LaVerna Marie (Braun) Younger, 90, left this life on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, at Locust Grove Village, La Crosse, Kansas, surrounded by her family.
LaVerna was born on March 6, 1932, in Hays, Kansas, to Frank J. and Helen (Brungardt) Braun. She was the second of five children raised on the Braun Dairy Farm north of Hays. One of her childhood chores was milking dairy cows before school. She often blamed her arthritic fingers on her milking cows, but she was especially proud of how hard her parents and her siblings worked on the family farm.
LaVerna attended Hays schools and graduated from Girls Catholic High School in 1950. She was employed at Spiess Bookkeeping Service until she married the love of her life, Bernard A. Younger on June 10, 1952. He was one of twelve children of Jacob and Catherine Younger, and at the time of their marriage, he was a member of the Signal Corps of the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana. After serving his duty and being honorably discharged, Bernie and LaVerna returned to Hays in February 1953.
Together they owned and operated the Jobbership for Sunray DX Oil Co. in Hays and Russell and later started their own business, Younger Propane. She was the bookkeeper for several other jointly owned family businesses throughout the years including Younger Party Mix, BA Younger Oil, and various rental properties.
LaVerna and Bernie built their home on Toulon Road in 1955 and resided there throughout their 50-year marriage. They celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary with their family shortly before Bernie’s passing on October 20, 2002. Mom spent the 20 years after his death missing him and continuing to love and honor his memory. She spread the love they shared with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her home was meticulous and her flower gardens flourished. Many of her friends and family wear winter scarves that she knitted and many of her needlepoint pictures and embroidered tea-towels are displayed in her children’s homes. LaVerna instilled her love of reading in her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed word search, praying her rosary, and playing Bingo, Chinese checkers, and pinochle.
LaVerna is survived by her children: Janet (Mike) McCann, Rock Springs, WY; James (Sue) Younger, Hays, KS; Jolene (Ken) Windholz, Hays, KS; Jeff (Karie) Younger, Olathe, KS; Joan (William) Steinkuhler, Battlement Mesa, CO; and Jean Younger (Scott Dold) Lawrence, KS.
LaVerna’s pride and joy were her 16 grandchildren: Nicole (Brian) Nelson; Erin (Todd) Graham; Bridget (Kobe) Burraston; Adrianna Smith; Michael (Kelsi) Younger; Megan (Craig) Mason; Mason (Maddie) Younger; Ben (Joan) Karst; Mark (Nikki) Karst; Jon Karst; Clayton (Janae Levier) Karst; Kyle (Kendra) Younger; Emily Younger; Alexa (Chad Turek) Steinkuhler; Kennedy Dold and Crosby Dold.
While greatly enjoying the love of her grandchildren, LaVerna was able to meet her 23 great-grandchildren: Tyler and Hollie Nelson; Alex Graham; Syree, Bernie and Carter Burraston; Mallory Fallas; Jacob, Parker, Blake and Grayson Younger; Joslyn, Lexi and Trevor Mason; Katrina and Kailey Delimont; Hendrix and Jaxon Karst; Cadence and Lyric Karst; and Ava, Owen and Elsie Younger.
LaVerna is also survived by her sister: Helen Werth and sisters-in law: Jeanette Younger, Det Younger, Ethel Younger, Nadine Pederson, Mary Jo Braun, Jacky Braun, and Jan Braun.
LaVerna was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Helen Braun, her husband and her three brothers Marvin, Frankie and Robert Braun.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Monday, October 10, 2022, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church with Fr. John Schmeidler officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Sunday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Monday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. To honor LaVerna’s longtime membership with the Daughters of Isabella, current members will pray a rosary at 5:30 pm followed by a vigil service at 6:30, all on Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association, Alzheimer’s Association, HHS Pantry, O’Loughlin Pantry, or to masses. Condolences and memories of LaVerna may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com