Vern Mathis Sr. age 85, of Mt. Vernon, died Friday, March 21, 2008 at Firesteel Healthcare Center in Mitchell. Funeral services will be 2 PM Tuesday at the Will Funeral Chapel in Mitchell, with burial to follow at the Mt. Vernon Cemetery. Visitation will be held Monday from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Will Funeral Chapel. Vern was born December 30, 1922 to Irving and Jennie (Hemminger) Mathis in Sanborn Co. SD. He attended school in Brule, Davison and Sanborn County, after graduation he worked on the family farm. Vern enlisted in the Army during World War II and served in China and Burma where he received the Soldiers Medal and in India for a short period. On November 18, 1947 he married Pearl Cornwell at Mt. Vernon, SD. They lived on a farm northwest of Mitchell. Vern was a past board member of the Blendon Township Board for nine years and a longtime member of the Farm Bureau. He farmed over fifty years on the same farm. Vern was a seed corn salesman for thirty years and an Archer Oil dealer for thirty five years. He loved to give his grandkids rides on horses and farming was at the top of his list. Grateful for sharing his life were his children Vern Mathis Jr. of Mitchell, SD, John Mathis of Mt. Vernon, SD and Norma Jean (Harvey) Fincher of Sioux Falls, SD; two brothers Marvin (Frances) Mathis of Mitchell, SD and Delbert (Flo) Mathis of Springfield, Ill.; seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Preceded in death by his wife, parents, daughter in infancy, two brothers, two grandchildren and daughter in law.