JOHN VERPLOEGEN obituary

John P. Verploegen, 93, of Havre died Monday Dec. 8, 2003, at a Havre care center of natural causes.

A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Jude Catholic Church. The funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Friday at St. Jude Catholic Church with

the Rev. Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial will follow at the Cottonwood Cemetery north of Havre. A fellowship dinner will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the services at the graveside.

J.P. was born on Aug. 20, 1910, in Milwaukee, Wis., to Henry and Petronella (Cillessen) Verploegen just after the family arrived in the United States from Holland. Before settling on a farm in Cottonwood, the family resided in South Dakota for a time. John attended school at Cottonwood sporadically while helping on the family farm due to his father's poor health.

He married Lydia Loskot on Dec. 28, 1940, and they made their home north of Havre on the family farm.

J.P was a member of St. John, the Baptist church in Cottonwood, St. Jude Thaddeus Church in Havre and the Knights of Columbus. He served on the Cottonwood School board and the Sacred Heart Hospital board.

J.P. was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Petronella Verploegen; two infant brothers; and sister, Antoinette Perszyk.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Lydia Verploegen of Havre; daughters, Joanne (Bill) Lindstrand of Havre, Marjorie Verploegen of Phoenix, Ariz., Louise Milligan of Mesa, Ariz., and Mary Verploegen of Great Falls; sons, Henry (Debbie) Verploegen of Hills, Iowa, Frank (Lorraine) Verploegen of Havre and James Verploegen of Billings; sister, Marie VanderVen of Havre; 14 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the St. Jude's School Education Trust Fund, 624 4Fourth St., Havre, MT 59501.

Services and arrangements are under the direction of Holland and Bonine Funeral Home.