March 26, 1928 - July 6, 2019
LaVerne Mae Exstrom (nee, Swenson) age 91, passed away July 6, 2019. She was the daughter of Edward and Agnes (nee, Anderson) Swenson, born March 26, 1928 in Milan, MN. She graduated from Columbia Heights High School in 1945 where she was elected to the “Quill and Scroll” honorary society for high school journalists. She married Dwight Exstrom on June 23, 1956, and they lived in Richfield, MN, and Lakeland, FL. LaVerne worked for Sears Roebuck for 45 years, retiring in 1990. LaVerne and Dwight enjoyed 49 years of marriage until Dwight’s passing in Jan. 2006. She was a member of Richfield Lutheran Church and part of the Naomi Circle, active in T.O.P.S., and a member of the Scarlette Belles Red Hat Society in the Twin Cities and a group in Florida. In 2015, she moved into Walker Care Suites where she actively participated in activities and field trips, and never missed a bingo game. She loved word search puzzles and playing Yahtzee with her family. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dwight; brother, Glenn; sister-in-law, Rachel and other extended family. She is survived by nieces, nephews and friends.
Memorials preferred to the American Heart Association.
Funeral Service
Friday, July 12, 2019
11:00 AM
Morris Nilsen Funeral Chapel
6527 Portland Ave. S.
Richfield, MN 55423
Visitation
Friday, July 12, 2019
10:00-11:00 AM
Morris Nilsen Funeral Chapel
6527 Portland Ave. S.
Richfield, MN 55423
She was a great example of kindness, caring and good humor. I will miss her. I am grateful to have been blessed by her presence in my life. I know she has found God’s peace as she so richly deserves. I also know she is joyfully reunited with Dwight after a long time apart.
We send our condolences to LaVernes family. She was a great gal and we will miss her. Peace to her memory. Bud and Elaine Exstrom, brother of Dwight.
We adored dear Aunt LaVerne “Vernie”. What a wonderful woman and how lucky we were to share the great times we could with she and Uncle Chick. My mom (Delores Mae Exstrom Cavanaugh) always had the best connections with all the Exstrom family and I’m blessed to have known all my Aunts, Uncles, cousins and extended relatives. I’ll always remember how excited LaVerne was when mom and I called her in my moms last year of life on earth. She radiated through the phone and we had wonderful chats which brought great joy to mom and I as well! All our love to the whole family and we know those reunited in heaven are having a magnificent reunion! Love, Dan and Deb (Cavanaugh) Dorn, Minden, NE.
I have so many fond memories of you, LaVerne.
The good times we had at Margaret & Bea’s house in Bloomington,
at their cabin on the island, at the Big Pines Resort and, of course,
at Twin Palms Mobile Home Park in Lakeland, FL where Monday night
Bingo was the best!
You and Dwight were so much a part of the Dierling-McLaughlin dynasty…
weddings, graduations, funerals, retirements or just fun parties, you were there!
I will remember you as a person who valued your Christian faith,
your marriage, your family, lifelong friendships and your loyal work ethic.
I will be 70 in a couple weeks and I can say I have known you for the majority of those years.
How lucky am I?
Rest now in the arms of the Lord; Peace be with you.
Mary Dierling
(sister of Bea Dierling, godchild of Margaret McLaughlin both of whom were longtime co-workers of Laverne at Sears Roebuck)
As Parish Nurse at Richfield Lutheran and having grown up there , I had the great pleasure of knowing this delightful lady. We had a number of fun visits and I will miss her kind, beautiful smile. Robbi Moore