Laverna Evelyn Markgraf - Wood Lake

LaVerna Evelyn (Pruess) Markgraf age 103, of LaCrosse, WI, formerly of Wood Lake died at the Bethany Riverside Home in LaCrosse, WI on Thursday, August 29, 2013. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wood Lake. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service on Wednesday. Online condolences may be placed for LaVerna at www.sunsetfuneralassociation.com. The Sunset Funeral & Cremation Association is caring for the family. LaVerna Evelyn (Preuss) Markgraf was born August 15, 1910, in Posen Township, Echo, MN . She was the daughter of Otto and Ida (Gums) Preuss. She was baptized as an infant and later confirmed in her faith at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Posen Township. She received her early education at Pleasant Hill School near her home and at St. Luke's Lutheran School. She graduated from Echo High School. After attending Mankato Teacher's College, she returned to her country school as the teacher. LaVerna was united in marriage to Walter Markgraf at St. Luke's Lutheran Church on October 31, 1930. Their marriage was blessed with two daughters and two sons. The couple farmed in the Wood Lake area for fifteen years before operating the Rock Valley Store and Walt's Hardware in Wood Lake. Later they resided in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and in Eden Prairie. The couple retired in Hutchinson.. LaVerna and Walter shared 56 years of marriage before Walter passed away in 1986. She resided with her daughter and son-in-law in Onalaska, Wisconsin, from 1998 to July 2012. She spent the final year of her life at Hearten House assisted living facility and Bethany Riverside Nursing Home in La Crosse, Wisconsin. LaVerna was a humble and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She enjoyed many friends and relatives and served her Lord in various church activities. She is survived by her children: Virginia (Harold) Sorensen, St. Cloud, MN, Muriel (Carl) Bartels, Onalaska, WI, Dale (Becky) Markgraf, New Ulm, MN, and Darwin(Cathy) Markgraf, Grand Rapids, MN. ; 13 grandchildren: Craig Sorensen, Anoka, MN, Kevin Sorensen, St. Louis Park, MN, Jonathan Bartels, Dent, MN, Andrew Bartels, LaCrosse, WI, Julie Walleck, Holmen, WI, Jennifer Baughman, Galesburg, IL, Nancy Parcher, LaCrosse, WI, Beth Kretsch, New Ulm, MN, Daniel Markgraf, Cincinnati, OH, Peter Markgraf, Sioux Falls, SD, Wendy Menard, LaBelle, FL, Amy Rich, New Ulm, MN, and Eric Markgraf, Hanover, MN; thirty- six great grandchildren, and five great- great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Walter, and one great grandson. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. Rev. 4:13