LaVerna Kilian

LaVerna Kilian, age 96, of Detroit Lakes, MN passed away September 27, 2019 after suffering a leg fracture.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 4, 2019 at David-Donehower Funeral Home, 609 US Hwy. 10 East, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501.

LaVerna Wahnita Walgren was born August 3, 1923 in Ronald, Washington to Carl Eric Walgren and Lucy (Goodale) Walgren. Her father died when she was three and her family moved back to Fertile, MN. LaVerna attended Fertile High School. At the age of 17 she fell in love with Clarence (Casey) Klev and they were married on October 10, 1940. While living in Fertile their first two children Carolyn & Keith were born. Clarence’s work with heavy construction equipment took them to Hibbing, MN, and during WWII they moved to Portland, OR where Warren was born. They returned to Fertile after the war during which time Terry was born in Crookston. They later moved to Dickinson, ND, Loveland, CO, Hill City, SD, back to Fertile, then Hawley and Dilworth and finally moved to Moorhead, MN in 1960.

LaVerna worked various jobs over the years to supplement the family income including 18 years at the Fargo Clinic.

LaVerna and Clarence spent many fun weekends with friends at West Leaf Lake, fishing, playing cribbage and various card games. LaVerna and Clarence retired in 1978 and bought a lake place on Big Pine Lake near Perham where they enjoyed incredible walleye fishing and family gatherings until Clarence passed away in 1987, the day before their 47th wedding anniversary. In 1990 she met and married Jerome Kilian and moved to Buffalo Lake where she lived until shortly after Jerry’s death in 1998. She lived near Long Bridge in Detroit Lakes until moving to Lincoln Park Senior Living in 2017.

LaVerna loved life to the very end when she decided she was ready to join Jesus. Her family was most important in her life and she was the center of her family’s life. She absolutely loved fishing, tending her many beautiful flowerbeds and pots. LaVerna loved shopping and enjoyed finding deals and bargaining for a better price be it a garage sale or a department store.

LaVerna is survived by her very special friend Gene Kaiser, her children, Carolyn Chloupek (John), Keith Klev (Joanne), Warren Klev (Mary Kay), and Terry Klev (JoLynn); her daughter-in-law Cheryl Klev; her grandchildren, Natalie Bradbury (Kevin), Brett Chloupek (Valerie), Bart Chloupek (Dana), Jeri Kuntz (James), Valerie Dorff (Steve), Erica Klev, Ryan Klev (Erica); her great-grandchildren, Alyssa Bradbury, Brittney Ocana (Jesse), Preston Chloupek, Winston Chloupek, Piper Chloupek, Lani Chloupek, Everett Kuntz, Kirstin Kuntz, Hannah Dorff, Jacob Dorff, Savanna Johnson, Gage Klev; her step-children, Alan Kilian (Pat), Lynn Kilian, Gary Kilian (Deb), Anne Kummerfeldt (Ron); her step-grandchildren Monique Kilian, DJ Kilian, Jana Prall, Matthew Oster, Megan Kilian, Melissa Carter (Ashley), Michelle Kilian,; and her step great grandchildren, Alexander Prall, Xavier Oster, Anna Johnson and Autumn Johnson; her sister Ethel (Bunny) Glenn; her sisters-in-law Ginger Hedemark and Marge Gohl (Dan) and brother-in-law Lester Klev (Betty). Many special nieces and nephews and very good friends also survive her.

LaVerna was preceded in death by her husbands Clarence Klev and Jerry Kilian; her brothers Ted Walgren (Clarice) & Philip Walgren; brothers- and sisters-in-law Jim Glenn, Gena Fadness (Adolph); Emil, Eleanor Kvamme (Bert), Rocell Johnson (Owen), Bernice Ellegard (Goody), Loren, Viola Knutson (Russell) and Sally Casavan.

Feel free to wear white or bright colors in memory of LaVerna. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Hospice of the Red River Valley.