Obituary of LaVerne Gruwell Larson

LaVerne Gruwell Larson was born July 22, 1923, in Hutchinson, Ks as the first child of Walter and Meta Seiker. She passed away August 26, 2015 at Bethany Home, Lindsborg, Ks. She recently celebrated her 92nd birthday surrounded by her new friends at the Bethany Home Assisted Living facility along with her family. LaVerne attended Bethany College in Lindsborg where she met the love of her life, Gene Larson of Scandia Ks. They were united in marriage on January 24, 1944 in Hutchinson, Ks. They shared a wonderful life together of over fifty years prior to Gene's passing in 1996. Her parents and brother, Robert Seiker, preceded her in death. LaVerne and Gene chose to spend most of their life together in Lindsborg after brief stays in New York and Halstead, Ks. It was in Lindsborg where they raised their three children in the community they both loved so dearly. LaVerne was a lifelong homemaker whose joy in life was centered around her home, family, and friends. She excelled in cooking and entertaining throughout her life. She was a talented seamstress in a manner honed from her mother. Bridge playing, golf, and following the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs were among her favorite pasttimes. The cultural opportunities she was able to witness and participate in brought particular joy to LaVerne's life. She and her brother performed as young children together and it carried over into her adult life. She had a beautiful alto voice that she shared with her church choir and the Messiah Oratorio Society. She was a thespian and shared those talents with Broadway RFD for a few summers. A devotion to the community of Lindsborg and Bethany College saw her participate in many functions along with Gene as both felt a commitment to preserving and enhancing the culture arts. LaVerne and Gene were fortunate to be able to travel, many times with dear friends Judy and Arvin Hahn, to far away destinations. But it was LaVerne's destiny to share her time and talents with her family and friends here in the community she loved so much. She will be remembered for her unwavering love and support of family, her sense of humor , and her kind and generous spirit. Left to cherish LaVerne's memory are her three children, daughter Rebecca Anderson (Carl B, deceased), Lindsborg, Ks; son David Larson, Lindsborg, Ks; son William Larson (Ann), Louisville, Ky; and four grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. The family wishes to express their gratitude to the Bethany Home Assisted Living, Bethany Home, and Dr. Henry Reed, Salina, Ks for their dedicated and loving care of our mother. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am, Friday September 4, 2015 at Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lindsborg, Ks with Pastor Ralph Anderson officiating. A private burial service at Smoky Hill Cemetery will precede the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Gene and LaVerne Larson Scholarship, Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas 67456 or in care of Christians Funeral Home, 103 N. Washington, Lindsborg, Ks 67456.