David Verhage

David Neil VerHage was born September 11, 1948, the 10th child of Martin Jacob VerHage and Marcia Lucille (Lessender) VerHage in Beloit, Kansas. Dave grew up on a farm knowing the value of work from a young age. Dave had a favorite pony, Bobbin and he'd made a cart for her to pull. There was always something to hunt and in the heat of a Kansas summer he'd climb out of his window and sleep on the roof.
The family's father became ill, the house caught fire while everyone was away so Marcia decided to move to Geneva near her elderly son, Virgil. Virgil was a second father to Dave and they remained close.
When Dave graduated from High School in 1967, he joined the Navy (Uncle Sam's Canoe Club). He was navigator on the USS Frank Knox and made two tours to Vietnam on that ship before it was de-commissioned. He was then transferred to the D.E. USS Morium Shields in 1971.
A "brand new" ship and Dave were now a "plank owner" along with the previous honor of being a shellback. This honor was bestowed after an ineciateon while crossing the equator and involved "King Neptune" and his court. All shellbacks will remember this! While still putting the ship to see trials, Dave came home on a two week leave at Christmas. He met and married Linda Ullsperger on January 15, 1972.
They proceeded to set up homes in Long Beach and then National City, a suburb of San Diego. They enjoyed Long Beach the most and the beach right across the highway with the view of the Queen Mary in the harbor from their terrace. Life was good to them.
Then came the weekend Dave came home from ships duty to tell Linda the Sheilds was cutting training short and he was being shipped on Monday morning. The shock! Linda waved Dave off as the ship left port and the band played "Anchor's away." As she and many other families watched their men leave for Vietnam. Dave never related the next few months, but as a navigator he knew their ship spent some time in north Vietnam and Chinese waters. He never told anyone about going "upriver" in a small craft. In the fall of 1972 Linda met him at the San Diego airport when he was flown home. His enlistment was up!
Dave and Linda made Fairmont, Nebraska their new home. Dave was working with his brother Merrill building grain bins, installing Valley systems and Superior Metal buildings.
When deer season came along Merrill had the idea of all of us going deer hunting at Harry Blair's invitation. We did. Dave and Linda fell in love with the beauty and serenity of Western Nebraska. Within a few months they moved to Crawford with not much more than a vehicle, a strong back, and the confidence of youth. The beauty of the Pine Ridge became their home for 44 years.
Dave would be a carpenter for most of his life thereafter. Dave would not leave his home for anything. It was his haven and his serenity. He passed away at his home on December 10, 2016 after years of a slowly debilitating illness.
He was a good man, a loving husband, and a faithful friend.
He left behind, Linda, his wife of 44 years; Brothers John of Texas, Lloyd of Manhattan, Kansas, Carroll of Geneva, Wendell of Hastings, Richard of Cawker City, Kansas; Sisters Marianne Henderson of Falala, Oklahoma, Lucy Weber of Hutchison, Kansas and Louise Wallace of Lurey, Kansas along with many wonderful nieces and nephews.
Brothers Virgil and Merrill, along with his parents, and a nephew Marty preceded him in death and will be awaiting his arrival.
A memorial has been established for the St. John the Baptist Building Fund or the Crawford Fire Department Building Fund. Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.

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