Verna L. Braaten, 88, of Austin died Monday, May 16, 2016, at Our House Assisted Living.

Verna Lucille Jackson was born Dec. 24, 1927, in Albert Lea, the daughter of Calvin M. and Cora A. (Ingvaldson) Jackson. The family moved to Austin and Verna graduated from Austin High School. She worked as a secretary for Prudential Insurance Co. in Austin. On June 6, 1948, she married Nordahl L. Braaten at St. Olaf Lutheran Church.

Verna was a long-time member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church and was active in Women’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Association and the church circles. She had also been a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Home Auxiliary. Over the years, the family enjoyed many trips to the lakes of northern Minnesota and camping trips throughout the Midwest. Verna lived in the family home that they built at the time they were married until May 2012, when she moved to an apartment at Our House Assisted Living.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and a sister, Kay Glassco.

Verna is survived by daughter, Mary E. Anderson, of Ostrander; sons and daughter-in-law James A. (Jim) Braaten of Austin and Mark S. and Dorothy Braaten of Anoka; grandchildren Erick Anderson and Allison Keller of Grand Meadow, Jayson Braaten of Minneapolis, Jerika Braaten of Anoka, Mandy and Adam Mergen of Cold Spring and Alyssa and Jeff Bancroft of Ramsey; great-grandchildren Lillie and Charlie Mergen and Charlotte Keller; sister-in-law, Joyce Braaten, of Austin; and nieces, nephews and cousins.

A worship service celebrating Verna’s life will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Olaf Lutheran Church. The Rev. Paul Lutter and Associate of Ministry Todd Portinga will officiate. Interment will be at Red Oak Grove Cemetery in rural Austin. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary and at the church for one hour before the service.

Memorials may be directed to the St. Olaf Lutheran Church building fund or the St. Olaf Lutheran Church Foundation endowment fund.