Obituary - Posted: 7/12/04
Luverne ìVernî Link
Luverne N. ìVernî Link, 68, Minot, ND, former county commissioner and longtime airline terminal manager, died Saturday, July 10, 2004, at a Minot hospital following a long, courageous battle with lung cancer.
Luverne Nicholas Link was born on July 19, 1935, the son of Raymond and Rhoda (Omoth) Link in Caledonia, MN. He was raised in Caledonia and educated at Catholic Central Grade School and attended Loretto High School.
In December of 1952, at the age of 17, Vern enlisted in the US Navy and served on the Aircraft Carrier USS Essex as a signalman during the Korean War. He left active duty on July 12, 1956, and after serving in reserve status, was honorably discharged in October of 1960.
Following his discharge, Vern went to work for North Central Airlines in Chicago, IL and later, La Crosse, WI, where for 2 years he worked as a station agent. He married Shirley Wiese on January 4, 1958 in Hokah.
In 1960, the family moved to Minot, where Vern started the first station for North Central Airlines. Following mergers, he also managed the Minot terminal for Republic and most recently, Northwest Airlines. He retired in August of 1992, following 36 years of service.
Vern and his family were members of Little Flower Church and St. John the Apostle Church.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Shirley Link of Minot; his son and daughter-in-law, Kurt and Jody Link of Bismarck; one grandchild; a brother, Robert (Dolores) Link of Caledonia; his sisters, Beverly Link, Wilma Nelson, and Betty (Virgil) Winjum, all of Caledonia; and Janet (William) OíHare of Cedar Rapids, IA. He had numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Vern was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Rhoda Link; sisters, Virginia Mae Link and Shirley (Donald) Schwartzhoff of Dorchester, IA; a sister-in-law Mary Link; and a brother-in-law Donald Nelson.
Services are Wednesday, July 14, at 11 a.m. at St. John the Apostle Church, Minot. Prayer service is Tuesday, July 13, at 7 p.m. at the church. Visitation is Tuesday from noon until 5 p.m. at Thompson Larson Funeral Home and 6 p.m. until the prayer service at the church.
A memorial service and burial will take place at the Calvary Cemetery, Caledonia, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials are preferred to the Home on the Range for Boys & Girls ñ Sentinel Butte ND, Minot Catholic Schools, Retired Sisters Fund at Richardton, ND and the American Lung Association of North Dakota.
Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).
Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot, is in charge of arrangements.
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