Venetia Giffey
February 10, 1931 – September 26, 2022
Venetia Giffey, 91, of Garrison, passed away September 26, 2022.
A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, September 30, 2022, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Garrison, ND. Burial will follow at the Garrison Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 6:00-7:30 PM on Thursday, September 29, 2022, at Thompson Funeral Home.
Venetia Mae Giffey was born February 10, 1931, in Golden Valley, ND to John and Lena (Helling) Geving. She was raised in Golden Valley and Ryder, graduating from Ryder High School in 1948. While growing up, she enjoyed spending time with her younger brother Jack.
While attending school in Ryder, she met the love of her life, Erny Giffey. Erny and Venetia were married June 19, 1949, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ryder. They made their home on the Giffey homestead where they farmed with Erny’s father and brother and started their family. In 1957, they moved to their farm two miles south of Roseglen where they raised their four children and farmed small grains and raised sheep. Throughout their marriage, she worked side by side with Erny in their farming and woodworking operations. She was absolutely dedicated to whatever Erny did: a true farm wife. She was the parts runner, lunch maker, and truck driver, and dropped whatever she was doing whenever he needed her. While Erny was the woodworking builder, she was the stainer and finisher. Together Erny and Venetia spent countless hours preparing crafts to sell at local craft shows including the Dicken’s Village Festival in Garrison and the Makoti Threshing Show.
Erny and Venetia were true life partners; they worked hard together, but they also had fun together whether dancing, doing sing-a-longs, or just listening to music. They also enjoyed traveling and made numerous trips to California during the winter months. They traveled all over the country to attend Soil Conservation Conventions. Together, they enjoyed life to the fullest.
In her “spare” time, Venetia was involved in Homemaker’s Club and Immanuel Lutheran Church Sunday School and Circle. If you ever attended the Immanual Lutheran Fall Supper, you enjoyed Venetia and Bonnie Suydam’s Lutheran coffee! She enjoyed teaching dance and twirl at the White Shield School, and her students would perform at basketball games.
It is safe to say that Venetia was a social butterfly. She worked hard, but she loved to have fun. She loved being around people whether it was visiting at Circle or Homemaker meetings or talking on the phone daily with her close friends and family. Anyone who knew her, certainly appreciated her good humor and zest for life.
Family get togethers and time with her children and grandchildren were always a priority. She and Erny would stop whatever they were doing and take the time to visit, most likely having a little snack and beverage. Grandchildren knew exactly which cupboard held the sweet and salty treats, and Pepsi always tasted better in Frontier Airline glasses.
Venetia will always be remembered and forever loved.
Venetia is survived by children, Kandis (Tracy) Horn, Ryder, ND, Kelly (Colette) Giffey, Ryder, ND, Kari (Jerry) Evenson, Coleharbor, ND; daughter-in-law, Sandy Giffey; 10 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Phyllis Geving; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Erny Giffey; son, Kyle Giffey; grandson, Curt Giffey; parents; stepfather, Lloyd Aanrud; brother, Jack Geving; and brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Avis Giffey.
In Lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Venetia’s name to Benedictine Living Center, Garrison.
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Venetia Giffey, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
SERVICES
Visitation
Thursday, September 29, 2022
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
THOMPSON FUNERAL HOME
48 N.E. 3RD
Garrison, North Dakota 58540
Funeral Service
Friday, September 30, 2022
10:00 AM
St. Paul Lutheran Church
623 5th St NE
Garrison, ND 58540
