Obituary: LaVern Malinski

LaVern Malinski, 94, formerly of Carrington, N.D., passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020, at Ava Maria Village in Jamestown, N.D., due to COVID-19.

A reminisce with family will be held on Friday, June 18 at 6 p.m. followed by a prayer service at 7 p.m., all at Evans Funeral Home, Carrington, N.D. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 19 at 1 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Carrington, N.D. Burial will be at the Carrington Cemetery. Rev. Richard Biberdorf will officiate the service, with special music by Reneé Hopkins. Pallbearers will be Jonathan Marsolek, Shauna Marsolek and Jordan Malinski. Honorary pallbearers will be LaVern's daughters Sheila Foos, Dianne Bollen, Gail Marsolek and Pamela Twardy.

LaVern O. Malinski (Hart) was born April 28, 1926, the daughter of Edward and Bertha Hart, in Chaseley, N.D. She grew up with 13 siblings. LaVern attended two years of high school in Chaseley, N.D. and her last two years in Bowdon, N.D. She worked evenings and weekends for the Bowdon Telephone Company as a telephone operator until she graduated. After graduation, she went to San Francisco, Calif., and worked for the Naval Ship Yards Office as a payroll clerk. She then returned home, and on June 10, 1944, she married Adam Malinski. They raised four daughters on their farm south of Sykeston.

She was a 4-H leader for many years. LaVern was a member of the New Home Lutheran Church and a Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School teacher, and member of the LWML serving as president and secretary. She served as a president of the Sykeston PTA, and also president of the N.D. State PTA. In the fall of 1970, they sold the farm and moved to Carrington, N.D., and started a Sears Authorized Catalogue Sales Store, which was located on main street of Carrington, and also opened the Carrington Floral Store located next door.

LaVern was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary serving as president and chairman of the membership drive. She served as a state board member and district president. She also served as a delegate to the American Legion National Auxiliary in New Orleans. She became a member of the Grace Lutheran Church in Carrington, serving as LWML president and secretary.

After selling the Sears and the floral stores, she worked for Foster County Housing Authority, retiring after 29 years of service. She was a member of the Carrington Toast Masters Club and the Edmunds Toast Masters Club, while living on the farm.

LaVern is survived by her four daughters, Sheila Foos, Covina, Calif.; Dianne Bollen, Covina, Calif.; Gail Marsolek, Jamestown, N.D. and Pamela (Jimmy Ray) Twardy, Apple Valley, Minn.; two grandsons; sisters Arliss Koehler, Fargo, N.D.; Jean King, West Palm Beach, Fla. and Kay Brackin, Sacramento, Calif.; and sister-in-law Betty Hart.

She was preceded in death by her husband Adam; her parents; sisters, Fern (Hank) Flanders, Gladys (George) Daniels, Lois (Gay) Houghton, Joanne (Norman) Heintz; and brothers, Orval (Alyce) Hart, Myron (Jean) Hart, Carol (Iris) Hart, Clayton (Audrey) Hart, Warren (Betty) Hart, Garry (Betty) Hart; sons-in-law, Charles "Bo" Bollen, Ron Marsolek, and Mark Foos; and one grandson.

Arrangements by Evans Funeral Home of Carrington, N.D.