Laverne "Vern" Roberts

Laverne “Vern” A. Roberts passed away on May 20, 2018 at his home in Albert Lea surrounded by family after a two and a half year courageous battle with cancer, he was 78 years old.

Memorial service will be on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 2:00 pm at Bonnerup Funeral Service with visitation from 5 - 7 PM on Tuesday at the funeral home. The Rev. Daphne Hamborg will officiate.

Laverne was born September 16, 1939 at home in rural Steele County to Axel and Florence (Hanson) Roberts.  His family moved to Albert Lea when he was 3 years old and he made this his home since.

Laverne attended school in Albert Lea and went to work at an early age working at Certified Building Block, Hemenway Steps, Wilson Food, and Albert Lea School system. On December 28, 1957 he was united in marriage to Carol Underland at Community Lutheran Church in Geneva, MN.

Laverne was an avid sports fan of the Minnesota Vikings and Twins. In his younger years he played softball on the summer leagues in Albert Lea and then traded it off to coach both his sons’ summer league baseball teams from grade school through high school.  Thereafter, he switched to coaching his daughters in adult ladies summer league softball and one year led them to nationals. He enjoyed going   fishing up north and the summers spent at his place on Leech Lake.

Laverne had a wonderful sense of humor and quick wit; many one liners were enjoyed by friends and family. He was a great husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather which he deeply loved being.

Laverne is survived by the “love of his life” and wife of over 60 years, Carol.  His sons Terry of Council Bluffs, IA, Steven of Winona, MN, daughters Leann of Apple Valley, MN and Linda (Joe) Mestnik of Apple Valley, MN. Granddaughters Tara (Jesse) Stirling, Tatum (Edgar Burn) Roberts, Toni (A J Dreyer) Roberts, Taylor (Wes Thostenson) Roberts, Tanelle (Seth Tovar) Roberts, and Kalie (Michael McAlister) Caetano. Four great-grandchildren, Nora Stirling, Aela Dreyer, Noah and Fletcher Thostenson.  Brother Don Roberts,  sisters Rosie Simon and Mary (Don) Blake, brothers-in-law Aldeen Underland, Gary (Barb) Underland,    Paul (Kathy) Underland, a sister-in-law Darlene Underland. Also survived by his beloved dog, Molly.

He was proceeded in death by his parents Axel  and Florence Roberts, his father and mother-in-law Elmer and Alice Underland,  brothers Richard (Mavis) Roberts and Milton Roberts, and a sister Harriet (Ernie) Christensen, in-laws   Sonny Simon,  Karen Roberts, Richard Underland and  Ingrid Underland.