Velva Berniece Keene, 88, died August 17, 2021, in Phoenix, AZ surrounded by family. The funeral is set for 2:00 pm on Friday, September 3, 2021, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Valley City, ND. Visitation is from 4-7 pm on Thursday, September 2 at Lerud Mathias Funeral Home and 1:00-2:00 pm on Friday at the church. A prayer service begins at 7:00 pm on Thursday, September 2, at the funeral home. Interment will be in Memory Gardens near Valley City after a time of fellowship following the funeral service.

Velva Berniece Schwartz was born on August 5, 1933, in LaMoure County, ND. She was the third child of Henry and Elise (Wegner) Schwartz. Velva met Thomas Lee Keene at the North Dakota Winter Show while he was home on leave from the Navy and they were subsequently married on December 26, 1956, at Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Litchville, ND. While Tom was in the Navy, they lived in Illinois, Washington, and California and eventually settled down in the ND/MN area in 1961.

Velva spent most of her career proofing checks at local banks, finally retiring in 2004 from Norwest/Wells Fargo. Upon retirement, she continued a paper route for the Fargo Forum in Valley City for a span of nearly thirty-five years. Velva’s hobbies included gardening, photography, and baking. She enjoyed spending time with family and will always be remembered for her toughness, perseverance, and undying love for her family.

Survivors include her three sons, Rick (Karen) and Bruce (Rhonda) of Phoenix and Joel of Minneapolis; ten grandchildren (ages ranging from 41 to 13) and eight great grandchildren (ages ranging from 10 to 4).

Velva was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years Tom; her parents; and her two brothers Harold and Elmo.

Lerud Mathias Funeral Home in Valley City is assisting Velva’s family with arrangements.  An online guestbook and tribute page are available at www.lerudschuldt.com