Verne Schwartz, age 80, of Alexandria died Friday October 7, 2005 at Avera Brady Health and Rehab. Funeral services will be held 10:30AM Tuesday at the United Methodist Church in Alexandria. Visitation will be Monday from 6 to 8PM with a prayer service at 7:00PM at the Church. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery in Alexandria with military rites. Arrangements are under the direction of the Will Funeral Chapel. Verne was born on March 24, 1925 on a farm south east of Alexandria to George and Ada (Niewald) Schwartz where he grew up and attended country school for eight years. He and his brother Harvey rented a gas station and auto repair shop in Olivet, SD. They then started their own shop on Hwy 42. He eventually became sole owner. He served in the army in Germany during the Korean War from 1950 to 1952. He moved his shop to Alexandria in 1956 where his brother Lawrence had moved his blacksmith shop. Verne expanded into refrigeration and electric motor repair after that. He fished and pheasant hunted in his earlier year. He later enjoyed building and flying radio controlled model airplanes. He would try to repair things that others would not. He married Mary Frances Jones on October 18, 1986 at the United Methodist Church in Alexandria. He is survived by his wife Mary of Alexandria; two sons Brian of Mitchell and Brad of Yankton. Nephews Randy Schwartz of Alexandria and Jerald Hufford of Phillipburg, MO. Three nieces, Mary Jean Schwartz of Mitchell, Margaret Ann Grady of Sun City, AZ, and Patsy Madsen of Pierre. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Melvin, Lawrence and Harvey; one infant sister Bessie, and one niece Janet Walker of Peniose, CO.