Verna L. Barnes

Verna L. Barnes, age 89 of Little Falls, MN formerly of the Twin Cities area died Monday, July 27 at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, MN. Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 30 at 10:30 A.M. at the Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls, MN with Rev. Blaine McNiel officiating. Burial will be in Glen Haven Cemetery in New Hope, MN. Friends may call from 4-8 P.M. on Wednesday and from 9:30-10:30 A.M. on Thursday at the funeral home. A prayer service will be said at 6:00 P.M. on Wednesday. Verna L. (Trulen) Barnes was born July 16, 1920 in Red Wing, Goodhue County, MN to the late Arthur and Signe (Nygren) Trulen. She attended elementary school in Minneapolis. Her family later moved to Zimmerman, MN where they lived from 1930-1934. After her schooling, Verna played piano with Neilson Victorian Band that entertained in the Minneapolis area. Verna was united in marriage to Earl Barnes on December 25, 1941 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN. Following their marriage, Earl entered the U.S. Military. Verna lived with her parents and then with her sister and brother-in-law in Minneapolis. She later moved to Santa Rosa, CA for two years. The couple moved to various cities including Chicago, IL, St. Cloud, MN and Fargo, ND. Verna and Earl retired in 1980. Following their retirement, they lived in Anoka, MN later moving to Circle Pines, MN. In 1988 Verna and Earl then began wintering in Texas and returned to Minnesota in the summer months to the Ogilvie area, living in their motor home for about six years. The couple then moved to Minneapolis managing their son's plumbing business until 1988. Earl died on September 9, 2001. Verna later moved to New Hampshire in the summer months and California in the winter months from 1988 to 2005, at which time she moved to Little Falls, residing there until her death. Verna is survived by her children, Karen Elling and husband, David, of Anacortes, WA, Barbara Alafat and husband, Michael, of Chicago, IL and New Hampshire, Jeffrey Barnes and wife, Virginia, of Anoka, MN, William Barnes and wife, Marilyn, of Champlin, MN, Susan White and husband, Michael, of Little Falls, MN and Lee Barnes of Corona, CA; sisters, Lucille Lloyd of Elk River, MN, Marie Sandy and husband, Ray, of Jordan, MN and June Lang of Rice, WI. 20 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl; parents, Arthur and Signe (Nygren) Trulen; brothers, Wallace and Robert Trulen. Casket Bearers will be Verna's grandchildren: Kris Juhl, Dan Elling, Jennifer Longchamps, Rachel Ludwig, Brent Bell, Ryan Bell, Laura Bell, Anna Aragon, Beth Perry, Joseph Barnes, Luke Barnes, Wendy Aldrich, Brian Barnes, Tracy Schumacher, Marsha Posey, Sarah Tuohy, Michele Green, Steve Barnes, Christopher Barnes, LeShell Anderson.