LaVerna Janke, 81, Dickinson, formerly of Wishek, died on Sunday, March 10, 2024 at St. Luke’s Home, Dickinson. LaVerna’s Celebration of Life Service will be at 6 p.m., Friday, March 22, 2024 at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with Pastor Lisa Lewton as officiant. Interment will take place at 1 p.m. CT, Saturday March 23, 2024 at Ashley City Cemetery, Ashley. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.
LaVerna Brandner was born on February 5, 1943 to John and Pauline (Klooz) Brandner in Eureka, SD. Her life started on a farm near Eureka, with her brother, Glenn. LaVerna and her family moved to a farm northwest of Hosmer, and later the family moved to a farm east of Hosmer. She attended school in a rural one room schoolhouse through the eighth grade. Their family raised cattle, pigs, horses, turkeys, chickens, geese, and ducks. In the early years, they did not have electricity, so everything was done by hand. LaVerna was petite in stature but had a fierce work ethic.
At a very young age, LaVerna married Herbert Janke on October 2, 1959 in Ashley. They raised three boys, Delbert, Herbert Jr., and Brian on a small farm 12 miles southwest of Wishek. At the family farm they raised cattle, horses, chickens, pigs, and milked.
She started a career at the Wishek Living Center in 1980 as a CNA. She was a very dedicated employee, working in the therapy department. She enjoyed her job, working closely with the residents. It brought her great joy to do things for the residents as she was blessed with such a caring nature. She liked to wear to work bright or fun themed scrubs and dress up for the holidays. What the residents would see on the outside was exactly who she was on the inside: radiant and filled with joy and energy. LaVerna brought smiles to the Wishek Living Center for 38 years.
Socializing with the neighbors, while playing cards and drinking coffee were many of her favorite things to do. LaVerna liked going on road trips, shopping, attending parades and auction sales. She travelled many miles to Dickinson to spend time with her children and grandchildren. LaVerna had a weakness for Pepsi, Hershey kisses and roast beef sandwiches. She will forever be remembered for her feisty, but loving personality. She had a variety of tastes in music, polkas to Daniel O’Donnell. She was a woman of faith and was truly a gift to our family that never stopped giving.
LaVerna is survived by her three boys, Delbert (Rose) Janke, Dickinson, Herbert Janke Jr., Dickinson, and Brian (Connie) Janke, Dickinson; grandchildren, DelRae (Josh) Olheiser, Dickinson, Samantha (Gary) Preston, Dickinson, Dylon Janke, Dickinson, Cera (Nathan Briese) Janke, Elgin, Justin (Annie Michels) Janke, Dickinson, and Jade (Ashley) Janke; great-grandchildren, McKenzi and Camden Olheiser, Dickinson, Caiya Briese, Elgin, Witten Janke, Dickinson, and Brayden Michels, Dickinson.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert; brother, Glenn; her parents; and daughter-in-law, Lois Janke.
