Verna Margaret (Larson) Sandven was born August 5, 1918, to Otto and Emma (Kanten) Larson in Milan, Minnesota. She was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church rural Watson, Minnesota and confirmed at Kviteseid Lutheran Church Milan. She graduated from Milan High School where she was a member of the Girls Basketball team. She attended Morris West Central School of Agriculture and further graduated from Minneapolis Northwestern Hospital School of Nursing in 1940. Verna was a Registered Nurse at the Chippewa County Montevideo Hospital. Verna married Sherman Sandven at Kviteseid on April 13, 1941. They raised family on the Sandven homestead farm near Big Bend City until they moved to Verna's family farm near Milan in 1965. Upon Sherman's retirement they moved into Milan in 1975. In 2004 she resided at Apple Ridge Estates in Appleton, Minnesota and moved to Meadow Lane Nursing Home, Benson, Minnesota in 2014. On a summer Sunday, August 23, 2015, Verna gently passed with family by her side. Preceding her in death were her parents, infant sister, husband Sherman, sister Charlotte Meyers, and great-grandson Breck Liestman. Verna is survived by her three children; Sharon (William) Reinmuth of Banning, CA, John (Cheryl) Sandven of Danvers, MN, and Leroy (Fay) Sandven of White Bear Lake, MN. Seven grandchildren; Mark (Kelli) Reinmuth and Kristen Reinmuth, Eric (Martha) Sandven, Dana (Allen) Liestman and Kirk (Wendy) Sandven, Andrien (Richard) Schwartz and Lauren (Matthew) Eng. Seventeen great-grandchildren; Leslie and Lindsey Reinmuth, Eric and Tim Marty, Samantha (Patrick) Abraham and John E. Sandven, Carter, Emma and Chloe Stoehr, Avery and Tucker Liestman, Cole and Tyra Sandven, Porter and Karl Schwartz, Larson and Kaarin Eng. Sister; Florence Gibson. Verna lived a life of faith, service, and gratitude. She taught Sunday School at Big Bend Lutheran Church and was active in many church groups and activities. With a gracious acceptance of going blind, she hummed the tunes of hymns she could no longer read. She enjoyed Homemakers Club and making hardanger embroidery. Playing cards with friends and relatives (especially Rook) was a favorite pastime. Besides camping, the Sandvens enjoyed travel to Norway and extended stays in Arizona and California. "Vaer sa god" welcomed family and friends to stop by for coffee or a meal and in recent years she loved to treat root beer barrels. Her kindness and concern for family and others rests in our hearts.
