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South Dakota American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Willman-Fee Unit 14 nominated Verla Barber as a candidate for Unit Member of the Year, resulting in being honored with Member of the Year title at the district level. PHOTOS COURTESY CONNIE MCLAUGHLIN -
Verla Barber is shown with South Dakota American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Willman-Fee Unit 14 President Judy Winegar at her pinning ceremony for Member of the Year. PHOTOS COURTESY CONNIE MCLAUGHLIN
South Dakota American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Willman-Fee Unit 14 nominated Verla Barber as a candidate for Unit Member of the Year, resulting in being honored with Member of the Year title at the district level.
Barber has been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for 35 years. During that time, she has been involved in many of the activities and programs that represent the Auxiliary, her church and her community.
As a member during her 35 years, Verla has never been an officer, but instead has chosen to play a part “behind the scenes” by serving on committees or doing community service. As we all know, it is often the “behind the scenes” or supporting roles that keep an organization or a community running smoothly. Verla has contributed much to Auxiliary.
She belongs to a quilting group that each year donates lovingly made quilts to all veterans in the area. The group has donated over 400 quilts to area veterans and Barber has made many baked goods to donate for fundraisers or events for Auxiliary. Each year she makes the stockings that the Auxiliary unit fills with items at Christmas to go to the Veterans Home. The Auxiliary used to host weekly Bingo with the Legion and Barber often called numbers or helped by serving lunch. She has helped assemble Poppy Wreaths for Poppy Day and sold poppies around town. She and her husband Neal also take flags, wreaths and poppies to decorate six veteran graves at rural, country Charity Cemetery. When asked, she is willing to help with any of the Auxiliary unit’s programs or activities.
Barber’s volunteerism is not limited to just the ALA. Both born, and raised, in Wessington Springs, she and her husband have been two of the pillars of the community for many years. Both Barbers are the oldest attending members of the Templeton UCC Church. Neal’s great-grandfather was one of the earliest settlers who hosted church in his home before the church was built. Verla has held many offices in the church and has been a contributing member in the Ladies Fellowship and Ladies Extension clubs over decades. During that time she has taught Sunday school, served on many committees and served food at many farm sales.
Barber has been an active leader of 4-H for over 30 years, teaching by example for her entire family. She has helped with 4-H and many other groups while her four children were growing up. She taught skills such as sewing, canning, baking, and life skills to our next generation. Barber attended country school while growing up and graduated from Wessington Springs High School. She started the Wessington Springs Alumni Association and has been instrumental in helping the association over the years. For 35 years Barber was a member of the Jerauld County Ambulance EMT crew. She provided care in the back of the ambulance for a wide variety of patients. She also has volunteered, and was employed by Baker’s Design, flower and gift shop in Wessington Springs, where she offered her creativity and expertise in design.
Barber and her husband owned and operated the Round-up Cafe for 28 years. They provided job opportunities for many young people in the community. They also provided a lot of catering for the community at events such as all-class reunions. They lived in the “round house” or dome house next to the cafe. She has served on the Farm Bureau State Board and she and Neal traveled and spoke at different Farm Bureau events about its benefits to farmers and their wives. Now, she spends two days a week as a volunteer at the Wessington Springs SACC (Springs Area Community Club) Consignment Store in Wessington Springs.
Verla was a devoted farm wife, and now as she is in retirement, she cares for Neal, who is a Korean War Veteran, and is battling cancer and Parkinson’s. They have 11 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and two great, greatgrandchildren. When asked if she could be interviewed for the nomination, she humbly replied that she could not think of anything she had done that would qualify her. Verla Barber has contributed much to her Auxiliary, church, and community and is welldeserving of this award.