LaVerna C. Maas

LaVerna C. (Hinsz) Maas, 87, Bismarck, died November 11, 2016, at Sanford Health Bismarck. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 11:00 AM at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Bismarck with Rev. Pam Power officiating. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue on Wednesday one hour prior to the service at the church. LaVerna was born March 6, 1929, in Zap, ND, the daughter of Reinhold and Mary (Oelke) Hinsz. She was raised on the family farm north of Zap. LaVerna attended rural school and Zap Public School. LaVerna graduated from Zap High School after three years, graduating in 1946. She worked as a clerk for Reiners Grocery after graduation and was then asked to teach rural school north of Zap, beginning her teaching career. LaVerna married Waldemar “Wally” W. Maas on December 26, 1947, in Zap ND. In 1952, LaVerna and Wally enrolled at Dickinson State College. LaVerna attended college part-time while caring for two daughters and later a son. After graduation from Dickinson State in 1956 the family moved to Almont, ND, for five years where LaVerna taught school, cared for the family, and welcomed a second son. The family moved to Bismarck in 1961. LaVerna taught English as a Second Language in Bismarck, retiring in 1994. Her students were very special to her. In Bismarck, a third daughter was welcomed to the family and made the family complete. LaVerna was active in a social sorority, homemakers club, and Heritage Club organizing neighborhood gatherings and bridge clubs and General Federated Womens’ Club. She was a wonderful cook especially German food. Anyone who visited was given delicious meals. She sewed the clothes for her children, sewed drapes, reupholstered furniture, and decorated cakes. She enjoyed spending time with her family and loved to organize vacation times. The family went camping together and LaVerna especially enjoyed summer vacations at Lake Metigoshe, the condo in Detroit Lakes, MN, and trips to Branson, MO. Music was always playing in the home and she would have the family singing in the car while traveling. Bath time was always a time for singing as well. LaVerna loved to work in the garden and spend time outdoors. She took pride in planting and tilling trees at the Centennial Outdoor Wildlife Learning Site (OWLS) with Wally and her daughter. She loved to drive by the site and see the growth of the trees. LaVerna is survived by her children, who will deeply miss her, Sharon Maas, Bismarck, Jackie (Pat) Sinclair, Killdeer, Dana (Kathryn “Kitty”) Maas, Fitchburg, WI, Delon (Lynne) Maas, Coatesville, PA, and Robyn (Bob) Cummings, Billings MT; her grandchildren, Trevor (Shayla) Sinclair, Hazen, ND, Tjaden (Andrea) Sinclair, Fargo, ND, Jadah (Samuel) Kerr, Beach, ND, Nathaniel Maas, Columbus, OH, Katie Ariel Maas, Fitchburg, WI, Zach (Caitlyn) Maas, New York City, NY, Kendra (Paul) Maas, Coatesville, PA, and Zoë Maas, Coatesville, PA; her great-grandchildren, Treston, Truvy, Trajan, Jackson, Brielle, and Thornton Sinclair, and Ahava, Addalee, Annaliese, and Ariah Kerr; her sister, Marie Boeshans, Minot, ND; her brother-in-law, Elmer Weigum, Zap, ND; many nieces and nephews; and her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-laws, Gertrude Berndt, Fargo, ND, Dennis (Hazel) Maas, Riverside, CA, Hilmer (Joyce) Maas, Minot, ND, and Mildred (Ervin) Unruh, Hamilton, MT. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wally, on March 14, 2015; her parents; her brother and sisters, Olga (Gerhard) Walz, Eugene (Gerty) Hinsz, Rachel (Delly) Sagmiller, Eldora (Ted) Tesky, and Esther Weigum; her mother-in-law and father-in-law; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Gordon Maas and Carolyn Johnson; and her great-granddaughters, Tresha, Taylee, and Lola Sinclair.