LaVerne V. Odegard

LaVerne Virginia (Loing) Odegard passed away on June 18, 2010, at Garden Terrace of Overland Park, Kansas. She was born December 26, 1921, to Selmer and Alma (Sollom) Loing in Grand Forks, North Dakota. She grew up in the Grand Forks area where she met Clifton M. Odegard of nearby Buxton. They were married October 21, 1939, at the Rosendahl Lutheran Church near Reynolds, North Dakota and recently celebrated their 70 years of marriage with their daughter and her family in Kansas. They began their life together in the Buxton area in 1939 where they farmed for over 50 years. Their daughter Phyllis Ann Odegard was born September 29, 1940. As a homemaker, LaVerne's life revolved around family and community and she was an active partner with her husband in his involvement in the rural electrification program and Farmers Union on the local, state and national levels. LaVerne was a member of the Grue Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, and was a member of the Ladies Aid group. She was an active member of the Farmers Union and was a leader in its summer camp program. She enjoyed painting and developed a talent for Norwegian rosemaling. Her creative ideas and sense of humor enlivened family and community gatherings. She and Clifton enjoyed many weekends at their Minnesota lake home where extended family often gathered. They also traveled to visit family and friends in many locations in the United States and Europe. Following their retirement from farming, they moved to Grand Forks where they participated actively in the Sons of Norway. They moved to Kansas in 2001 to be near their daughter and her family. Clifton continues to reside in Kansas at the Garden Terrace of Overland Park. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter Phyllis of Leavenworth, Kansas; grandchildren, Eric and spouse Vicki, Topeka, Kansas; Allison and spouse David Johnson, Overland Park, Kansas; and Ross Smith, Nashville, Tennessee. Other survivors include four great grandchildren, Alexander, Mackenzie and Christina Johnson, Edward Smith and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Odean, sister Betty Loing Jenson and son-in-law LTC. Ray V. Smith. **Memorials may be given to the Grue Lutheran Church and/or Cemetery Fund or to the charity of your choice. FUNERAL SERVICES: 2:00 p.m. Friday, June 25, 2010 at Grue Lutheran Church in Buxton, ND. VISITATION: 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 24, 2010 with a 7:30 p.m. prayer service at Amundson Funeral Home 2975 S. 42nd St. Grand Forks, ND. Visitation will continue for the hour prior to the funeral at the church. INTERMENT: Grue Cemetery, Rural Buxton, ND