Laverne Seehafer
Laverne Seehafer, 69, Bismarck, passed away May 30, 2023. Memorial Services will be held at 1:00 PM, Friday, June 16, 2023, at DaWise-Perry / Mandan Crematory, 4211 Old Red Trail, Mandan with Pastor Bethany Haberstroh, officiating. Family and friends will gather one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.
Laverne was born August 2, 1953 at Richardton, ND to Herman and Anne (Heinle) Bertsch. She was raised and educated in Hebron, ND, and graduated from Hebron High School in 1971. She attended Dickinson State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business and German.
She married the love of her life, Steven Seehafer on May 20, 1978, in Bismarck, ND. To this union Erin was born August 18, 1983 joining Laverne’s stepsons Mike and Darin Seehafer.
They made their home in Flasher, ND where they ran the Meyer’s Café/Bowling Alley. She was an EMT and mayor of Flasher for several years. To make ends meet she worked evenings and weekends at a telephone marketing service and at Mor-Gran-Sou in Flasher, ND for many years until retiring May 2017.
Later moving to Mandan with her twin sister Lavonne Stegmiller with whom she had a strong bond and were almost inseparable. Then after Lavonne’s passing moving to Touchmark assisted living in Bismarck. Growing up they never had a lot of money, especially while going to college. One of their favorite pastimes was to play cards, even though her dad did not allow it. The last few years Hand and Foot was played with friends and family.
Laverne had a kind, giving heart and loved to make goodies to give away like her scotcheroos, caramel corn, and delicious caramel rolls. It wasn’t a holiday feast if she didn’t make her famous creamed chicken. She recently took up canning sausage and making potted meat, giving most of it away to family and friends. She liked to pay it forward to strangers at the grocery store or drive-thru. In her earlier years she played softball, darts, would go camping, fishing and pheasant hunting with her husband Steve. The later years she enjoyed going to the casinos and Las Vegas with her sister, Lavonne and special friend, Alice.
She is survived by brother-in-law, Dean Baesler; stepsons Darin (Yanisse) Seehafer and family Madeline, Grace, Nia and Enzo, and Mike Seehafer and family Cody and Ashley; nieces Dawn (Tony) Heick and family Amber, and Jennifer Bertsch York; nephews Darren (Lois) and family Daniel, Matthew, Warren (Angie) Bertsch and family Tristan, and Mark Bertsch; the Stegmiller families; special friends, Fran and Deb; and numerous cousins and friends.
Laverne is preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Anne Bertsch; husband, Steven Seehafer; daughter, Erin Seehafer; twin sister, Lavonne Stegmiller; brother-inlaw Mike Stegmiller; sister Janice Baesler; sister baby Bertsch; brother Gary Bertsch; mother-in-law and father- in-law; family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, Laverne’s family ask that donations be sent in her name to the Flasher Ambulance Service in Flasher, ND.
Funeral arrangements are being made with DaWise-Perry / Mandan Crematory, Mandan, ND.