Verna Emma (Leiby) Dietrich, 93, of Albany Township, died peacefully on Aug. 7, 2024.

Born March 13, 1931, on her maternal grandparents’ farm in Perry Township, she was the eldest daughter of George C. and Florence E. (Epting) Leiby.

She grew up on her family’s farms in Perry and neighboring Windsor Township, where a hard work ethic was instilled at a young age.

She fondly spent a great deal of time with her paternal grandmother, Amelia (Schappell) Leiby.

She attended one-room schoolhouses and Perry Township High School until 10th grade.

She left school to help on the family’s farms and took a job as a forelady at Burkey Underwear Factory, Hamburg.

The money she saved helped buy the first modern hay baler for the new life on which she was about to embark.

She married Willard Forrest Dietrich (May 12, 1928-Aug. 29, 2001) on Aug. 2, 1952, and together, they moved in with his parents, Howard W. and Edna M. (Danner) Dietrich, on the family dairy farm in Albany Township.

After her father-in-law’s death in 1956, she and her husband purchased the farm and continued operations while expanding the dairy herd and raising their three sons.

In addition, she and her family began a small huckster route in Hamburg, offering farm-fresh goods door to door.

They sold a variety of goods, from eggs to feedbags, vegetables to butchering concoctions produced in the farm’s wash house, and just about anything else someone needed that they could provide.

The following year, the family began tending a small table offering similar goods at Renninger’s Farmers Market, Kutztown, and continues to do so today.

In 1975, she and her family combined their skills and opened Dietrich’s Meats & Country Store, Krumsville, a newly-built, USDA-inspected butcher shop and country store dedicated to the traditional Pennsylvania German food ways.

A natural-born saleslady, her quick wit and authenticity captured the attention of her customers and empowered her to build a local following, in addition to out-of-towners from up and down the East Coast.

Many of these folks became dear friends and could not travel the I-78 corridor without stopping — “My car automatically turned into your parking lot.”

Not one to sit idle, she worked daily into her high 80s and continued to be present to greet customers until her final day.

Proud of her Pennsylvania German heritage, she spoke the dialect with a distinctive accent.

She loved taking part in the Kutztown Folk Festival since 1984 and was honored for her dedication in 2023.

Her lifelong contribution and commitment to the Pennsylvania German culture are immeasurable.

Although modest, her passion, business intuition, homespun charm and natural ability to engage led her to become a regional celebrity.

She and her foods have been featured in countless articles, media and national publications, including her iconic WEEU Radio spots, WFMZ-TV features, Reading Eagle, The Morning Call, Philadelphia Inquirer, Vogue, O Magazine, Saveur, Town and Country, Bon Appètit, Cooks Illustrated, Pennsylvania Dutch Country Cooking, The Pleasures of Slow Food, and The Passing Scene Series.

Baptized and confirmed at Zions Church, Windsor Castle, after her marriage, she joined her husband’s family church, Friedens Lutheran Church, Stony Run.

She was a member of the Kempton Community Center, Kempton Fire Company, Kempton Rod and Gun Club, Virginville Fire Company and Virginville Grange.

She, her husband and three sons were honored as the 1973 Berks County Outstanding Farm Family by the Reading Fair.

To carry on her legacy, she leaves behind three sons: Glenn W., Lynn A. (Deborah S. Schwartz), Marlin G. (Dawn M. Miller), all of Albany Township; grandchildren Katie L. Gerber, Emily B. Kutz, Erin L. Noll, and Andrew M., Anson P., Dean A., Carin L. and Nathan A. Dietrich; great-grandchildren Owen P. Kutz, Madison K. Noll, Amelia S. Dietrich, Rhett A. Geisinger, Easton J. Noll, Willard F. Dietrich, Rhys N. Geisinger, and Esdon K. Dietrich; sister Jean I. Reber-Hale of Windsor Township; nieces; nephews; cousins; friends; employees and customers.

A public “come and go” gathering of fellowship will take place from 4-8 p.m. Aug. 25 in Goodman Hall at Kempton Community Center, 83 Community Center Drive, Kempton.

A graveside service for family and friends will take place 6 p.m. Aug. 15 at Friedens Cemetery, Red Road (Stony Run), Kempton.

The Rev. Donald C. Simmons will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to the Kempton Rod and Gun Club, P.O. Box 72, Kempton, PA 19529, or to Friedens Cemetery, c/o Steven D. Meck, 30 Donat Road, Lenhartsville, PA 19534.

Condolences may be offered at nesterfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements were made by Nester Funeral Home Inc., New Tripoli.