Laverne Ahrens

LaVerne Ahrens died peacefully in Montclair Park Assisted Living, Pouslbo, Washington on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at the age of 85. She was surrounded by her beloved family and staff. LaVerne had been diagnosed with brain cancer this past year. Services will be held at St John Lutheran Church in Belle Plaine with visitation 2 hours prior to the 11:00 AM service on Saturday, November 23, 2013. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Belle Plaine. LaVerne was born in Belle Plaine, Minnesota on a farmstead on April 8, 1928 to Walter and Pearl (Chard) Holste. She was the eldest of two daughters. LaVerne and family were members of the Presbyterian Church. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. She was a graduate from Belle Plaine High School and involved in the band and glee club. LaVerne was then employed at Austin Mutual Insurance Company in Minneapolis. In 1947, she married Raymond Ahrens at St. John's Lutheran Church in Belle Plaine. Their marriage was blessed with two sons, Wayne and Glenn. Raymond and LaVerne owned two milk routes, Ahrens Trucking Service, a gravel business, and farmed. LaVerne was employed at Green Giant for fifteen years. After which she worked for Scott County for two years. LaVerne was a life member of the American Legion and VFW ladies auxilary. She was a member of various church organizations, including the choir during high school. After retirement, Ray and LaVerne moved to a home on East Silent Lake near Dent, Minnesota, then to a home on North Lida Lake, and then to a home in Pelican Rapids. They wintered in Pharr, Tx for several years. After Ray died, LaVerne moved back to Cardinal Ridge apartments in Belle Plaine and then moved to Poulsbo, Washington to live with her son and his wife, Glenn and Myrna and near his family. She is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Wayne Ahrens from Plymouth, WI, and Glenn & Myrna (Franklin) Ahrens from Poulsbo, WA; four grandchildren, Steve & Michelle (Ahrens) Kamrowski from Menasha, WI, Troy Ahrens from Madison, WA, Chuck and Anna (Zotalis) Ahrens from University Place, WA, and Mark Ahrens from Tacoma, WA; seven great grandchildren Melissa, Connor, and Tyler Kamrowski, Tyler and Carter Ahrens, Addison and Mia Ahrens; and sister, Bernice and James Goebel from Richfield, MN; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by husband, Ray Ahrens; her parents; her grandparents, Herman and Johanna (Kartes) Holste, Norman and Christina (Bauer) Chard; her aunts and uncles, Rose, Julius, Arthur, Victor, Mildred, and Yuanita Holste, George, Henry and Grace, Arthur and Inez (Scott), Howard and Alice (Waldron), Melvin and Joyce (Vach) Chard, Emil and Ida (Chard) Holste; and her sister and brother-in-laws, Otto and Viola (Ahrens) Stier, Wilmer and Adeline (Freter) Ahrens, Charles and Stella (Ahrens) Reinke, Clarence and Erma (Ahrens) Buszmann, Dick and Ruby (Ahrens) Teschendorf, and baby sister (Ahrens). LaVerne will be remembered for her love of life, love for her family and the great outdoors. She enjoyed traveling, fishing, boating, and gardening. She was a lifetime learner and enjoyed books, animals, playing cards, puzzles, and crossword puzzles. Her greatest love was being with family and friends.