December 15, 1927 – February 09, 2018

Visitation and Service information

Velma Pauline Zenger, 90, of Oklahoma City, formerly of Blanchard, died Friday, February 9, 2018, in Alva. She was born December 15, 1927 in Enid, Oklahoma to Jake J. and Carrie (Jantz) Becker. She was raised in the Mennonite Church until her parents received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit when Velma was 9 years old. At that time their family began to attend the Enid Pentecostal Holiness Church in which Bud Roberts, Oral Roberts’ father, served as pastor. From the age of 11, Velma began to teach a Sunday School class for children. During the summer of 1945 she was leading the children’s ministry at a camp-meeting for the then, Oklahoma Conference of the Pentecostal Holiness Church where she met a young preacher named James Zenger. When James first saw her, he told the other young ministers who were standing with him, “That’s the girl I’m going to marry.” James and Velma married on September 1, 1945, that same year, and were faithfully devoted to each other for 70 years until her husband and love of her life passed away on July 8, 2016.

Velma loved God and served him faithfully for the entirety of her life. She taught Sunday School for all ages until 2013 when her health began to fail and she had to retire. She was a children’s church director for numerous churches and camp-meetings. She cooked large meals for the men and women who came to work on the Kansas Conference Campgrounds every year in preparation for camp-meeting. She served as the Women’s Ministry Director for the Kansas Conference of the IPHC. She was a faithful pastor’s wife and conference superintendent’s wife. She was the bookkeeper for the Heartland Conference of the IPHC and a mentor to other pastor’s wives.

Velma was a prayer warrior and student of God’s word. She led her family in prayer every night when they were children, praying fervently for God’s hand of protection and guidance over her children’s lives. When anyone, family or otherwise, would call with a need or problem, they knew that Velma was going to bring their situation before the throne of God.

Velma loved her children. Although she came from a background where words and actions of affection were not openly said and displayed, there was never a doubt in any her children’s minds that they were loved by their mother. Even when her children were grown, she would call them regularly and never forgot their birthdays.

Velma loved her grandchildren. They were always in her prayers. She loved to spoil her grandkids with homemade ice cream, cakes, cinnamon rolls, and sticky buns or waffles for breakfast.

Velma was an avid gardener. She definitely had a “green thumb.” Up until the time she was physically unable to do so, she always had a large garden and would generously share the produce and canned foods of her garden with her children and anyone who had need. Her specialties were dill pickles, cinnamon pickles, and homemade jellies.

She also loved her animals. Over the years she raised rabbits (more than 200 at one time), chickens, pheasants, quail, and other exotic birds. And she always had to have at least a couple of dogs and a couple of cats around.

Velma Pauline Zenger was preceded in death by her parents, Jake and Carrie Becker, her husband, James M. Zenger, two daughters, Betty Marline Zenger-Hardesty, and Janet Zenger-Hooks, one brother, Laverne Becker, one brother-in-law, Vernon Flippin, and one son-in-law, Don Lauzet.

She is survived by her children: daughter, Sharon Lauzet of Okarche, Oklahoma, daughter and son-in-law, Helen and Lee McDowell of Carmen, Oklahoma, and son and daughter-in-law, James “Jim” and Rita Zenger of Briscoe, Texas; son-in-law, John Hardesty of Indiana; seven grandchildren, Jack Thompson, David Thompson, Tiffany McBride and husband, Jerrald, James Zenger and wife, Amber, Justin Zenger and wife, Carla, Shawn McDowell and wife, Stephanie, and Justice Wilson and husband, Dewayne; ten great-children; one brother, Delmar Becker and wife, Rosalie, of Wichita, Kansas; one sister, Earline Nix and husband, Roy, of Wichita, Kansas; sister-in-law, Shirley Becker; and many other loved ones and friends.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, February 13, 2018, at the funeral home. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, February 14, 2018, at the Eisenhour Funeral Home Chapel in Blanchard. Burial will follow in the Blanchard Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Eisenhour Funeral Home of Blanchard. Online obituary and guestbook are available at www.eisenhourfh.com.

Services

All services at Eisenhour Funeral Home, 2500 N. Council Avenue, Blanchard, Oklahoma 73010: 

• Viewing — Tuesday, February 13, 2018, 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
• Visitation — Tuesday, February 13, 2018, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• Funeral Service — Wednesday, February 14, 2018, 10:00 AM