Verne Pickering Haas, 94, died on June 14, 2008 at the home of his daughter in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Verne will be buried in Pine Lawn Cemetery in Rapid City. Grave side services will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 10:30 a.m.

Verne was born on February 1, 1914 at the Glenheim Farm home near Whitewood, South Dakota, the fourth son of Charles and Jennie Pickering Haas. Verne loved horses and cars as a child. Verne was home schooled through the eighth grade by his mother. Their home was the first private school in the state. One of Vernes proudest possessions is his 8th grade diploma, signed by his mother just before she died. Verne graduated from Whitewood High School and went on to receive a diploma from the Hemphill Diesel Engineering School working with some of the first large diesel engines.

Verne married Thelma Mae Duncan on June 17, 1936 on top of Terry Peak in the Black Hills. They were married for 62+ years before her death in 1998. Their early married years were spent in Southern Nevada at the Desert Silver Mine where Verne worked as a mechanic. World War II shut down the mine and they moved to Utah where Verne was hired to build, and then maintain, the machinery at the Geneva Steel Mill near Provo, Utah. In those years, they had three children, Vernita, Donald, and Kerma. When the War ended, Verne followed his dream to build an auto repair shop and home in Rapid City. It wasnt long before his former boss called, asking him to be Master Mechanic at the Cordero Mine in Northern Nevada. Verne worked his way up in Cordero Mining Company becoming Vice President of Operations before his retirement in 1971. He was instrumental in bringing electricity and television to Northern Nevada. Verne and Thelma both earned their pilots license while in Northern Nevada and had many fly-in breakfasts at the Cordero Mine.

Upon retirement, Verne and Thelma said they looked the world over and decided the best place to retire was back home in the Black Hills. Verne and Thelma built their dream home near Custer, South Dakota where the whole family enjoyed many years of family activities. Verne and Thelma helped develop the Custer County Courthouse Museum. Verne built a special display on the history of the Grange in the Black Hills, using family materials, for the High Plains Heritage Center Museum in Spearfish. His Mother was particularly proud of her membership in the Society of Black Hills Pioneers and Verne has carried on the tradition and passed on that pride to his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Verne also worked with the Adams Museum in Deadwood, where his family had given many of their possessions. The Verne Pickering Haas Exploration Center was developed in the lower level of the Adams Museum telling the story of the Black Hills pioneers using the Charles and Jennie Haas family as an example. The Exploration Center includes a school room in memory of Vernes wife, Thelma, where childrens programming for the Adams Museum is centered.

Verne is survived by his three children, Vernita and her husband, David Green of Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Donald and his wife, Alberta Haas of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; and Kay (Kerma) Haas of Reno, Nevada and his sister-in-law, Verna Hepler, and her son, Dennis and his wife, Francie. Nothing could brighten his face more than the mention or visit by one of his grandchildren, Brian Haas Green (who helped him tremendously during the last two years), Sarah Marnocha, Bill Haas, Rachel and her husband, Rod Soto, Jonathan Haas and his fianc? Penny Li, Sheilah and her husband, Sam Vorpahl, Dan Haas, and Heather Haas and his great grandchildren Jesse and David Marnocha, Austin, Emma, and Joseph Soto, and Zachary Haas, and he just learned that he would have a sixth great grandchild to be born next February to Sheilah and Sam Vorpahl.

Verne certainly lived out John Wesleys úRule for Christian Living:

Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can!



He was known by everybody for his high moral and ethical principles that ruled his daily living.

Pastor Mike Schultz of First Wesleyan Church in Rapid City will lead the family and friends in worship at the graveside on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. Reception will follow immediately at the First Wesleyan Church, 202 E. St. Francis St., Rapid City, SD. Memorials in Vernes honor can be given to the Verne Pickering Haas Exploration Center at the Adams Museum in Deadwood, South Dakota.