Vern Sampson was born on April 28, 1923, the son of C.J. and Rose (Rada) Sampson, on a farm eight miles south of Midland. He grew up in that area and attended Loyalty School for eight years. He did not attend high school but bought his first truck at age fourteen. Vern worked for neighbors doing odd jobs until old enough to work on the railroad. He worked off and on for the railroad for seven years, while still trucking. Vern bought his first semi in 1958, and continued trucking until failing health forced him to sell out his business in June 2006.

Vern was united in marriage to Isabelle Munger on June 8, 1947, at Kadoka, and they shared their life together for fifty-nine years. To this union were born twins Steven and Sherrie, and son Randy. After their marriage, the young couple took over the Stamford Grocery Store and later moved on a farm where he ranched and continued his trucking business. A more hard working man would be hard to find. He was known through out the area as a good neighbor, friend, and someone you could depend on to get the job done.

Grateful for having shared his life include his wife Isabelle of Midland; a daughter Sherrie Block and her husband Dean of Midland; a son Randy Sampson and his wife Jackie of Philip; three grandchildren Jason Sampson, Jennifer Heltzel and her husband Eric, and Alesha Block; two great-grandchildren Rylan Block and Danessa Heltzel; three sisters Blanche Dolezal of Philip, Grace McKillip of Murdo, and his twin sister Dorothy Blom of Pierre; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Vern was preceded in death by his parents; a son Steven Sampson; and a brother Stanley Sampson.

Visitation was held 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, July 28, at the Rush Funeral Home in Philip.

Graveside services were held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 29, at the Belvidere Cemetery, with Larry Dolezal and Pastor Gary McCubbin officiating.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial is established.

GRAVESIDE SERVICES
Saturday, July 29, 2006 10:00 a.m.
Belvidere Cemetery
Belvidere, South Dakota

OFFICIANTS
Larry Dolezal
Pastor Gary McCubbin

MUSIC
Joyce Wheeler – Lyndy Ireland
"Precious Memories"
"Farther Along"

ACTIVE PALLBEARERS
Wayne Sampson – Jerry Sampson
Tom DeVries – Dean Block
Gary Block – Ross Block

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance

INTERMENT
Belvidere Cemetery
Belvidere, South Dakota

In Memory of "Vern"

Firing up that ol’ Volvo truck
Meshing those gears was Vern’s greatest joy!
The love of trucking flowed through his veins
Since he was still a young boy.

At fourteen, he bought his first truck
He felt like the "King of the Road"
But times were hard, parts not cheap
So he scooped and hauled bushels and bushels of wheat.

Tons of corn needed to be hauled
Loads of gravel spread on a road
People were waiting, jobs had to be done,
So he and his truck headed down the road.

A more hard working man would be hard to find
Though his hands were scarred and crippled from
arthritis and ol’ Father time.

He loved to visit with neighbors and friends that he knew
And yes he even enjoyed having a "Bud" or two!
He had special nicknames for family and special friends. He liked to tease you a little bit too.

With a twinkle in his eye and a grin on his face.
He could make you smile and laugh too.

A loving husband, father, grandpa,
and great-grandpa too.
We all love you and miss you and are sad
you had to leave us too soon.

In loving memory –
Isabelle Sampson