LaVerda Henrietta Rathai

LaVerda Henrietta Rathai, 95, of Mankato, joined her heavenly family on Monday, February 24, 2020. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., on Friday February 28, 2020 at the St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran church, with visitation to hours prior to the service at the church. St. Peter Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

LaVerda was born and raised in Round Lake, MN. She married Eugene Frank Rathai, April 27, 1949. They had three children, LeAnn, Kevin and Joleen. Foster children became a part of their lives in 1963. They received the outstanding foster parent award November of 1964 from the State of MN, Blue Earth County. They took in over 30 foster children until Eugene’s death. When her life changed by the death of her husband in 1977, LaVerda was informed by the county she could no longer foster due to the single-family household. She then took over the family business of gravel loading and hauling, with her son, Kevin, driving a pay loader and hauling gravel for the next 10 years. At 65 she retired and moved to St. Peter closer to her daughters.

LaVerda loved to travel with a few special friends. They loved to go to Laughlin Nevada for a few “free casino” trips with the opportunity to visit with her brothers in Arizona. She had some amazing adventure to Alaska, Germany and numerous other sites in the US. Loved to read the bible cover to cover. Said it took her about a year to read. Made many quilts, loved puzzles and crossword puzzles- said it kept her mind sharp. Avid sports “nut” from watching nascar racing, football, basketball with Koby Bryant to golf with Tiger Woods.

In her retirement years, she applied for the MN Foster Grandparent Program through the State of MN and worked at Kids corner and Head Start programs for many years. It was a huge part of her life to be with involved with children. Grandchildren and great grandchildren gave the biggest joy in her life.

She is survived by her brothers, Duane Burmeister of Florida, William Burmeister of AZ. Her children, LeAnn Meyer (Lonny), Kevin Rathai (Mary), Joleen Harrison (Richard).

Grandchildren, Todd Meyer (Kim, Madeline, Carter, Cooper, Mari) of St. Peter, Kristen Reiten (Scott, Hailey, McKenna) of Eagle Lake, Brandon Meyer (Bethany) of McKinney, Texas, Melissa (Jamie, Kelsey, Claire, Carson) of Janesville, Tanner Hunter (Erin, Charlotte, Greysen) of Los Angeles, California, Alisha (Tim, two “grandpups”) of Janesville, Blair Olson (Ben, Asher, Sullivan) of Minneapolis, Mallory Harrison (Josiah) of Ballwin, Missouri.

May you be surrounded in peace and love by the Lord our God.