Vera LaVerne Reichardt Schif Smith, 88, Burlington, KS, passed away on Thursday evening August 7, 2025, at the Life Care Center, Burlington.

LaVerne was born February 25, 1937, in Spring Creek Township (LeRoy, Kansas) to Raymond Arthur Reichardt and Elva Ann (Clason) Reichardt. She was the oldest of three children with brothers Raymond Arthur Reichardt, Jr. (Valley, AL) and Clason LeRoy Reichardt (Hoyt, KS). As a child, she loved playing with her brothers, visiting with aunts and uncles and traveling by train from Burlington to Gridley, all by herself, to visit grandparents. She lived at Kaw, Newton, Elmendaro, Olpe, Avon, then Burlington where she graduated from Burlington High School in 1954. She married Robert Randall Schif on August 26, 1956. They lived at the Schif Family Farm west of Burlington where she and Randall ran a dairy cow operation, the first automated dairy farm in Coffey County, raised cattle and hogs, along with tending field crops. They became the parents of five children, Randee Renee, Sheree Lynne, Kevin Keith (infant, deceased), Kristee Kaye, and Robert Randall II (Bob). Many happy memories were made on the dairy farm for the entire family until Randall's health required the sale of the milk cows. In 1978, the family moved to Burlington where LaVerne worked at Douglass Realty and Auctioneering and then later Farm Bureau Insurance. Randall passed away on August 2, 1987. On July 27, 1991, LaVerne married Merle "Smitty" Smith, Burlington and opened her heart to more family. They enjoyed years of fishing, traveling to Branson, and attending grandchildren's activities. Merle passed away on December 5, 2013.

Randall and LaVerne joined Otter Creek Grange #1493 and Pomona Grange #3 after being married and became involved on the local, county, state and national levels. They represented Kansas as Young Couple of the Year in national competition in 1963 where they were named National Runner-Up. She served as State Flora from 1970 to 1978, State Youth Director from 1978 to 1984, First Lady of the Kansas State Grange (Randall being President) from 1984 to 1987, State Treasurer from 1990 to 2000. She was honored as Kansas Granger of the Year in 2006. LaVerne was proud of her immediate family's involvement in the Grange. One of her proudest moments was having 38 family members including children and grandchildren and their spouses and greatgrandchildren attend and be recognized at the National Grange Convention in Wichita, Kansas as a 7th generation Legacy Grange family. Merle, of course, became a member when he and LaVerne were married and they were named Kansas State Grange King and Queen in 2001.

LaVerne was a member of Martha Chapter No. 73 of the Order of Eastern Star, Burlington.  She volunteered with Friends of Coffey County Health System.

LaVerne loved being with immediate and extended family and friends. Not having any sisters, she treasured the friendships of sisters-in-law and special ladies that came into her life. She drove tractors, cooked for the farm hands, helped with the milking and sewed for her daughters from toddler age to wedding dresses. She enjoyed growing beautiful flowers, baking sugar cookies, coloring greeting cards for military, playing solitaire, working on crossword puzzles and word searches. Fried chicken was her favorite food group. She always had a sweet smile and kind word for those she had the pleasure of spending time with.

LaVerne was baptized March 27, 1949. She attended both the Burlington United Methodist and Christian Churches in her adult years. She thoroughly enjoyed the many visits and kindnesses of church members, including the tied prayer blanket presented to her following shoulder surgery this year. It was very much a comfort to her throughout the remainder of her life.

LaVerne was preceded in death by husbands Randall Schif and Merle Smith, infant son Kevin Keith Schif, brother LeRoy Reichardt, brother-in-law Larry Schif, and sister-in-law Donna Schif.

She is survived by her daughters, Randee Farmer (Michael), Augusta, KS, Sheree Damashek (Terry), Burlington, KS, Kristee Strawder, Burlington, KS; and son, Bob Schif (Jean), Derby, KS; her grandchildren, Aimee Damashek, Nicole Wallace (Travis), Katee Lee (Zach), Nathan Strawder (Sarah), Nolan Strawder (Abby), Mandee Shaver (Jake), Jamee Funk (Colby), Kelsee Romero (Dom), Austin Farmer (Brittany), Aaron Schif, Ashlee Schif, Baylee Holmes (Keaton) and Jacob Schif; great-grandchildren, Marlee Wallace, Holden Wallace, Magnolia Lee, Nellie Lee, Hudson Strawder, Haven Strawder, Ellee Shaver, Landon Funk, Jace Funk, Langston Farmer, Henry Farmer, Ainslee Romero, Xander Romero, and Lillee Holmes; brother, Raymond Reichardt (Elizabeth); sister-in-law, Sandy Reichardt; nieces; nephews; stepchildren, Gary Smith (deceased), Sandy Garrett (deceased), Robin Acree, Karla Brown, Linda Mattox, spouses and families; and many other family and friends. She loved and was loved, there is no greater joy.

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 18, 2025, at Jones Funeral Home, Burlington. Family will greet friends Sunday, August 17, 2025, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow the service at Graceland Cemetery, Burlington. Memorial donations may be made to Kansas State Grange, CrossWinds Counseling & Wellness, or Phillips Fundamental Learning Center (Dyslexia) Wichita, KS. Memorials may be sent to Jones Funeral Home PO Box 277 Burlington, KS 66839.

The funeral service will be livestreamed on the Jones Funeral Home facebook page at the time of the service.  Copy the following url and paste it to your address bar.  That will take you to our Facebook page and then you will have to navigate to the livestream post.  Thank you. https://www.facebook.com/jonesfuneralhomeburlingtonks