DeWell, LaVerne E. (Person)

1/18/29 – 11/17/20

Preceded in death by parents, Roy H. Person and Cora (Vandenberg) Person, Brother Roy Person and his wife Marion, Sister Jean Person, sister-in-law Deanna Person, brother-in-law Robert Smith and step-father Milton Davis. She is survived by her husband Roger DeWell, son Thomas DeWell and his wife Wendy (Herbert) DeWell and daughter Jean (DeWell) Northrup and her husband Maurice Northrup. Also survived by grandchildren Melissa (DeWell) Deonarine and husband Mel Deonarine, Katie (DeWell) Prokop and husband Jonathan Prokop and Alexandria Northrup. Laverne also leaves behind great-grandchildren Mason, Bentley, Sophia, Elyana and Jackson; Sister Kay Smith and Brothers John Person and Don (Corrine) Person and many other relatives and friends.
While studying to become a LPN at Miller Hospital in St. Paul, LaVerne met a handsome orderly, Roger DeWell. They married in 1956 and had many good times together sitting around the campfires they called "pow wows" with his brothers and Terri DeWell, her forever friend/sister-in-law and Bev DeWell, Brother Gary DeWell's wife. Caring for others in her kind and loving way, LaVerne loved being a nurse. Later she and Roger would have two children, Thomas and Jean, who, along with her husband of 64 years, she loved taking care of. LaVerne loved recalling her childhood in River Falls, Wisconsin, playing on the Kinnickinnic River with her beloved brothers and sisters. LaVerne loved talking about the yearly family vacations in Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin with her husband and kids. She and Roger were also known for "stopping in" to their brothers', sisters' and friends' homes just to gab. LaVerne was an avid Packers fan who loved Elvis, all music and was an enthusiastic dancer and entertainer on the organ/piano. She played bingo and cards with many good friends and enjoyed the occasional one-armed-bandit at the casinos. She went on many day trips with her family and enjoyed the beauty of nature. Her "Million Dollar Family", as she would refer to them, brought her great joy as she did them. At visit's end she hugged each person tight and with an "I love you, honey" waved at the front door as they left for home. She always knew how to make everyone she knew feel loved and valued.
Just as the sun was setting on November 17, 2020, LaVerne reached out to Jesus. He in turn reached out to her and took her to her forever home. She will forever remain in our hearts until we meet again.
A celebration of life will be planned for Spring/Summer of 2021 for all to honor her. Check back for updates.

The Dash by Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning… to the end.
He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears.
But, he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them know what that little line was worth.
For it matters not, how much we own, the cars… the house… the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard; are there things you'd like to change? For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.
To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile… remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy is being read, with your life's actions to rehash… would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?