Vera Hill-Zens
Vera Hill-Zens, 87, of Mitchell, SD passed away Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at Avera Brady Health and Rehab. Private family services will be held.
Delivered by her father during a blizzard, Vera was born January 24, 1933 to Anton and Mae (McKee) Kroupa on a farm near Gann Valley. She attended school in Kimball, White Lake and Mt. Vernon. Vera married Berdean Hill November 4, 1950. They farmed near Storla with Linda, Bernice, Vern and Bob joining their family. In 1962 the family moved to a dairy farm in Spearfish where Berdean attended college at Black Hills State. In 1966 Berdean’s employment took the family to Lake Andes with Rick joining their family. Moving to Menno in 1968, found Vera babysitting for area children, working at the sale barn and watching three children graduate. Moving to Mount Vernon in 1976, she worked at the Mustang Cafe and then traveled to Mitchell to work at the James Valley Senior Center. She watched two children graduate from Mt. Vernon High School. Vera and Berdean attended all school activities and sports activities of their children and grandchildren. They also were able to travel visiting family in various states. She was a member of the Moose Lodge and attended church in each community her family resided in. Vera moved to Plankinton in 2001. Nothing stopped her from attending school activities and all sporting events of her children, Plankinton grandchildren and, as much as possible, her Black Hills grandchildren. Vera enjoyed some traveling adventures with her dear friend Beverly Johnson and her sisters Florence and Irene. She, Beverly and Barb Kroupa enjoyed every senior’s dance and activity they could get to. Vera moved to Mitchell when she married Tony Zens September 27, 2008; and, his daughter Sue and family joined her life. She became a member of Holy Family Catholic Church. Vera and Tony traveled to the Black Hills often and to various states visiting family and enjoying events. She, and sometimes Tony, continued to attend school activities and sporting events. Vera loved her family with all her heart.
Grateful for sharing Vera’s life are her husband Tony Zens, children Linda (Barry) Bass, Lake Placid, FL; Bernice (Ken) Larson, Plankinton, SD; Vern (Nancy) Hill, Plankinton, SD; Bob Hill, Rapid City, SD; Rick Hill, Rapid City, SD; stepdaughter Sue (Terry) Olson, Madison, SD, sister Irene Shelton, Florence, OR; double-cousins Bob (Margaret) Kroupa, Fort Myers, FL and Barb Kroupa,Kimball SD; grandchildren of all ages, nieces and nephews.
Vera was preceded in death by husband Berdean, parents Anton and Mae Kroupa, father and mother in-law, Barney and Hilda Hill, infant daughter Hilda Mae Hill, infant granddaughter Esther Jean Pietz; sister Florence Hawn, brothers infant Marvin Kroupa, Ralph Kroupa, Frank Kroupa and Roy Henderson; sisters-in-law Dixie Kroupa, Delores Kroupa, Alene Hill, Marlene Wilson, Earlyne Hill, Vina Hill; brothers-in-law Clarence Shelton, Roger Hill, Norris Hill, Glen Hill, Harold Wilson, Douglas Hawn, double-cousin Richard Kroupa; niece and nephews.