LaVerne was born January 5, 1917 on the family homestead farm near Newburg, Minnesota to Bennett and Tilla (Garness) Johnson. He attended the Newburg School through the 8th grade and graduated from Mabel High School in 1934. He attended Winona Business College for a short time, but became sick with hepatitis and wasn’t able to continue.
He moved with the family to Tawney, Minnesota in 1932 and during the depression years worked on the construction of dams on the Mississippi River and later as a farm hand with his father and surrounding neighbors.
In 1938 he started farming on his grandfather’s farm near Newburg, where LaVerne was born and lived until 1932. On October 5, 1940 he was united in marriage to Mildred Anderson at the Elstad Lutheran Church, rural Lanesboro, Minnesota. In January, 1946 they moved to the Luther Kingstad farm near Tawney and stayed there until retiring to Mabel in 1985. He always regarded Luther as a special friend.
He enjoyed farming, the Hereford and Holstein cattle, John Deere tractors, straight corn rows, well-kept machinery, and had a great concern for soil conservation. He was an avid reader with a special interest in history, sports, church history, and helping people with genealogy. He also liked bookkeeping and during high school wrote a sports page for “The Mabel Hi-lites”. He enjoyed playing Horseshoes, Croquet, and Dartball, and visiting with “Coffee Buddies” at Mabel restaurants. After retiring he helped with the Steam Engine Museum, former neighbors with spring field work, and meals on wheels.
He was a life-long member of the Scheie Lutheran Church where he was baptized, confirmed, attended Sunday School, and served on the council.
LaVerne passed away Saturday, January 26, 2013 at the Green Lea Manor Nursing Home in Mabel at the age of 96.
LaVerne is survived by his wife Mildred of Mabel; two children LaVaughn (Paul) Vitse of Mabel, and Jim (Barb) Johnson of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; three grandchildren Cassie (Ben) Brenden, Clay (Beth) Johnson, and Camren Johnson; four great grandchildren Hailey and Hannah Brenden, and Myles and Reed Johnson; a sister Shirley Ellestad of Spring Grove; and sister-in-laws Dagney Anderson, Marian Anderson, Dorothy Anderson, and Irma Johnson; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother Lela (Springmire) Johnson; son-in-law and grandson Robert and Todd Johnson; and brothers Dale and Wayne Johnson.
Funeral services will be 11AM Thursday, January 31, 2013 at the Scheie Lutheran Church in rural Mabel with the Rev. Mary Waudby officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 – 6 Wednesday at the Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel and one hour prior to services at the church. |
