Vernon Cheney
- Navy

Vernon Oliver Cheney, age 77 of Blaine passed away on September 14, 2025. Vern was a special person to many people.


Vern was born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota on September 14, 1948 to Oliver and Emogean Cheney, the first of six children.


Vern is survived by his wife, Jane Cheney, siblings Dean (Audrey), lone (Denny) Boor, Darrel (Mary Cheney), Myrna (Floyd), and Buffy (Donavan) Arvidson, daughter, Tamara Joy Cheney, adopted son Christopher Luckett-Cheney, as well as children he raised, Tresta Brown, Trish Riel, Kasey Wynkoop, Chris Fetters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews.


Vern was preceded in death by wife Sandra Fetters Cheney, Son Curtis Lee, his parents, Oliver and Emogean, brother-in-law Marlyn Boor, and nephew Michael Cheney.


Vern graduated from high school in Remer, MN in 1968 and worked at Holiday Station Store in Grand Rapids until the draft started in 1966 when he signed up for the Navy with his brother Dean on the "buddy system." He served in the US Navy aboard the USS Knox DE 1052 with two tours of Vietnam and was honorably discharged after 4 years with a national defense service medal, Vietnam service medal with 2 bronze stars, and medal with Republic of Vietnam Campaign medal with device. Upon discharge from the Navy, Vern attended Dakota Technical College with a degree in Autobody repair. Being unfulfilled with that occupation, he and Sandy moved to Grand Rapids obtaining a degree in welding and metal fabrication from Itasca State Junior College.


He and Sandy moved to Rosemount where they lived for 10-12 years. He worked as a welder for DeBourghe for a few years, then moved to Barnum, MN, where he built a house and started taking in foster children. Vern and Sandy were foster parents for 35 years, having had over 100 children in their care through those years. Vern also had a welding shop and built numerous flagpoles through a government contract. Every place we went he could identify his flagpoles which he had built as they had a specialized feature only he could identify.


Having tired of welding, Vern took up truck driving and drove gasoline transport for 25 years retiring in approximately 2015. After retiring, Vern started working with the DAV storing clothes and household goods in his pole building and working with setting up garage sales for Carlton County. He was very happy working with the DAV helping those veterans who were less fortunate. He also busied himself with woodworking and Pinterest ideas building plant stands for his immediate family.


In 2020, Vern and Jane True Sebek started dating and married in March 2023. After Vern and Jane married, they took up traveling. They

shared many memories and miles having traveled the distance of three-fourths the way around the world according to Google Maps.


In June 2025 Vern was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy. Unfortunately, he developed a pulmonary embolism which ended his life.


Vern's legacy could be described in many ways, but helping those he loved was something which was very important to him. Always first to lend a hand or funny or kind words, he was able to meet strangers which more times than not became lifelong friends. May this special man rest in peace knowing that he mentored a lot of friends and people with his patience and knowledge.