Laura Ellen Martz Berven 1906-1963

BERVEN, MARTZ, MUSSER, WHITAKER, KEERES, NEWCOMBE

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 1/19/2014 at 21:24:05

Ex-Teacher Is Victim of Cancer
Mrs. Anton (Laura Ellen) Berven, 57, former Estherville area school teacher and post office employe, died early this morning of cancer at her home in Estherville. She had been in failing health since last June.

The former Laura Ellen Martz was born April 24, 1906, in Schaller, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Martz. She received her education in the Sioux Rapids schools and later attended State college of Iowa in Cedar Falls. She was married to Anton Berven on May 4, 1928 in Jackson, Minn. Following their marriage they farmed in Emmet County until moving to Estherville in 1934.

Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Bervan taught school at Maple Hill and for the past four years she taught school at Ledyard. In the past she had also worked many years as a clerk in the Estherville Post Office.

She was a member of the Degree of Honor, VFW Auxiliary, American Lutheran Church Women and the Estherville Lutheran Church.

Surviving are her husband, one son, William of Estherville, two daughters, Mrs. William P. (Margery) Musser of Royal, and Doris Berven at home.

She is also survived by six grandchildren, three sisters, Mrs. Curtis Whitaker of Rembrandt, Mrs. Roland Keeres of Mallard and Mrs. Aloy Newcombe of St. Louis Park, Minn., and one brother, Leonard Martz of Sioux Rapids.

Funeral services are pending at the Reese Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Estherville Lutheran Cemetery. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, October 15, 1963)

Berven Rites Set
Funeral services for Mrs. Anton Berven will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Estherville Lutheran Church with the Rev. Roy Hendrickson officiating. Family service is at 11 a.m. Friday at Reese Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in the Estherville Lutheran Cemetery. Friends may call after 6 p.m. today at the Reese Funeral Home and until noon Friday when the casket will be taken to the church to lie in state until time of services. Mrs. Berven died Tuesday morning at her home in Estherville. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, October 16, 1963)