LaVerne "Lovey" Marilyn (Toso) Leier

LaVerne ‘Lovey’ Marilyn (Toso) Leier, 82, of Devils Lake, died peacefully at her home, March 14, 2015 surrounded by her loving family. Lovey was born in Esmond, ND on January 30, 1933, the daughter of Ernest and Addoris (Johnson) Toso. She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church, attended Isabel School through the 8th grade and was the sole Isabel graduate to finish school via correspondence. Lovey and her siblings had a wonderful time growing up on the farm. The Toso family lived off the land growing their own vegetables in the garden and raising cows and pigs, but no chickens as Grandpa Jens Toso thought they were too messy. Summers were spent lying in the grass, watching clouds and making mud cakes. She loved when it was her turn to get a new dress as her mom would take her to town to pick out her favorite color of flour sack to be sewn using a newspaper pattern. On Lovey’s birthdays, her Auntie Gilma would always make her an angel food cake which led to a lifelong tradition carried on by Lovey’s children. Lovey recalled having four horses that would transport her and her siblings to and from the neighbors before Ernest got his first car. She also rode in a horse-drawn school “bus” for classes during the week. The farm didn’t have electricity until 18-year-old Lovey worked in Devils Lake as a long-distance telephone operator. She loved her job and worked there until the company went “modern – dial it yourself”. Lovey then went to work for law office Traynor Rutten Traynor as a legal secretary where she remained for 26 years. Lovey was united in marriage to James Robert Leier on February 18, 1952 at the St. Joseph Rectory in Devils Lake. After two years of James serving in the Marine Corp, the couple remained in Devils Lake where they raised six children: James, Joel, Julie, Joan, Jill and Janelle. They stayed in the same home for over 60 years raising not only their children, but grandchildren and great-grandchildren too. Lovey and Jim loved to travel all over the country sometimes piling all their grandkids into the car for a week of fun. As Lovey gradually fell ill to dementia, Jim continued to make good on his vow to take care of her for their “last 50 years” together. They enjoyed going out for breakfast every morning and to see their kids and grandkids on the weekends and holidays. Lovey’s talents included baking, crafting and sewing. She had the habit of making sure no one left her house hungry. During her lifetime, she made possibly hundreds of quilts, clothes for her children, bridal and flower girl dresses for her daughters’ weddings, and a ton of doll clothes. The reason for her nickname ‘Lovey’ was because she loved everyone she met and everyone loved her. Lovey wore her halo every day and has now been granted her wings. She will be missed dearly by her entire family. May God bless Lovey’s memory. Lovey is survived by her husband of 63 years, Jim of Devils Lake, sons: James Wayne (Carolyn Comeau) Leier of Yakima, WA, Joel (Rose) Leier of Crary, ND; daughters: Julie (David) Davis of Homer, AK, Joan (Doug) Glennen of Grand Forks, ND, Jill (Johnson) Zachariasse of Ashburn, VA, Janelle (John Wagman) Branower of Ashburn, VA; grandsons: Shane (Karen) Leier of Ashburn, VA, Christopher Zachariasse of Boulder, CO, Alexander Branower of Fairfax, VA, Braeden Glennen of Grand Forks, ND, Benjamin Branower of Harrisonburg, VA, and Nathan Branower of Greenville, NC; granddaughters: Jessina (Garett) Bengtson of Crookston, MN, Nicole (Kyle) Eisenzimmer of Eagan, MN, Ashley (Matthew) Gunderson of Grand Forks, ND, and Addoris Jolietta (Adi Jo) Davis of Anchorage, AK; great-grandsons: Justin Samoy of Radford, VA, Jackson and Baily Seibel of Crookston, MN, Dylan and Christian Gunderson of Grand Forks, ND, and Drake and Cole Leier of Ashburn, VA; great-granddaughters: Brooklyn Gunderson of Grand Forks, ND and Violet Bengtson of Crookston, MN; sisters: Elaine (Rodney) Sundby of Rothsay, MN, Janice (Gene) Reierson of Esmond, ND; brothers: Richard (Dorothy)Toso of Bothell, WA and Gary (Betty) Toso of Mancos, CO; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, close friends and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Addoris Toso. The funeral service for LaVerne ‘Lovey’ Marilyn (Toso) Leier will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Esmond, ND with visitation one hour prior to the funeral service. Lovey will be buried next to her parents at the Immanuel Church Cemetery in rural Esmond, ND.