Laverna B. Mullen
8/4/1925-3/23/2021
Laverna Mullen breathed her last, with her family at her side on Tuesday, March 23. She was born August 6, 1925 to Frank and Mary (Schmidt) Potts in Menominee, Nebraska, the second of six children.
Laverna was raised on a farm near Fordyce, waking before dawn to milk cows and feed chickens and then do the same again every afternoon.
When she was 17, she moved to Sioux City for a job at Swift Packing Company. Seeking adventure, she took a position with Western Union in Detroit where she transcribed telegrams and telegraphs for the United States Department of War. At the end of the War she worked as a secretary for Krage Asphalt Company.
On Easter Day in 1950, while visiting the Avalon Ballroom with friends, Rusty (Raymond H.) Mullen asked her for a dance. They fell in love and were married at The Cathedral of the Epiphany Catholic Church on November 10, 1951.
Laverna and Rusty raised five children in Sioux City and in 1976 they founded R.H. Mullen Company. She made her home next to Immaculate Conception Church where she was a steadfast volunteer. She sewed quilts and clothing for her children, making beautiful gowns for her daughters. When her children were young, she learned to drive a car, started her own company as a professional seamstress, while studying to earn her High School G.E.D. Rather than be a golf-widow, Laverna took up the sport and excelled, winning trophies in the Morningside Country Club Women’s League. After retirement Laverna and Ray spent their winters in Arizona where they hiked Superstition Mountain. She and Rusty danced together until he passed away in 2010. She then sold her homes in Sioux City and Mesa, and purchased a home in Phoenix.
Survivors include her two daughters, Susan, of Philipsburg, Montana and Janet of Phoenix, and two sons, Dan (Carol) of Hinton, and Tom (Annie) of Montana, and brothers, Leonard and Marcus of Fordyce. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She was led to heaven by Rusty, and their daughter, Nancy, and their grandchildren, Alan and Emily. She was met there by her parents and her brothers, Roman and Gerald, and her sister, Flavia. A Mass to celebrate her life will be held at Immaculate Conception in the summer.
In lieu of flowers her children suggest you gather with your family and friends to celebrate love and life. She was fiercely loved and will be dearly missed by those privileged to know her.
2 Comments To "Laverna Bernadette Mullen"
#1 Comment By Teri Biermann (Potts) On March 31, 2021 @ 12:31 pm
The last time I spoke with Laverna she told stories of her child hood and her life, I laughed, and was amazed. I remember sitting there thinking, wow this is so amazing all this family history from such amazing strong women. I can only hope that we are blessed with a little of Laverna in all of us. And what a wonderful obituary so nicely written, and I could hear her talking in the picture. She will be greatly missed. God’s blessing to all of her children, you are all in our thoughts and prayers. hugs.
#2 Comment By Lisa Mullen Johnson On April 2, 2021 @ 5:13 pm
I remember staying at their house as a child playing with my cousins. Oh she made the best popcorn ever- loaded with butter. She will be deeply missed by her family.