Vendla Elaine Migl

Vendla Elaine Migl, age 91, was made anew to a life with her Lord and Savior on July 5, 2025. Vendla was born on March 26, 1934 in Martin, South Dakota, to Hattie and Albert Usher. She was adopted at 3 years of age by Winifred and Clarence Settle, who were employed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the Lakota Sioux Indian Reservation. She lived on the reservation until she was 16 years old where she attended the Oglala Indian School at Pine Ridge, South Dakota. The family moved to La Junta, Colorado prior to her junior year where she graduated and attended one year of college before moving to Victoria, Texas, where she met and married Oscar Migl, her husband of 65 years. They had two daughters, Dana and Melanie.

She was a member of St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Portland, Texas since 1966. She served our Lord in many capacities at the church over the years. She found joy in the study and teaching of the Word. When she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease she made a transition from physical work to working with her hands by crocheting helmet liners, prayer shawls, making seasonal cards and other items for Care packages to the troops. She also became a Lutheran Brotherhood/Thrivent advocate for 20 years. Since 2014 she was a resident of Brookdale Senior Living in Portland, Texas where she continued sharing her gift of Bible study teaching along with being very involved with the numerous craft projects at the facility. She loved playing the piano over the years but especially used it as a means of enjoying music and sharing it with others. Her final home was at The Viera Assisted Living in Corpus Christi, Texas as of July, 2024 where her crafts found another home along with playing poker, bingo and rummikub. Her personality and resolve in overcoming physical challenges made her many new friends wherever she resided.

She was a loving wife, mother of two, grandmother of four and a great-grandmother of nine. She was preceded in death by her biological parents, Hattie and Albert Usher, along with her adopted parents, Winifred and Clarence Settle, one brother, Dean Usher, and one sister, Ila Mae Piel.

She is survived by the following: her two (2) daughters: Dana Blevins (Don) of Grand Prairie, Texas and Melanie Schmidt (Wesley) of Taft, Texas; her four (4) grandchildren: Jason Blevins (Nellie Summers) of Pflugerville, Texas; Shawna Bradshaw (Chris) of Midlothian, Texas; Luke Schmidt (Kristen) of Fredericksburg, Texas; and Lance Schmidt (Lynann) of Taft, Texas along with her nine (9) great-grandchildren: Trevor Blevins, Treston Blevins, Layla Summers, Paige Summers, Blaine Bradshaw, Bailey Bradshaw, Harper Schmidt, Landen Schmidt, and Levi Schmidt; one brother, Larry Usher, and two (2) sisters: Dorothy Steffgen of Woodland, California and Francis Coy of Hill City, South Dakota.

We are extremely thankful to the following facilities who cared for our Mother over the last few years: Brookdale Northshore Senior Living in Portland, TX, The Viera Assisted Living Facility in Corpus Christi, TX, Girling Personal Care Services in Corpus Christi, TX and Choice Hospice in Corpus Christi, TX. Our personal thanks to the Viera staff from dining to caregiving to medical technicians who made all the difference in her care this year while Mom weathered several health challenges.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Stephen Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 619 Lang Road, Portland, Texas 78374 or to the Houston Area Parkinson Society, 2700 SW Freeway #296, Houston, TX 77098.

Family and friends are invited to attend the service on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at 11:00 AM at St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Portland. Burial service will be at Memory Gardens in Victoria, Texas the following week pending finalization of arrangements.

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of the professionals at Winsteads' Funeral Home. (361) 643-6564 www.winsteadsfuneralhome.com