LaVerne Leach, age 97, of Valley City, ND, died Thursday, July 23rd at Sanford Health in Fargo, ND. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, August 7th at Grace Free Lutheran Church in Valley City. Visitation will be held one hour before the service at the Church on Friday morning. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Lisbon, ND. A livestream and online guestbook for LaVerne’s service will be available at www.lerudmathias.com. Traditions Funeral Services of Valley City has been entrusted with LaVerne’s Funeral Arrangements.

LaVerne Joyce Franson, the daughter of Nels and Agnes (Piez) Franson, was born January 14, 1929 in Lisbon, ND. LaVerne grew up and attended school in the Lisbon, ND area. After receiving her education, she married Glyndon Dewey Leach on September 8, 1945 in Britton, SD. The couple then moved to Valley City, ND where she was a beautician for many years. Dewey died on December 16, 1992. LaVerne loved being in the outdoors where she was an avid gardener and did countless hours of yardwork. She also enjoyed all kinds of needlework as well.

LaVerne is survived by her daughter Diane (Gary) Swailes; three grandsons, Chris Swailes, Kary (Jessica) Leach and Travis (Keri) Leach; seven great-grandchildren, Evan, Nolan and Avery Swailes, Conner, Wyatt and Kaitlin Leach and Cameron Mjoness; nephews Russell, Raymond, Gary, Charles and Clayton Hill; nieces Lois Roberts, Carol Jean Swanson and Wendy Sickles; her cherished neighbors, Dorothy Hegdahl and Lori Glaser.

LaVerne was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Glyndon Dewey Leach; a son Glyndon Raymond Leach; her brothers, Art, Melvin, Ed, Ralph and Virgil Franson; her sisters, Mildred Howey and Margaret Ott; a niece Judy Kay Yaeger.