Our dear sister, LaVerna M. (Krause) Wescoat was born in rural Keith County on September 18, 1927. She passed away at the Great Plains Health Center in North Platte, NE on July 12, 2021.
LaVerna was the first child born to Glenn and Matilda (Jantzen) Krause, and the first grandchild born to John and Alma (Witmus) Krause and Franklin and Anna (Willems) Jantzen.
Two years later, when the family had moved to Jansen, NE, she became ‘big sister’ to her baby brother, Donald Dean. He was born with Spina Bifida, but LaVerna had fond memories of entertaining him and making him laugh, before he passed away in the Spring of 1931. Perhaps this was the beginning of her life-long honorable reputation of “big sister” and “entertaining fun lover” which she claimed and certainly deserved.
LaVerna began her formal education in Grade 1 in Jansen, NE. Shortly after, the family moved west to rural Keith County where she attended a one-room school south of Paxton. Before the family moved to North Platte in 1936, she became a “big sister” two more times, when Vonnie and Phyllis joined the family. With the exception of her junior high years, where she graduated 8th Grade as Salutatorian in Washington, KS, she attended schools in North Platte. She was part of the NPHS class of 1944. Her post-high school education included a year at Calvary Bible College in Kansas City and graduation in 1948 from Faith College, then called Omaha Bible College. When she would come home for visits, she thrilled and entertained us with wild stories of life in the big city (some were true!). In addition, she took a variety of courses from Omaha University and North Platte Community College. Her learning never ended as she had an inquisitive and ever-exploring mind combined with wonderful creative skills.
Many of LaVerna’s contributions to her family and others were simply learned without formal training. She kept her family in haircuts and curls. Most of our clothes were skillfully and fashionably created by her. This included her three sisters’ wedding gowns as well as her own.
The year 1944 marked the beginning of LaVerna’s working career. She taught at Sunnyhill School, the same school she had attended as a child, south of Paxton. That year she also was privileged to become ‘big sister’ once more when baby Mary Ellen arrived. Other employment was for the Douglas County Superintendent of Schools in Omaha and Radio Station KNBR In North Platte. By now the ‘big city was calling once again.' This time it was Denver. She worked as assistant to the president of Denver Wood, Hallcraft, and Hutchinson Homes. In 1970, she married Howard Wescoat, originally from Stapleton. They resided in Arvada until he was transferred to Omaha by his employer. Here she worked as a transcriber for Douglas County Court Reporter and later as secretary/tour guide for NW Bell. When they moved back to North Platte, she continued with NW Bell until their office closed.
LaVerna had a strong faith in God and church was very important to her. Her mother led her to the Lord at the age of nine, and she was baptized along with her father and joined the Berean Church in North Platte in 1940. She used her gifts of teaching and leadership to direct a children’s choir, teach Sunday school, children’s church, direct DVBS, and sing in the choir and small groups. During their stay in Denver, they were active and involved in the Community Baptist Church, and while in Omaha, at Harvey Oaks Baptist Church. Later on, after returning to North Platte, she, along with her husband, sponsored the Berean Church Singles’ Group and directed the church social activities. She was missionary group leader and secretary of the women’s executive board of the Berean Church for a number of years. Other volunteer church positions of leadership were the Young at Heart and Benevolence Committee. She also had a warm spot in her heart for Maranatha Camp, volunteering as part of a Maranatha Camp promotional team travelling throughout Nebraska in the 1950s. In recent years she volunteered at Camp in the Sweet Shop.
Outside the church, LaVerna held several positions on the board of the local Christian Women’s Club and Gideon Auxiliary, where she served in local, state, and inter-national leadership roles. She loved travelling and speaking to Gideon's groups throughout the USA.
Her love for the artistic and esthetic led her, together with her husband, to grow dahlias, both at home and as a project for the Western Nebraska Research Center. With her gifts of leadership and creativity, she became a National Representative for American Dahlia Society. She was also a member of the Colorado Dahlia Society, the Spade and Hope Garden Club, State President of the Nebraska Flower Show Judges’ Council, and life member of National Garden Club. She also served as a Life Nationally Accredited Flower Show judge. In later years she became a Member Emeritus. She had a knack for arranging flowers and shared many gorgeous bouquets with the church as well as with shut-ins and hospital patients and for various civic events. She was a judge at flower shows, county fairs, dahlia exhibitions, etc. and was a volunteer with RSVP. She was also a very respectable painter in oils.
LaVerna loved to keep busy, but always had time for her friends and a good card or dominoes game or a trip to Cody Park for an ice cream. Although she had no children of her own, she loved her nieces and nephews (and their children) as if they were her children. They knew and felt that, and as a result she was a favorite aunt to all of them. Even young adults in the church were drawn to her and lovingly called her “Grandma.”
The four Krause sisters were known for their hilarious sister biennial reunions over the past 25 years. It was usually LaVerna who planned the entertainment and made the appropriate costumes for each place (show girls for Las Vegas, Amish girls for Pennsylvania, cowgirls for North Platte, Red Racers in Branson, etc.)
LaVerna is survived by her three sisters: Vonnie (Ward) Childerston of Hagerstown, MD; Phyllis Wiebe of Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada; and Mary Ellen (Loren) Miller of Castor, Alberta Canada. Her beloved nieces and nephews: Jim (Carolyn) Childerston and family; Tim (Beth) Childerston; Steve (Carrie) Childerston and family, Jon (Reba) Childerston and family; Joel (Brenda) Wiebe and family, Lori Wiebe, Karis Wiebe and family; Mitch (Angie) Miller and family, Jill (Delvin) Bossert and family, and Steven Miller. She is also survived by Howard’s daughters: Pam and Lisa Wescoat of North Platte, and one sister-in-law, Violet (Bob) Hall of Denver.
Graveside service and inurnment will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at North Platte City Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 1:30 p.m. at the Berean Church.
Donations in memory of LaVerna Wescoat may be made to Maranatha Camp, Gideon's, or a charity of your choice.
LaVerna’s daily prayer was ‘Lord, please bless me and make me a blessing.” And He surely did.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.carpentermemorial.com.