Venette Adeline Planting

On April 24, in Arlington, Virginia, Venette left this world to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Although her remaining family greatly misses her, they rejoice that she is now living in His Presence, where there is no more pain and suffering.

Venette was born in Pequot Lakes, a small town in northern Minnesota. She was the third of four children born to Roy Gustafson, son of a Swedish immigrant, and Hilda Gustafson, a Swedish immigrant.

When Venette was two years old, her family moved to Minneapolis, and lived there and also in Mankato until the Depression, when they returned to Minneapolis. During the Depression her family was quite poor, but rich in family relationships and God's blessings.

In 1939 Venette graduated from Minnehaha Academy (high school), fourth in her class of sixty-five, with a one-year scholarship to North Park College in Chicago. After a year at North Park College, she completed her degree in education at St. Cloud Teachers' College, graduating in 1943.

By then the U.S. was involved in World War II, so Venette decided to join the Navy as a WAVE. She liked serving in the Navy, and was assigned to the Bureau of Aeronautics in the Washington, D.C. area as a Yeoman (office worker).

In 1945 Venette took an art class where she met her future husband, Alfred Planting, an economist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They were married July 31, 1945, at the Ft. Myer Chapel, and several months later Venette was honorably discharged from the Navy.

Venette and Al moved from Washington, D.C. and bought a house in Arlington, Virginia in 1949, living there many years to raise their family. After Al's death in 1997, Venette sold the house and moved to Goodwin House near Bailey's Crossroads. She lived there until her recent death.

Through the years Venette was involved in many activities: Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts (assistant leader), art classes, choral groups, sewing and needlecraft, gardening, and volunteer work at the Good News Mission. Some of her ceramic artwork has been displayed in area galleries. She also worked part-time as an executive secretary at the National Academy of Engineering.

Preceding Venette in death were her parents and siblings, her husband Alfred Planting, and her daughter-in-law Caroline Planting. Surviving family members are her daughter Alice Cox and her husband Jim, sons Mark and Ron Planting, grandsons Eric and Nelson Planting, grandson Mark Cox and his wife Sarah, great-grandson Paul Cox, and a number of nieces and nephews and their families.

The King of love my shepherd is,

Whose goodness faileth never;

I nothing lack if I am His

And He is mine forever.