Verna Bashaw
Verna Mary (Trepanier) Bashaw, age 93, passed away on Friday, January 13, 2017 at Bethany Retirement Living. She was born August 15, 1923 in Crookston, MN. She was the 3rd of 12 children born to Wilburn “Barney” and Selma (Erickson) Trepanier. She attended school in Crookston and Kelliher, MN.
Verna married Lyle Joseph Bashaw December 1, 1940 in Blackduck, MN. They had one child, Jeanne Lynn born February 23, 1949 in Jamestown, ND. Jeanne married Paul Weber and they had one son, Alex Paul Weber.
Lyle and Verna were a happy, close couple and very good at all the businesses they owned and operated. The couple owned bar and restaurants combined in Jamestown and Mapleton, ND. Verna’s restaurant had lunch specials ready every day for all the farmers in the area. They came first but all her customers were treated special. Verna was an excellent cook and baker who was taught by her mother, Selma who was Norwegian and Swedish. She was happy and smiling, fun to visit, but quick to correct anyone who tried to step on her toes.
Verna is survived by her son-in-law, Paul Weber of Jamestown, ND and grandson, Alex Paul Weber of Grand Forks, ND; brother, Burnie (Marlyce) Trepanier; sister, Audrey (LeRoy) Tobey of Bemidji, MN; several nieces and nephews of Fargo, ND, and Bemidji, MN, and Washington State; and cousins in Moorhead, MN.
Verna preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lyle; daughter, Jeanne Weber; brothers, Leonard, Elmer, Lyle, Roland, and Rodney Trepanier; sisters, Donna Graham, Maxine McMurtrie, Delores Miller, and Mavis Johnson.
Verna would like to extend her great appreciation for the staff at Bethany Retirement Living for the loving care and assistance during her stay there.
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Verna was my aunt which I grew up with in Fargo. She was a hard working small business owner who helped supported the development of Mapleton. Memories of Verna will live on.
I remember Verna, as well as Lyle. Growing up in Mapleton, we all knew Verna’s cafe was the place to get our penny candy. Her ambition, drive and attention to detail made her the perfect cafe owner and business women.
I remember trick or treating a couple days after Halloween, due to a snowstorm. We had to climb over a drift to get to her house, but she was ready with candy. She says we were the only trick or treaters she had that year.
Great lady!
We are so sad to hear about Verna, we were friends since the 70’s. We moved to Omaha in ’86 and reconnected when we moved back. She was quite the Verna…she moved close to us so we got to spend time with her and have her over for meals and take her a few places shopping or out for a drive. Our sympathy to her Grandson and Son in Law, may she rest in peace.
Lyle, Jeanne, and now Verna. A large part of Mapleton history and good times are past. As a classmate of Jeanne’s, many hours were spent at the cafe and their home. Verna and Jeanne could fry up the “best cheeseburgers ever made” in the cleanest kitchen in record time. Verna would have fun with all of us, but could firmly let us know when we’d get out of line, and go right back to having fun. My sympathy to family. Loree (Nelson) Jegtvig.
Jeanne introduced me to Verna at the café and Lyle at the bar in Mapleton. They were a regular stop whenever Jeanne and I ventured from Jamestown to the Fargo area. I even got a key to their house in case I was ever on the road and needed a place to stay. I know Jeanne got her customer service skills from her parents and to this day, those of us who worked for Jeanne, talk about her influence on us because of what her parents taught her. I miss all three of them very much.