LaVerne E. Olson

LaVerne Olson, 96, of Wakefield, NE, passed away Sunday, February 8, 2015 at the Wakefield Care Center in Wakefield, NE. Funeral Services will be Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Wakefield, NE; with Pastor Kelly Johnston officiating. Visitation will be Monday, February 9, 2015 from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Bressler-Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Wakefield NE. A prayer service will begin at 7:00 p.m. Burial will be at the Wakefield Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation. Arrangements are under the direction of Bressler-Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Wakefield, NE. LaVerne was born July 15, 1918 to Paul and Mabel (Munson) Olson on a farm southwest of Wakefield. She was baptized and confirmed at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Wakefield. As a child she attended District 59 Country School and graduated from Wakefield High School in 1935. Even with three brothers, LaVerne enjoyed working outside and helping on the farm. Her first chore was mowing hay with a team of slow plow mules. Her mother taught her to sew, and she made her own clothes and worked on various crafts. She cleaned houses for $3 a week until her mother became ill. LaVerne had the privilege of caring for her mother and her cousins Evelyn and Eldon Felt after their mother’s death. After LaVerne’s mother died, she felt God’s call. LaVerne attended and graduated from North Park College and Bible Institute in Chicago, IL. This led to her working at the Austin Covenant Church, Chicago Covenant Church, First Covenant Church in Rockford, IL, Edina Baptist and Billey Graham Ministries in Minneapolis, MN. LaVerne was privileged to serve on many boards and committees. Several weekends a year, LaVerne worked as a trainer for Sunday school teachers at seminars while working with Gospel Light Publications. LaVerne enjoyed the challenges of traveling around the country. Family was very important to LaVerne; trying to remember birth dates of three brothers and their spouses, nieces, nephews, 17 great nieces and nephews, and 53 great-great nieces and nephews, and cousins. She is survived by two very special people and their families, Evelyn Corens and Eldon Felt, sister-in-laws Vivian (Mrs. Myron) Olson, Maxine (Mrs. Glen) Olson, and many nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews. LaVerne was welcomed into heaven by her parents, an infant sister, brothers Elvis, Glen and Myron, a nephew Rick Olson and two sister-in-laws Winsome and Vendla.