Laverne Meissner

LaVerne Helen Meissner, 99, beloved Grandmother, Wife, and Mother, was called to her eternal resting place on November 15, 2018. She entered this world on June 9, 1919 in Union, MT, born to John and Helen Friedlund, she was raised on a farm in eastern Montana and attended high school in Brockway where she met her soul mate Lantford Meissner. Upon graduation she attended Normal School in Billings Montana where she earned her teaching certificate. She began her teaching career immediately upon graduation. On May 31, 1942 she and Lantford were married. Lantford built their little two room home on a half section of land he purchased from his father. Two little girls were born and became an important part of her life.

One of the highlights of LaVerne's life was when electricity became available on the farm. Lantford built an addition to the house and she no longer had to carry and heat water for bathing, washing clothes and mopping floors. The wood burning cook stove was upgraded to a bottle gas appliance, and she got a real refrigerator and indoor plumbing. She planted a huge garden and canned vegetables to put in the root cellar to carry the family though the winter. She continued to teach for many years. She taught in Brockway, Circle Elementary, and a small rural one room school by the name of Stoney Butte.

After many years of teaching she retired and she and Lantford moved to Scobey, Montana where they resided until 1998. Due to Lantford's declining health they moved to Artesia, New Mexico to be closer to their daughters. Lantford passed away in 2000. She continued to live in Artesia until 2014 when she moved to Roswell and resided at Emeritus Retirement Center as an Independent Resident.

LaVerne loved to play cards and board games. She also played solitaire on her computer and mastered several difficult games. She kept her mind sharp by doing crossword puzzles, Sudoku and lots of other challenging puzzles.

She is survived by her daughter Judy and husband John Metts of Artesia NM; daughter Joyce Hudiburgh and husband Keith of Pueblo CO; grandsons Steven Metts and wife Cheri' of Willcox AZ; Bradley Metts and wife Teresa and Scott Metts and wife Tami both of Colorado Springs CO; Brian Hudiburgh and wife Melissa of Centennial CO. Granddaughters, Teri Gilbert and husband Brian of Artesia NM, Kyla Butts and husband Michael of Farmington NM; Lynette Hudiburgh of Oxford, OH. She was a great-grandmother to 21 grandchildren and a great great-grandmother to two. She is also survived by two sisters- in- law, Mary Meissner of Fort Benton, and Edna Meissner of Circle, Montana and several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lantford of 58 years, a sister Julia Sanders, and a grandson Michael John Metts.

A celebration of her life will be held on June 9th at St. Pauls' Episcopal Church, this would have been her 100th birthday. Her cremains will be placed beside Lantford and her grandson Michael in the columbarium at the Church.