Alverna Mae Burchard, 84, passed away Saturday, August 27, at a care center in Nampa. Her four children, that she loved so dearly, were with her in her last difficult days and hours.

Verna was born on February 17, 1927 in Burley, Idaho to Harry Earl and Sarah E. Aldrich. Her mother, who was of modest means, had a great challenge raising eight children. As Verna was the second youngest of eight, she came to understand the meaning of family, and how necessary it was to help her mother and siblings.

The family moved to Nampa where Verna, her brothers and sisters all attended the old Lakeview School. As a teenager, Verna suffered from a terrible automobile and train accident. This did not discourage her strong spirit, as she went on to work at many different jobs in her formative years from field work to maid-service and many other endeavors that ingrained in her the value of hard work and thrift.

She met an Army man, Darrell Burchard, at a dance in Burley. Verna was quite smitten with the handsome young man in uniform. When she saw him, she could see no one else. They were married on February 28, 1945 in Kimberly, Idaho. Verna traveled by Darrell's side through his military career and after. She was always a great help to her husband. Early in their marriage she helped him do roofing, even when she was expecting. They then began to raise their four children; Pam, Judy, Roger, and Kathy. Her travels and endeavors while a military wife and mother were varied, including a stint in Alaska and a job at a cannery in California. After her husband's retirement from the military, they moved to Nampa.

Darrell worked as a detective in the Nampa Police Department in the 1950's and they both tended to their children. After one more move to Eugene, Oregon to work for an electronics firm, they returned to Idaho and managed the Hidden Paradise Ranch in Fairfield during the 1980's. This was another locale in which Verna relished her family relationship, as her children even became involved at the ranch. Upon returning to Nampa for retirement, Verna stayed active by watching her family and even owning and managing a hobby shop in town.

Verna had numerous sources of joy in her life. She loved to cook, both big meals and small. She had a green thumb, always striving to make her yard, garden, and flower pots to be at their most glorious. The most gratifying things in her life, though, were her family and the love she felt for her husband. At family gatherings one could just sense the happiness she emanated. This was usually easy to sense because Verna was certainly not the quietest one in the room. Her pleasure, and sometimes displeasure, with those around her was known to all at the event.

Vernas greatest loss was her husband Darrell in 2008. She has missed him terribly ever since and is much happier now with him. She was also preceded in death by her parents, and her siblings Earl, Kenneth, and Ruth. She is survived by her sister Vivian Easter, brothers Victor (Evelyn) , Jack (Ferrol), and Donald (Lucille), her children Pamela (Bill) Bise, Judy (Dennis) Oswald, Roger Burchard, Kathy (Ed) Hinkle, ten grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandson.

A viewing will be held Tuesday, August 30, at Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel from 11:00 to 1:00, with a graveside service following at 2:00p.m. at the Kohlerlawn Cemetery, Nampa

Service Information Visitation Tuesday August 30, 2011 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Nampa Funeral Home Yraguen Chapel 415 12th Ave South Nampa, ID 83651