LaMerne Iverson

LaMerne Iverson, age 89, of Decorah and formerly of Harmony, died Monday, August 21, 2017, at the Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, August 25 at Greenfield Lutheran Church, Harmony with burial in Greenfield Cemetery. Friends may call on Thursday from 5-7 p.m. at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Harmony.

LaMerne Katherine (Pettelko) Iverson was born on October 2, 1927, at Spring Valley, Minn., to Arlo and Esther (Wonderasch) Pettelko. LaMerne was the eldest of three daughters. LaMerne was baptized Nov. 20, 1927, at Zion Lutheran Church in Spring Valley, Minn. She was confirmed May 24, 1942, at First English Church in Spring Valley, Minn. LaMerne married Marvin S. Iverson on April 19, 1945, at the First English Church, Spring Valley. This union, three daughters were born: Marlys, Katherine (deceased) and Roxanne.

LaMerne lived in Spring Valley, Minn., where she attended Spring Valley Public School. After her marriage, she and Marvin lived in and around Spring Valley until 1952 when they moved to Harmony, Minn., where Marvin was employed by Bigalk Chevrolet. LaMerne worked at the Harmony House Cafe for three years until the fall of 1965 when she started as second cook at Harmony High School. In 1974 she advanced to head cook, where she was employed until 1985.

LaMerne was a member of Greenfield Lutheran Church in Harmony and a member of the WELCA. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.

In June of 1985, they moved to Hackensack, Minn., to their retirement home on Webb Lake. She also worked part-time at the Sun and Fun gift shop in Hackensack. While in Hackensack, they were members of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.

In September 2000, they sold their lake home and moved back to Harmony, Minn. In 2011, LaMerne moved to assisted living in Decorah. She was there for a year before she moved to Aase Haugen Home, where she resided until her death.

LaMerne enjoyed playing cards, reading, and being a Charter Member of Birthday Club. She was also known for her baking and especially her “Good” cookies.

LaMerne is survived by two daughters: Maryls Egge (friend Jerry Bryant) of St. George, Utah, and Roxanne (John) Schnitzler of Decorah; a son-in-law, Thomas Tollefsrud of Spring Grove, Minn.; eight grandchildren: Erika York, Chet (Sarah) Egge, Todd (Maria) Tollefsrud, Kipp (Julie) Tollefsrud, Shad Tollefsrud (friend Tina), Misti Tollefsrud, John Peter Schnitzler (friend Nikki) and Jessica (Eric) Rediske; eight great-grandchildren: Bethany and Amanda Egge, Elise York, Pepper and Clarice Tollefsrud, Bailey Miculinich, Elora and John Toby Schnitzler; and a brother-in-law, Donald Nelson. She is further survived by two of her husband Marvin’s siblings.

LaMerne was preceded in death by her husband Marvin in 2003, a daughter, Katherine Tollefsrud, a son-in-law, Charles Egge, two siblings: Joyce Buss and Marjorie Nelson. She is further preceded in death by three of her husband Marvin’s siblings.   

The family would like to express deep gratitude for the kind and compassionate care LaMerne received at Aase Haugen Home in Decorah.