Laverne (Vern/Vernie) Ray Frank, age 86, of Newcastle, WY, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, May 10, 2025.
Vernie was born on December 9, 1938 to Bernhard (Ben) and Genevieve (Johnson) Frank in Belle Fourche, SD. When he was a young child, the family relocated to Ideal, SD. Vernie attended Winner High School, where he was active in Football and Track. He graduated in 1956. Despite his parent’s wishes he joined the Navy at the age of 17 where he was promoted to Petty Officer First Class and enjoyed being a torpedoman. Vern was a true patriot. He loved this country, and until it was absolutely necessary for health reasons, he refused to get any help from the VA. He always said, “Those young vets coming home need it worse than me.”
While on leave he began dating and later married one of his lifelong friends, Vesta Bice. The couple began their lives together in the Winner area, where Vern began his farming career.
Vern and Vesta spent 65 years together and were blessed with 12 children.
In 1979, the couple moved to Custer, SD where Vernie worked as a carpenter and a logger. Later on, he attended the School of Mines in Rapid City, SD where he obtained a degree in Geology. This sparked a lifelong love of rocks! He enjoyed sharing this passion with many of his grandchildren. Vern loved our Lord, Jesus, and he strongly demonstrated and shared this love with each of his children through Bible study and nightly devotions. He was active on the board of the Berean Church in Custer, as well as taught Sunday School in the Wesleyan Church.
In 1998, the empty nesters moved to Newcastle, WY. Vern used his love of rocks to begin making beautiful jewelry and key chains. He perfected this process over the years and his children, grandchildren and wife benefited the most from this endeavor.
Throughout his life Vern loved hunting, fishing, reloading, making wine, gardening, and watching his boy’s wrestle. He loved playing most any type of game, especially card games with Vesta, his parents, brothers and sisters – there was A LOT of yelling and laughter! As his children grew, this love of games was passed on along with the yelling and laughter! Later on, Vern would comment on how his most cherished time was watching his own kids, grandkids and great grandkids enjoying time together laughing and having fun.
Vern loved watching professional football and very much enjoyed the family rivalry that came along with it! Although he was a Minnesota Vikings fan for years, he became a Steelers fan in the 80s. He passed his love of that team on to only a few of his children! Football season was always full of phone calls and taunts. In his defense, his Steelers came out on top more often than not!
Before Vernie’s passing, he mentioned his years farming a lot. Although many years had passed, he still missed the old homestead place he had purchased from his parents. He loved watching things grow and just plain loved the country and simpler things. It was in this latter part of life that Vern was given his first Welsh Corgi, Wishbone. A year or so later, he brought home Gracie. He loved watching his dogs play and spoiled them rotten.
Laverne is survived in his immediate family by his wife, Vesta; Vicki Frank of ID; Jeff (RaeJean) Frank of ID; Lori (Greg) Kaiser, SD; Lisa Oakley, WY; Vanesa (Darrell) Stevens, SD; Dawn Boggs, SD; Bobbi (Russell) Williams, SD; Tammy (Troy) Allen, WY; Stacy Haggerty (Mike Yuronich), WY; Justen (Missy) Frank, SD, 30 grandchildren, 50 plus great grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren and counting!!! He is also survived by his sisters Shirley Boyd, Jenny Lou Stern; 4 brothers-in-law, a sister-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews.
Vernie is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Burt and Merle (Punk) Frank; sons Jody and Jesse Frank; daughter-in-law Stacey Ann Frank; sons-in-law Matthew Himrich and Joe Haggerty; grandson-in-law Sean Barnhart and grandson Lucas Kaiser.
Services for Laverne will be held on Monday, May 19, 2025 beginning at 1:00 pm at Kinkade Funeral Chapel. There will be a visitation one hour prior to the service. Laverne will be interred at Black Hills National Cemetery at 2:30 pm following the service. The family will be gathering at the Sturgis Vet’s Club afterwards for refreshments.
Condolences for the family may be sent to www.kinkadefunerals.com as well as 533 S. Summit Avenue, Newcastle, WY 82701.
