LaVerne Helen Gums
73, Bismarck passed away peacefully April 3,
2018, surrounded by family members at CHI St. Alexius
Medical Center, Bismarck. She fought a brief and courageous
battle with pancreatic cancer since November of last year.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 9, at
Calvary United Methodist Church, 609 North 34th Street,
Bismarck, with Pastor Perry Schnabel officiating. Burial
will take place at Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, April 8, at
Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, with
a prayer service at 7 p.m.
LaVerne Helen Pfeifer was born January 16, 1945, in Harvey,
ND, to Andrew and Frieda (Berg) Pfeifer of Goodrich, ND.
Raised on the Pfeifer family farm, she graduated from
Goodrich High School in 1963. She attended Aaker’s Business
College in Grand Forks, ND. On July 12, 1964, she married
Elmer Gums of Napoleon, ND, at the Church of God in
Goodrich. They lived briefly in Hardin, Montana, before
moving to Bismarck in 1965 where they made their permanent
residence. She worked as a recap clerk for 19 years at
Labelle’s, later called Best. As a tribute to her farm
raised work ethic, she worked there for the store’s entire
existence! She retired only when the store was liquidated.
Her husband Elmer retired that same year and the two of them
spent the next three years enjoying retirement together
until his death on November 14, 2000. After Elmer’s passing,
LaVerne kept busy helping care for her two granddaughters,
which were her pride and joy. She enjoyed the company of
others at numerous coffee groups, social gatherings and
church functions. She will be remembered for her smile,
sense of humor, true friendship and strong faith.
She is survived by her two children, son, Todd (Judy) Gums,
daughter, Jodi (Tom) Vadnais and their two children; her
granddaughters, Sarah and Lisa; one sister, Marlene (Wilferd)
Felchle; one brother, Charles (Betty) Pfeifer; as well as
numerous sisters and brothers-in-law and many nieces and
nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her loving
husband Elmer. Words cannot begin to describe the intense
feeling of loss and pain at this time. Her family and
friends will miss her and grieve her loss. We loved her
dearly and she will live forever in our hearts.
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Elmer D. Gums
60, Bismarck, died Nov. 14, 2000 at a local
hospital. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, at Calvary
United Methodist Church, Bismarck, with the Rev. James
Cissell officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5-9 p.m. today, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Thursday, and 9-11 a.m. Friday, at Boelter Funeral Home,
where a prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday
evening. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the
service at the church on Friday.
He was born March 25, 1940 at Napoleon, the son of Edward
and Emelia (Lachenmeier) Gums. He was raised on the family
farm near Napoleon and graduated from Napoleon High School
in 1957. Elmer attended UND before completing his degree at
Mary College in 1974.
Elmer married LaVerne Pfeifer on July 12, 1964 in Goodrich.
They moved to Hardin, Mont. where Elmer worked as a foreman
building power line towers for Lindberg Construction. In
1965, Elmer and LaVerne moved to Bismarck. He worked at
Sears before beginning his employment at Job Service of
North Dakota in 1968. During the 1970's, Elmer and his good
friend, James Sauer, owned and operated A&L Attic
Insulation.
Elmer's career at Job Service of North Dakota took him from
a beginning position of interviewer to his final position as
a regional manager from which he retired in December of
1997.
He enjoyed sports, especially the Minnesota Vikings and the
Minnesota Twins, as well as surfing the internet, bicycle
riding, and watching and feeding the birds and squirrels. He
was a member of the Elks, Kiwanis, Toastmasters and was
actively involved in his church.
Elmer was a compassionate, kind, caring, generous man, who
was known for his quick wit and sense of humor. He
especially cherished the last four and one half months that
he spent with his only grandchild.
He is survived by his wife, LaVerne; one son, Todd,
Bismarck; one daughter and son-in-law, Jodi and Tom Vadnais,
Bismarck; one granddaughter, Sarah; two sisters and
brothers-in-law, Bernice and Art Carlson, Minneapolis, and
Erma and Don Roesler, Williston; one brother and
sister-in-law, Hilbert and LaVonna Gums, Bismarck; and a
special aunt, Lillie Wanner, Bismarck.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Ella
Brewer; and an infant sister. (Boelter Funeral Home,
Bismarck)
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