Violetta Stasney LaGrave
February 11, 1919-November 10, 2005
Obituary: Bismarck Tribune, December 2, 2005
Violetta LaGrave
Buehler-Larson Funeral Home
Mandan, ND 58554
tel: 701-663-9630
Mrs. Violetta "Vi" Stasney LaGrave, 86, Mandan, passed away peacefully on Nov. 10, 2005, at Mandan Medcenter One Care Center. Prior to her transfer to the Mandan Care Center, Vi had been a resident for the last four years at the Waterford in Bismarck. A memorial service will be held for Vi at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, at First Presbyterian Church of Mandan, 310 Third Ave. N.W., Mandan. Interment will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, south of Mandan. A time of celebrating Vi's life will follow the burial at a reception hosted by the family at 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. Vi's husband, Maurice Grover LaGrave, has been transferred from the Fort Snelling National Cemetery and will be laid to rest with Vi at the Veterans Cemetery. The Rev. Deanna Reikow will preside over the memorial service and burial, Mr. Michael Jacobs, editor and publisher of the Grand Forks Herald will deliver the eulogy, Mr. Chuck Suchy will sing, and Mrs. Eileen Edland will be the organist.
Vi was born Feb. 11, 1919, in Mandan, and was the daughter of Martin "Mike" and Bernardina (Welcek) Stasney, who farmed south of Mandan. Vi graduated from Mandan High School in 1937, and received her nursing degree and RN license from Bismarck Hospital School of Nursing in 1940. She met her future husband, Maurice Grover LaGrave, while attending Jamestown College and working as the College nurse. Maurice and Vi were married in August 1942, prior to Maurice leaving for military service in Europe. After the war, Vi and Maurice made their home in Mandan. Maurice, in the late 40's, attended Law School at the University of North Dakota, where Vi worked as a nurse at the student health care center. Upon graduation, they returned to Mandan, where Maurice established his private law practice, which he continued until his death in 1970.
Vi worked nearly 40 years in a variety of nursing positions in the Bismarck-Mandan area including nursing supervisor at the Mandan Hospital, night nursing supervisor at the Bismarck Hospital, and night nurse and nursing supervisor at Heartview Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center. In addition, Vi spent 10 years as her husband's legal secretary and bookkeeper before returning to nursing upon his death.
Vi was active in politics holding a variety of local, district and state political party positions. She was elected to the 43rd North Dakota Legislative Session and was the first Republican woman from Morton County to serve in the state House of Representatives. Vi also claimed another political first by being the first woman in the county to run for the Board of County Commissioners in 1976.
She was also active in civic, cultural and social welfare activities of the community, starting back in the 1950's as the president of the Central School PTA. Vi's 30 years of work, as a board member and board chairperson of Dacotah Foundation, assisted in promoting mental health treatment and social welfare programs throughout central North Dakota.
Vi leaves behind two sons, Larry Maurice LaGrave, Glendale, Ariz., and his wife Ramona LaGrave, and Charles William LaGrave, Hercules, Calif., and his spouse, Louis Kravitz; six grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. Vi was preceded in death by her late husband, Maurice Grover LaGrave; her brothers, Martin and Bernard Stasney; and her parents.
(Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, Mandan) Published in The Bismarck Tribune on 12/2/2005.
Violetta LaGrave
Buehler-Larson Funeral Home
Mandan, ND 58554
tel: 701-663-9630
Mrs. Violetta "Vi" Stasney LaGrave, 86, Mandan, passed away peacefully on Nov. 10, 2005, at Mandan Medcenter One Care Center. Prior to her transfer to the Mandan Care Center, Vi had been a resident for the last four years at the Waterford in Bismarck. A memorial service will be held for Vi at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, at First Presbyterian Church of Mandan, 310 Third Ave. N.W., Mandan. Interment will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, south of Mandan. A time of celebrating Vi's life will follow the burial at a reception hosted by the family at 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. Vi's husband, Maurice Grover LaGrave, has been transferred from the Fort Snelling National Cemetery and will be laid to rest with Vi at the Veterans Cemetery. The Rev. Deanna Reikow will preside over the memorial service and burial, Mr. Michael Jacobs, editor and publisher of the Grand Forks Herald will deliver the eulogy, Mr. Chuck Suchy will sing, and Mrs. Eileen Edland will be the organist.
Vi was born Feb. 11, 1919, in Mandan, and was the daughter of Martin "Mike" and Bernardina (Welcek) Stasney, who farmed south of Mandan. Vi graduated from Mandan High School in 1937, and received her nursing degree and RN license from Bismarck Hospital School of Nursing in 1940. She met her future husband, Maurice Grover LaGrave, while attending Jamestown College and working as the College nurse. Maurice and Vi were married in August 1942, prior to Maurice leaving for military service in Europe. After the war, Vi and Maurice made their home in Mandan. Maurice, in the late 40's, attended Law School at the University of North Dakota, where Vi worked as a nurse at the student health care center. Upon graduation, they returned to Mandan, where Maurice established his private law practice, which he continued until his death in 1970.
Vi worked nearly 40 years in a variety of nursing positions in the Bismarck-Mandan area including nursing supervisor at the Mandan Hospital, night nursing supervisor at the Bismarck Hospital, and night nurse and nursing supervisor at Heartview Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center. In addition, Vi spent 10 years as her husband's legal secretary and bookkeeper before returning to nursing upon his death.
Vi was active in politics holding a variety of local, district and state political party positions. She was elected to the 43rd North Dakota Legislative Session and was the first Republican woman from Morton County to serve in the state House of Representatives. Vi also claimed another political first by being the first woman in the county to run for the Board of County Commissioners in 1976.
She was also active in civic, cultural and social welfare activities of the community, starting back in the 1950's as the president of the Central School PTA. Vi's 30 years of work, as a board member and board chairperson of Dacotah Foundation, assisted in promoting mental health treatment and social welfare programs throughout central North Dakota.
Vi leaves behind two sons, Larry Maurice LaGrave, Glendale, Ariz., and his wife Ramona LaGrave, and Charles William LaGrave, Hercules, Calif., and his spouse, Louis Kravitz; six grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. Vi was preceded in death by her late husband, Maurice Grover LaGrave; her brothers, Martin and Bernard Stasney; and her parents.
(Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, Mandan) Published in The Bismarck Tribune on 12/2/2005.