LaVerna Schroeder Ediger

LaVerna Schroeder Ediger was born to Victor and Elma Klassen Schroeder on March 27, 1924, in Goessel, Kansas. She was the second oldest of seven children. She attended grade school and high school in Goessel and completed her education at Grace Bible Institute (Grace University), Omaha, NE after attending there for two years.

At age 14, she had a near-fatal ruptured appendix. It was at the hospital where she accepted Christ as her Savior thus changing the trajectory of her life. Following a four-year stint in which she helped her ailing mother raise LaVerna’s three younger brothers, she was employed by Bethel Hospital, Newton, KS. She also did Voluntary Service at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Washington D. C. and in Gulfport, MI.

LaVerna married Herbert Ediger in 1950, and they left the U.S. to be missionaries with Sudan Interior Mission (now Serving In Missions) in 1954 to remote areas of Ethiopia. There they lived in primitive conditions without electricity or running water in order to provide a number of different tribes with education and medical services while preaching Christ to them. They spent several years managing a large complex for SIM which included two hospitals (one for leprosy patients), several schools, and a large farm. They returned to the U.S. in 1970 where Herb worked for Sears in Hutchinson, KS. LaVerna worked at Pleasant View Home for twenty-three years in a variety of positions. They also pastored Southwest Baptist Church in Hutchinson, KS and were active with Grace Bible Church, McPherson, KS.

LaVerna was a superb gardener who was featured in Farm and Ranch magazine. She loved all kinds of flowers, particularly pink roses. She was fluent in three languages, enjoyed reading and crocheting, played accordion, piano, and organ, and loved to sing. Her children and grandchildren fondly remember her often singing hymns and gospel songs.

There are three children, two of whom were born in Ethiopia; Duane Mark and wife Kerry, JoAnn Gail and husband Gary, and Merle Van and wife Carol who are also missionaries. There are nine grandchildren and twenty-seven great-grandchildren. LaVerna is predeceased by two sisters, Jean Schmidt and Eunice Schmidt of Goessel, KS and two brothers, Goldwyn Schroeder of Orangevale, CA and Ira Don Schroeder of Parker, CO. She has two living siblings, John Schroeder of Hesston, Ks and Jim Schroeder, of Goessel, KS as well as a number of nieces and nephews.

LaVerna’s greatest joy was serving Christ. Her greatest hope is that her entire family would accept and follow Christ.

Celebration of life services will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday, November 16, 2024 at Inman Funeral Home.  It will be live streamed on the Inman Funeral Home Facebook Page.  Memorial contributions may be made to UP Global Peaceful Generation, in care of the funeral home.