Luverne Serenius, 94

Luverne Rosella Serenius, 94, died Thursday, March 14, 2013 at Bethany Community in Alexandria. She has resided at Bethel Manor since 2006.

Luverne was born June 3, 1918 to Christine and Andrew Gulbranson in Hoffman. She was baptized at Bethel Lutheran Church in Hoffman, where she grew to know Jesus as her Savior. After finishing high school, she worked in Hoffman several years.

In 1942, she was called to Diaconate, attending Immanuel Lutheran Deaconess Nursing School, and college in Omaha, Nebraska, and then serving the church in several areas.

In 1956, she was married to Pastor Vernon Serenius. They then served Immanuel and Christina Lake churches, Evansville for 12 years, and Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Darfur for four years. They moved to Alexandria in 1973, where Luverne worked part time as a nurse at Douglas County Hospital and Bethany Home until 1990, when Pastor Serenius died.

Since 1991, she made several mission trips, including to Russia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Israel, China and Mexico with various groups.

She is survived by one sister-in-law, Luella Gulbranson of Colorado Springs, Colorado; two stepchildren, Lois (David) Sweeney of Omaha, NE, and Paul (Kathryn) Serenius of Centerville (Dayton) Ohio, five grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren; several nephews and nieces.

Preceding her in death were her parents; sisters, Ethelyn Burrows, Anna Nordquist, and two infant sisters; two brothers, Wallace and Lloyd Gulbranson; and husband, the Rev. Vernon Serenius.

A funeral service will be held at House of Prayer Church in Alexandria on Saturday March 23 at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Lynndene Way officiating. Joyce Polensky is organist, with Lane Nordquist, Nadine and Roy Berg as vocalists.

Interment will be at Bethel Cemetery in Hoffman. Pallbearers are Jed Gulbranson, Patrick Gulbranson, Mike Townley, Rick Nordquist, Dave Taylor and Jim Kellerman.

Arrangements are with Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria; www.andersonfuneral.net.

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