Funeral services: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 10:00 am at the First Presbyterian Church in Miles City.
Interment: will follow in the Custer County Cemetery.
Vernon Delmar South passed away on March 12, 2009, at the Big Sky Care Center in Helena Montana.
Vern was born to William and Lenore South in Nebraska on October 5, 1910. During his early years his family frequently moved looking for greener pastures. As a young man Vern continued the tradition,traveling frequently with his brothers to find just the right place, many times on a motorcycle. He finally settled in Montana after marrying Jean Ducello in 1936 but shortly thereafter moved his new wife to Sandpoint Idaho to find work during the great depression.
Vern, Jean, and his first son, Fred eventually moved back to Montana and purchased a 2-room house at 601 Missouri in Miles City. As time and finances permitted he expanded the house with a basement, bathroom, and bedrooms. Vern worked at many hands on occupations to support his family and in the 1950s started a small construction business which he managed until he retired. Although he built many houses around town, his greatest construction achievement was serving as the architect, engineer, and general contractor on the Foursquare Church (now the Living Way Fellowship) on Missouri Avenue.
Vern loved the Black Hills and traveled there frequently with his family. He was a loving, caring Christian throughout his adult life and served as a Miles City Alderman and the Miles City Building Inspector. In 1999, Vern and Jean moved from 601 Missouri to the Miles City Eagles Manor. Jean passed away in April 2002 and after a serious illness, Vern moved to the Big Sky Care Center in Helena in 2004. He considered the Center his home and the staff became his family.Vern was the eternal optimist who always thought the glass was half full, rather than half empty. Whatever his circumstances he would say that things could always be worse. Despite several bouts with serious illnesses, he always recovered and maintained a positive attitude about life. He was a great story teller and would entertain the grandchildren with catchy stories, like I had a wooden whistle, but it wooden let me whistle, then I got me a steel whistle but it steel wooden let me whistle, then I got me a lead whistle but it still wooden lead me whistle, so I got me a tin whistle and now I tin whistle. Then, there was the eye winker - nose knocker - chin chopper thing. And, the I'm not half the man I used to be and never was.
His wife Jean, his parents, six brothers and two sisters preceded Vern in death. Vern was the last remaining sibling of his large family.
He is survived by sons, Fred, Carroll, Coleman, and Garry. Vern was blessed with eight Grandchildren, including the most recent born in 2006, and 12 Great Grandchildren.
To our Dad, our Granddad, and our Great Granddad, goodbye and thanks for the love, the stories, and the memories. We love you.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City has been entrusted with the arrangements
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