Velma Auren, 80, of Flandreau, SD, passed away on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at her home with her family by her side. Funeral services will be held at 10:30AM, Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at Second Presbyterian Church in Flandreau, SD. The family will be present for visitation from 5:00PM to 7:00PM with a prayer service beginning at 7:00PM on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at Skroch Funeral Chapel in Flandreau, SD.
Velma Kay Damm was born on October 18, 1944 to Kenneth and Georgia (Earl) Damm at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. She grew up in Trent receiving her education at Docstedder Rural Grade School from first to eighth grade and then graduated from Trent High School in 1962.
Velma began working at the Airport Café in Dell Rapids, SD. It was at this time she met Vernon Auren and the couple were married on October 25, 1963. To this union they were blessed with three children, Dennis, Cheryl, Teresa, and adopted Jamie in 1985.
In 1963 the couple moved to Fargo, ND for a time as Vern moved around while working in road construction. In 1967 the family moved to Flandreau and bought their home.
Velma worked at 3M in Brookings for ten years beginning in 1979. In 1988 they purchased The Spot Drive In where she was able to meet and teach so many up and coming successful adults. Many of her past employees would refer to her as a mother figure who taught them so much during their time working for her. To this day, they say she was the best boss they ever had. After they sold The Spot, she then went to work managing the Cenex C-Store for about 20 years before retiring.
She was a member of Second Presbyterian Church.
There was nothing more that Velma loved than spending time with family and friends. She held a very special bond with her children and grandchildren and cherished their time together. She will be greatly missed by all of them.
Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Vernon; children, Cheryl Gibbs and her husband Dave, Teresa Peckham and her husband Jim, and Jamie Gaspar and her husband Jesse; her grandchildren, Ryan Gibbs (Stephanie), Trevor Gibbs (Dana), Nichole Sullivan (Dustin), Jim Gibbs (Steffanie), Tiffany Bowers (Justin), Amber Jensen (Mikala), Ryan Peckham, Matt Peckham (Cynthia), Nicole Severson (Jason), James Auren (Ann), Jaelynn Gaspar (Brooklynn), Julianna Gaspar, and Joseph Gaspar; and 18 great-grandchildren; brothers, Darrell Damm (Judy) and Richard Damm.
She was preceded in death by her son, Dennis Auren; parents, Kenneth and Georgia Damm; sister, Norma Janssen; brothers, Raymond and Dwayne Damm; and stepfather, Leavern Krier.
