Vera Ann "Liz" Goldberg

Vera Ann “Liz” Goldberg, 83, Hilliard, Ohio, died peacefully at home on Aug. 29, 2026, surrounded by her family. Born on Nov. 23, 1942, the daughter of Dorothy Smith in Redby, Minnesota. She grew up on the Ojibwe Red Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota, with periods of hospitalization due to childhood affliction with tuberculosis, and moved to the Twin Cities area in her late teens. As an adult, Vera worked in administrative positions with the State of Minnesota and Metropolitan State University, prior to retirement and relocation to Ohio to be closer to her sons.

Proud of her Native heritage, Vera enjoyed attending pow wows when she could, and was a serious fan of Navajo artist R.C. Gorman. She had a quick wit, infectious sense of humor and was an avid reader. When she liked you, you knew you had a friend. She loved the outdoors and was a capable canoeist and camper while raising her sons. Vera also enjoyed a wide range of music and sports, especially golf, tennis, and women’s basketball.

Vera will be remembered for her caring personality, curiosity, kindness to family and friends, and her great, wry sense of humor. She leaves a family that was proud to call her mom and grandma, and which was deeply grateful to share life with her.

She was preceded in death by her mother, brothers Jim and Darrell, and a sister Brenda.

Vera is survived by son David and his wife Jennifer of Hubbard, Ohio; sons Dennis–her primary caregiver in recent years—and Christopher, who shared caretaking responsibilities, and daughter Raistlin, all of Hilliard, Ohio; grandson Jacob of Lebanon, PA; former husband Paul of Silver Springs, MD; brother Gerald of Redby, MN; and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews, mostly in the Twin Cities area.

Celebrations of her life will be held in September at Corner House Christian Church in Hubbard, Ohio, and on Sunday, Oct. 18, at the Minneapolis American Indian Center in Minnesota.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Minneapolis American Indian Center, supporting the roles, rights, and preservation of Native American culture within contemporary society. The center is located at 1530 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404 or maicnet.org.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Shaw-Davis Funeral Homes & Cremation Services in Columbus, Ohio.