- Date Of Birth: September 7, 1919
- Date Of Death: November 21, 2014
- State: Minnesota
LaVerne (Verne) Alvin Braaten, age 95, a longtime resident of Virginia died Friday, Nov. 21, 2014 in the Edgewood Vista Assisted Living Center. He was born September 7, 1919 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin the son of Oscar and Clara (Olson) Braaten. Verne attended a one-room county school for his first eight years, then high school at Colfax, Wisconsin. He was a graduate of Wisconsin State College in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, majoring in Education. Additional studies were completed at the University of Wyoming, the University of Nottingham in England, and graduate work at Bemidji State College where he received his Master of Arts degree. Verne was a United States Army Veteran of WWII, serving in a Field Artillery unit in the European Theatre of Operations. He was united in marriage to Lucille Hendrickson in Eau Claire on June 5, 1949. Verne was employed at the Puget Sound Naval Yard, National Presto Industries, then was employed as a teacher in Woodville, Wisconsin; Sheyenne, North Dakota; and Medford, Wisconsin. The last thirty years in education were spent in the Virginia Public Schools. There he was an Industrial Arts Instructor and Administrator. During his tenure he became director of the Industrial Arts Department and the East Range Vocational Center, which he organized and served as director until his retirement in 1984. When he became director of the Industrial Arts, new programs were developed, additional classes were added, working space increased, and more instructors were added. During this time the East Range Vocational Center organized, consisting of the following schools: Virginia, Mountain Iron, Eveleth, Gilbert, Biwabik, and Aurora-Hoyt Lakes. He became director of the Center and was responsible for the vocational programs in each school. The classes were open to all students and students were transported to each school where the class was offered. He was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Virginia, Sons of Norway, and a former member of the Virginia Rotary Club. Verne served on the Planning and Zoning Commission of Virginia’s city government. He organized and taught the first adult drivers course in the Virginia Community Education Program. After retirement he helped organize the first “55 and Alive” class for mature drivers in Virginia, which he helped teach for many years. He also was a volunteer as a senior insurance advocate. His hobbies included woodworking, which he became very proficient at, building furniture and clocks. He also spent a lot of time skiing for many years. During his retirement he and his wife Lucille spent a lot of time traveling.
Verne is survived by his wife: Lucille; sons: David of Marshall MN, Mark (Karen) of Tyler, Texas, and Bruce (Paula) of Winona, MN; grandchildren: Amber Braaten of Boca Raton, FL, Christopher Braaten of Bullard, TX, Cassandra Braaten of Bullard, TX, Anneliese Braaten of Winona, and Anders Braaten of Winona; and a host of friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother: Erling Braaten.
