Vernelda Ellis

Vernelda Loretta Knuth was born on October 28, 1920 in Brewster, Minnesota.  She was the youngest of three daughters born to Otto and Emma Knuth.  She has often recalled the simplicity of her upbringing during which her family had few possessions, only those of necessity.   

At the age of 20, after graduating from high school, Vernelda took off for the big city of Minneapolis.  After two years in Minneapolis, she and her next older sister, Leone,  were drawn to another big adventure - a move to Burlingame,California, where Leone got a job with Boeing Aircraft.  Vernelda took on a secretarial job,  but quickly spotted a newspaper ad about jobs in Yosemite National Park.  She quickly applied, got a job, and  moved to Yosemite,  which is where she met her beloved late husband, Bill.  Bill and Vernelda married in 1947 in Burlingame after Bill served in the US Army,  Bill began his career with the US Postal Service in Yosemite, and with 2 year old Karen in tow, Bill and Vernelda moved to Exeter in 1951 where he was hired to be the Assistant Postmaster.   After moving to Exeter, they completed their family with Bill Jr.’s birth in 1953 and Laura’s birth in 1955.

Vernelda and Bill were very involved in many Exeter civic affairs.  Vernelda was a book keeper while raising her young family, first for Johnson Electric on Pine St. and then for The Younger Set, a fashionable clothing store in Exeter.  As her children became older and more self-sufficient, she began to work for the City of Exeter as an assistant to the City Clerk.  Vernelda had an independent spirit and often pursued many interests of her own choosing such as bridge, golf, and bowling - things that Bill had limited interest in.  She was definitely a ‘woman ahead of her time”.

Bill retired at a relatively young age and Bill and Vernelda were able to enjoy many International travels as well as within the US They traveled often with their life-long friends from Exeter.  In 1988, they purchased a cabin in Wilsonia, in Kings Canyon National Park, and enjoyed many visits to the mountains, reminiscent of their time in Yosemite.

Vernelda was predeceased by her husband, Bill, of almost 60 years, and her older sisters Leone and Evelyn.  She is survived by her daughters, Karen (Rick) and Laura (Steve) and her son, Bill Jr., as well as  7 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Vernelda’s long life is a testament to living with moderation and within your means, following doctor’s orders, minding your own business, and having 1 piece of dark chocolate and a gin martini daily.

Services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Exeter, CA on Monday, February 24th at 11:00 a.m.  In her memory, please make donations to the Exeter Trinity Lutheran Church or to Genitiva Hospice in Visalia, CA.

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