The Austin, Minnesota, congregation honored Vera Bowman with a cake, punch and coffee on March 18 after Sabbath services.

Vera was born March 9, 1916, and grew up in Ellendale, Illinois. She attended business college in Sterling and held several jobs. On June 16, 1936, she married Eugene Bowman. They farmed two years in Illinois and then bought a farm in southeast Minnesota. Vera was widowed on Aug. 26, 1967.

She worked hard keeping up the farm, driving big trucks, milking cows, etc. She still works full time for her son, Bill, also a member, and has for the past 20 years, driving her own car to work. She says, "What else would I do, if I did not work?"

She is a very sweet, soft-spoken lady, with a warm smile, whom God called, along with two sons in 1980. She has been a faithful member and an example for all of us.

She was also honored at an open house hosted by her four children and attended by all but one of her 11 grandchildren (one is in the service) and 18 great-grandchildren. There are more babies on the way.