaxing time at Marge's cabin.
No matter where he was, he kept that sense of humor. One time when Ruth was clearing out the wax in his sister, Helen's ears, he stood back out of sight with a tin pie pan and some pebbles, making her think all that was coming out of her ears. After any of his little excapades, he would spend the next few hours with a soft giggle while he went about his business.
Vernon had an ulcer that he dealt with most of his adult years, in later years he lost his eyesight to macular degeneration, and he passed away from cancer Oct 30, 1970 at age 72.
Vernon was in the military in WWI. After the war he married his high school sweetheart, Wanda Milliken, and went to work as a switchman on the Southern Pacific Railroad. He remained with the Railroad until retirement.
In 1938 the apartment he and his family lived in above the J.C. Penney store in Huron, SD caught fire at 4 AM, and Vernon was in the process of getting his family out plus a few necessities, and a gas main blew. He was at the top of the stairs, and was blown down the stairs. He was fine, but his eldest daughter, Ruth suffered cuts on the top of her head from the showroom windows that exploded.
They decided to move the family to California, where they remained.
After his wife died, Vernon stayed with different family members, always helping out one family or another. He spent many years at Marge's home in Santa Clara, CA caring for their mother, Ivia, doing the yard work, cooking, cleaning, ironing, etc. When I (Donna) would visit from southern CA for a few days, he would escape for a much needed, and deserved relaxing time at Marge's cabin.
No matter where he was, he kept that sense of humor. One time when Ruth was clearing out the wax in his sister, Helen's ears, he stood back out of sight with a tin pie pan and some pebbles, making her think all that was coming out of her ears. After any of his little excapades, he would spend the next few hours with a soft giggle while he went about his business.
Vernon had an ulcer that he dealt with most of his adult years, in later years he lost his eyesight to macular degeneration, and he passed away from cancer Oct 30, 1970 at age 72.
Vernon was never known by his first name, but always called by his middle name. He was a practical joker from an early age, and never changed. Between him and his brother, Howard, the two of them enjoyed practical jokes their whole lives.
Vernon was in the military in WWI. After the war he married his high school sweetheart, Wanda Milliken, and went to work as a switchman on the Southern Pacific Railroad. He remained with the Railroad until retirement.
In 1938 the apartment he and his family lived in above the J.C. Penney store in Huron, SD caught fire at 4 AM, and Vernon was in the process of getting his family out plus a few necessities, and a gas main blew. He was at the top of the stairs, and was blown down the stairs. He was fine, but his eldest daughter, Ruth suffered cuts on the top of her head from the showroom windows that exploded.
They decided to move the family to California, where they remained.
After his wife died, Vernon stayed with different family members, always helping out one family or another. He spent many years at Marge's home in Santa Clara, CA caring for their mother, Ivia, doing the yard work, cooking, cleaning, ironing, etc. When I (Donna) would visit from southern CA for a few days, he would escape for a much needed, and deserved relaxing time at Marge's cabin.
No matter where he was, he kept that sense of humor. One time when Ruth was clearing out the wax in his sister, Helen's ears, he stood back out of sight with a tin pie pan and some pebbles, making her think all that was coming out of her ears. After any of his little excapades, he would spend the next few hours with a soft giggle while he went about his business.
Vernon had an ulcer that he dealt with most of his adult years, in later years he lost his eyesight to macular degeneration, and he passed away from cancer Oct 30, 1970 at age 72.
Vernon was in the military in WWI. After the war he married his high school sweetheart, Wanda Milliken, and went to work as a switchman on the Southern Pacific Railroad. He remained with the Railroad until retirement.
In 1938 the apartment he and his family lived in above the J.C. Penney store in Huron, SD caught fire at 4 AM, and Vernon was in the process of getting his family out plus a few necessities, and a gas main blew. He was at the top of the stairs, and was blown down the stairs. He was fine, but his eldest daughter, Ruth suffered cuts on the top of her head from the showroom windows that exploded.
They decided to move the family to California, where they remained.
After his wife died, Vernon stayed with different family members, always helping out one family or another. He spent many years at Marge's home in Santa Clara, CA caring for their mother, Ivia, doing the yard work, cooking, cleaning, ironing, etc. When I (Donna) would visit from southern CA for a few days, he would escape for a much needed, and deserved relaxing time at Marge's cabin.
No matter where he was, he kept that sense of humor. One time when Ruth was clearing out the wax in his sister, Helen's ears, he stood back out of sight with a tin pie pan and some pebbles, making her think all that was coming out of her ears. After any of his little excapades, he would spend the next few hours with a soft giggle while he went about his business.
Vernon had an ulcer that he dealt with most of his adult years, in later years he lost his eyesight to macular degeneration, and he passed away from cancer Oct 30, 1970 at age 72.
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