Laverna I. Ernst, 100, Payson, Arizona, died October 13, 2025.
She was born on January 19, 1925, to Clinton and Dorothy (Winteroth) Bistline in Detroit, Kansas, in Dickinson County. She attended grade school at Detroit and graduated from High School at Chapman, Kansas. She went to McPherson College for a Teaching Certificate and taught school for one year. She then did clerical work on the U.S. Air Base at Kearney, Nebraska.
Laverna married Walter Ernst on May 27, 1945, in Detroit, Kansas. They spent all their married life in Enterprise, Kansas. She worked at the J. B. Ehrsam & Sons Manufacturing business in the Blue Print Department in Enterprise and later at Abilene, Kansas, until her retirement.
She was a member of the Detroit Evangelical United Brethren Church and then the United Methodist Church in Enterprise. She served in the church as a Sunday School teacher, the Organist and the Choir Director for over 62 years. She was involved with the Kansas Historical Society and the Kansas Anthropological Society. She also spent many years as a narrator on Excursion Train outings of the Abilene and Smoky Valley Kansas Heritage Railroad as it went between Abilene and Enterprise, Kansas.
In 2016, Laverna moved to Payson, Arizona, to be closer to her daughter, living first in the Majestic Rim Retirement Apartments and later at Avista until the time of her death.
Survivors include two sisters, Carolyn Beetch of Carlton, Kansas, and Lois Hines (Ron) of Claremont, California; three sisters-in-law, Gloria Bistline, Marlene Bistline, and Joyce Bistline; three children, Dennis Ernst (Connie) of Hays, Kansas, Phyllis Lynch (Durward) of Payson, Arizona, and Richard Ernst (Judith) of Greenbelt, Maryland; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many friends and acquaintances.
She was predeceased by her husband, Walter; three brothers, Stanley Bistline, John Bistline, and Robert Bistline; one brother-in-law, Willard Beetch, and one grandson, Brian Ernst,
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. at the Enterprise Community Church on November 22, 2025, with Pastor Arnie Boyd officiating. Burial will be in the Detroit Cemetery at a later time.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Detroit Methodist Church Scholarship Fund or a charity of the donor’s choice.