Verna Desbien Arpin, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother embraced her Saviour to a life of eternal salvation on June 24, 2019. She died at the Hays Regional Medical Center in Hays. She was born October 31, 1923, at Damar the daughter of Oliver and Blanche Benoit Simoneau. She was a lifetime resident of Damar. She married Philip Desbien November 27, 1945 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Damar. He died March 15, 1995. She married Alfred Arpin December 26, 2001. He died December 21, 2006. She was a retired beautician and owner of Verna’s Beauty Shop for 60 years.

Verna was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Ann Altar Society, and Lifetime member of the Damar Historical Foundation all in Damar and the Bogue
American Legion Women’s Auxiliary. She also enjoyed her membership in the Swinging Wheel Square Dance Club with her husband Philip. They never traveled without packing their dancing clothes. They danced all over in the US including Alaska.

Survivors include four sons, Ed Desbien (Mary) of Boise City, OK, Jim Desbien (Paula) of Plainville, Rich Desbien (Wanda) of Nampa, ID, and Larry Desbien (Chris) of Damar; three daughters, Gerry Larson (Don) of Hays, Chris Sillin of Hutchinson, and Sheila Surmeier (J.F.) of Saint Joseph, MO; one sister Loretta Kruse (Paul) of Peru, NE; 26 grandchildren; 44 great grandchildren; and 2 great great grandchildren; three step-children, Judy Bieker (Bill) of Hays, Dale Arpin (Candy) of Denver, CO, and Renee Marcotte (Tony) of Damar; Caregiver Mary Alton, Walsh, CO; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by one brother, Gerald Simoneau, and a son-in-law Douglas Sillin. She loved unconditionally and was deeply loved by her family and friends.

Mass of Christian burial will be Wednesday at 11:00am at the church in Damar with the Reverend Vincent Thu Hlaing officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery in Damar. Vigil and rosary will be Tuesday at 7pm at the church. Memorials are requested to St. Joseph Catholic Church Memorial Fund or the Damar Community Historical Foundation.