Verda Mikota

Verda A. Mikota age 79 of New Hampton, IA, died Saturday, June 3, 2017, at Gundersen Hospital in LaCrosse, WI. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 8, 2017, at Assumption Parish, Little Turkey with Rev. Kyle Digmann celebrating the Mass. Placing the pall will be Verda's husband, Harlan and their children. Lectors for the service are Elizabeth Flanders and Abby Mikota. Presenting the offertory gifts will be Mason, Morgan and William Mikota. Jeanette Dietzenbach will be the organist accompanied by Bob Busta and Amanda Blazek, cantors. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Little Turkey with Samantha Reicks, Trisha Mikota, Jacob Taylor, Mitchell Taylor, Leslie Packard, Katelyn Murphy, George Mikota and Dylan Mikota as pallbearers. Friends may greet the family 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton where there will be a 7:30 p.m. parish scripture service. Visitation continues from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Verda Agnes Mikota was born August 8, 1937 on the Lensing family farm near Festina, IA, the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Schmitt) Lensing. She was baptized, received her First Holy Communion and was confirmed in her faith at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Festina. She attended St. Mary’s High School through the tenth grade and graduated from Calmar High School in 1955. On May 26, 1958, Verda married her high school sweetheart, Harlan Mikota, at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church. Eight children were born to this union. The couple lived on a farm near Little Turkey until 2010 when they moved into New Hampton. They were members of Assumption Catholic Church in Little Turkey where Verda was a Rosary Society member, taught CCD classes and was a church organist for many years. She also was the organist or pianist for numerous weddings in the area. The best days for her were when the family was together. She also enjoyed music, playing cards with friends, having coffee with friends and reading a good book. Survivors include her husband of 59 years, Harlan Mikota of New Hampton; eight children, Bob (Jenny) Mikota of Sigourney, IA, Bryan (Mary) Mikota of Green Bay, WI, Wendy (Bob) Taylor of Magnolia, TX, Lana (Les) Packard of Houston, TX, Monna (Tom) Murphy of Bloomington, MN, George (Alli) Mikota of Eden Prairie, MN, Randy Mikota of Grimes, IA, Corey Mikota of New Richmond, WI; siblings, Bruno Lensing of Mesa, AZ, Stephen (Arlene) Lensing of Calmar, IA, Bea Timp of Ossian, IA, Mary Mulligan of Humboldt, IA; brothers and sisters-in-law, Dennis (Delores) Puffer of Lakewood, CO, Bernie (Patti) Puffer of Ft. Atkinson, IA, Donna (Merle) Wenthold of Cresco, IA, Cathy (Al) Kuehner of Bloomington, MN, Esther Lensing of Calmar, IA, Marion Retterath of Spillville, IA; seventeen grandchildren, Elizabeth (Jake) Flanders, Samantha (Chris) Reicks, Trisha Mikota, Abby Mikota, Jacob Taylor, Mitchell Taylor, Leslie Packard, Katie Murphy, Jenna Murphy, Macie Mikota, Morgan Mikota, Jack Mikota, Will Mikota, Jonathan Mikota, Grace Mikota, Zachary Mikota, Dylan Mikota; three great-grandchildren, Trae Keel, Lucy Flanders and Landon Price. She was preceded in death by her parents; a granddaughter, Olivia Nicole Mikota, four brothers, Daniel Lensing, Gordian Lensing, Roman Lensing and Roche Lensing; one sister, Myra Lensing.