MILLIKEN, LaVera Mae

LaVera M. Milliken, 83, of Laurel died Friday, Aug. 1, 2014 at Hillcrest Care Center in Laurel. Services will be held Tuesday, Aug. 5 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Laurel. The Rev. Jaime Farias will officiate. Visitation will be Monday, Aug. 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Laurel with family present. There will be a prayer service at 7 p.m. LaVera Mae Milliken was born Dec. 28, 1930, at Sioux City, Iowa to James Sr. and Vera (Thompson) Urwiler. She was baptized at the United Methodist Church in Laurel. She graduated from Laurel High School in 1947, attended Nebraska Wesleyan in Lincoln, and Wayne State College until the death of her mother. She returned to the farm to do housekeeping and care for her father and family. LaVera married Ralph Milliken on Feb. 14, 1955, at the United Methodist Church in Laurel. The couple farmed near Laurel all of their married life. Over the years LaVera was a cook at the White House Inn Café, Hillcrest Care Center, and later a clerk at the Corner Mart for nearly 20 years. She was a life long member of the United Methodist Church, a former Sunday school teacher, and member of the Country Tuesday Club. Family was very important to LaVera and gardening, baking cakes, and cooking were also a joy. * Survivors include her husband, Ralph; daughters and sons-in-laws, Cindy (Tom) Schmitz of Wayne, Candace (Kevin) Kilawee of Gretna, and John Knudsen of Laurel; five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; brothers, Harley Urwiler and James (Mary Ann) Urwiler of Laurel; sister, Phyllis Campbell of Laurel; sister-in-law, Lorraine Hovde of Sioux City, Iowa; brothers-in-law, Ron (Jude) Milliken of Wayne, and Jere (Lynne) Milliken of Cape Cod, Mass.; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Colleen Knudsen; granddaughter, Katie Anne; infant brother, Adolph; sister-in-law, LaVerne Urwiler; brothers-in-law, Marvin Hovde and James Campbell; parents-in-law, James and Marie Milliken. Honorary pallbearers will be Corey Schmitz, Kyle Knudsen, Kody Knudsen, Christina Schlautman and Collette Sigala. Active pallbearers will be David Hovde, Tim Urwiler, Scott Milliken, Tom Urwiler, Terrill Lee Campbell, Joe Bauerly, Joel LaVicky and James Milliken. Memorials may be directed to the Milliken family for later designation. Burial will be in the Laurel Cemetery. Hasemann Funeral Home of Laurel is in charge of arrangements.