4-7 PM, Friday, September 16, 2011 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton with the family present at 5:30 PM. A rosary will begin at 7:00 PM followed by a video tribute and a 7:30 PM Scripture service. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Pallbearers are: David Johnson, Daniel Johnson, Matthew Johnson, Thomas Larsen, Allen Merrill and Erik Johnson.

LaVerne M. Peppel Johnson was born near Butte, NE in Boyd county April 29, 1914 to Harry and Caroline (Determan) Peppel. She attended the Butte parochial school the first eight grades and graduated from Butte High School.

She married Milton David Johnson of Bristow, NE February 12, 1935 at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church at Butte, NE.

They lived a short time at Spencer, NE and then moved to Bristow, NE where they lived until they moved to Sioux Falls, SD. In 1953 they moved to Wakonda, SD where they lived for nine years and moved to Yankton, SD. Milton died in 1982.

LaVerne was employed by Avera Sacred Heart Hospital as coordinator of volunteers. She worked full time and then part time for many years.

She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Madonna Circle where she held many offices, Senior Citizen Center life time member, Sacred Heart Hospital Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas.

While she was growing up at home her family had a dance band known as the "Five Bits Of Harmony". They played in the surrounding areas.

She is survived by three children, Marlene Larsen of Yankton, SD, Burdette (Barbara) Johnson of Sioux Falls, SD, Marvin (Susan) Johnson of Overland Park, KS, eight grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren, one sister, Evelyn (Don) Klasna of Spencer, NE.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, infant daughter, Carol Lynn, two sisters, Bernice Hamers and Ione Riesselman, son-in-law, Dean Larsen.