Bernetta "BJ" Jean Verley

Bernetta “BJ” Jean Verley, 77, of South Sioux City, NE, passed away at a local hospital on April 17, 2026. A funeral service will be held Friday, April 24 at 11:00 a.m., with a visitation 1 hour prior at Southern Hills Baptist Church. Burial will be at Omaha Valley Cemetery in Homer, NE. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City.

BJ was born on April 16, 1949, in Akron, IA, to Everett and Darlene (Guy) Marple. She attended Garland School (one-room schoolhouse near Akron, Iowa) and later, public schools in Beresford, SD, and Sioux City (Riverside) before moving to South Sioux City and graduating from South Sioux City High School in 1967. She later continued her education at WIT and graduated with two diplomas from within their Mechanical Engineer Technician program.

She worked at a turkey processing plant, Zenith, McCracken Concrete Pipe Co., Sioux City Postal Workers Credit Union, and a ladies’ clothing store. Most recently (for nearly 20 years), BJ worked for Premier Bank Card - working right up until she entered the hospital this year.

BJ was united in marriage to Alan Verley on July 2, 1977. A loving wife and mother, and loyal friend to many; BJ’s favorite thing to do was spending time with her family and friends. She loved animals and always had a dog (sometimes, more than one). She bred and sold Chihuahuas and Yorkies, always prioritizing that they go to good homes over profits.

BJ accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior early in life. She loved children and had a heart for disabled people. When she was still in high school, she taught Sunday school at North Sioux City Baptist. She later worked with kids in AWANA at Central Baptist and in Kids ROCK at Heartland Baptist. She volunteered and helped with Special Olympics for many years.

Those left to honor her memory include her husband, Alan Verley; daughter, Pamela (John) Lerch of Sioux City; granddaughter, Amber Bailey of Sioux Falls; sister, Arlowene Washburn of South Sioux City; nephews, Jerrid (Shannon) Washburn of White Sulphur Springs, MT; and Justin (Kendra) Washburn of Vail, AZ; and many friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents and Wayne Shanks (stepfather), Russell & Pearl Verley (father & mother in-law) and Larry Washburn (brother-in-law).