Laverne Balster 
Funeral services for Laverne Balster, 90, of Chamberlain were 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 24, 2011 at the UCC in Chamberlain with burial in the Riverview Cemetery at Chamberlain.  Visitation was Wednesday, February 23 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. with family present at the Hickey Funeral Chapel in Chamberlain. 
Laverne passed on February 20, 2011 at Sanford Medical Center in Chamberlain at the age of 90 years. Laverne Baker was born in Hudson SD to Orien and Anna Mae (Eleeson) Baker on February 23, 1920. She passed away just 3 days short of her 91st birthday.
Laverne graduated from Reliance High School in 1938.  She then went to college at Notre Dame in Mitchell SD earning a 2-yr rural teaching certificate. She later went to Northern State College in Aberdeen SD to complete her grades 1 through 9 education certification.
Laverne taught in Ellendale ND, Reliance SD, Scotland SD and in Ft. Thompson SD.
Laverne married Loren Balster in 1949.  She and Loren had six children together.
Laverne continued to teach at Ft. Thompson.  In the 1960’s she was given the honor of Teacher of the Year. 
In 1964, Laverne began teaching at the Knippling School north of Chamberlain.  In 1971 she was involved in a serious car accident which resulted in her retirement from teaching.
Through out the subsequent years, Laverne cared for children before and after school, taught piano lessons and ran a bed ‘n breakfast in her home for pheasant hunters. Her pride and joy was the creation of a beautiful lawn and garden.
Laverne was preceded in death by her husband, Loren in 1994, one son Oren in 1959, and three half sisters.
She is survived by a son, Galen and wife Julie Balster of Alexandria VA., Carla Hubbard of Chamberlain SD, Lorie and husband Harold Bickner of Kimball SD, Lonna and husband Mark Chilson of Highmore, SD and Jody Elston of Oak Creek, CO. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren