Vera Shader

Vera Lorryne Shader (Erickson) was born on April 21, 1929, and passed away on December 21, 2022, at her home in Golden, Colorado at the age of 93 years. Though family and friends will miss her on earth dearly, we know she is rejoicing with her heavenly Father.

Vera lived a full life and touched many people with her love, servant heart, and helping hands. She grew up in Greeley, Colorado, and moved to Lucerne, Colorado, her senior year of high school. She then graduated from Fort Collins High School. She was very active in 4-H and met her husband through the 4-H program.  Vera was united in marriage to the love of her life, Benjamin (Ben) A. Shader on June 4, 1948.  To this union three children were born, Randall (Randy), JoDell (Jodi), and Michele (Mikki).

The couple built their first home in Fort Collins on the Shader family farm where Randy joined the family. They moved to Denver, Colorado as Randy needed special medical care. Jodi joined the family there and they were very involved at Leyden Covenant Church. The family moved to Hinsdale, Illinois, where Ben worked for International Harvester.  Mikki joined the family there.  The family again moved back to Colorado.

Vera had many jobs over the years but loved being wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother the most.  She loved her grandchildren fiercely: (SunniJo [Sunni], Geoffrey, Justin and Mikaela) and her great-grandchildren (Benjamin, Evie, Keegan, Haley, Mackenzie, Emmeline, Connor and Katie).  She loved to spend time with her siblings, and her kids and their families.  There are many fond memories of extended family get-togethers.

She worked as a telephone operator, worked in a department store and had to dress up and wear heels every day! She worked as a Parish worker at Hinsdale Covenant Church. She also worked for Jefferson County Schools in Library Services; worked for the Jeffco ARC as the executive director, the office administrator for Industries for Jefferson County, and retired as the church office administrator of Arvada Covenant Church after 22 years at the age of 81!

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, brothers-in-law and wives, dear husband Ben and son Randy. She was and always will be Randy’s “favorite mommy.”

Survivors cherishing her memory include her daughter and son-in-law, Jodi (Pastor Bob) Johnson of Stromsburg NE; and daughter and son-in-law, Mikki  (Will) Le Vett of Golden, CO.  Five  grandchildren, Sunni (Ryan) Cooper of Stromsburg, NE; Geoffrey (Sarah) Johnson of Crystal MN; Justin (Rachel) Le Vett of Lakewood, CO; and Mikaela (Steven) Rich of Golden, CO. Nichole (Josh) Patrick of Stromsburg, NE.   She had seven great-grandchildren:  Benjamin and Evie Cooper of Stromsburg, NE; Keegan, Haley Mae and Mackenzie Johnson of Crystal, MN; Emmeline Le Vett of Lakewood, CO; and Connor and Katherine Patrick of Stromsburg, NE; and brother-in-law, Keith and wife Barb Shader of Fort Collins, CO, and lots of dearly loved nieces and nephews. Peace to her memory.