Laurel Pavek

Laurel Pavek, 90, Moorhead, MN passed away on Monday, July 28, 2014 at Lilac Home, Moorhead, MN. Funeral services will be on Saturday, August 2, at 2:00 PM at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND with Pastor Fern Bailey officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be at Fairview Memorial Gardens, Wahpeton. Arrangements are entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND.

Laurel was born on October 8, 1923 in Kidder, SD to Arthur and Alta (Purdy) Meyer. She grew up on the family farm near Kidder until she was fourteen when she moved with her family to Wahpeton, ND. She graduated from Wahpeton High School. After graduation she began her career with Northwestern Bell as a telephone operator in Wahpeton.

Laurel was united in marriage to Vernon Pavek on May 30, 1942 in Fargo. They made their home in Wahpeton until 1972, when Northwestern Bell closed it's office in Wahpeton and she transferred to the Fargo office. She worked for AT&T until she retired in February, 1986. They continued to live in Fargo and became residents of Riverview Place, where she was an active participant in many events and activities. Vernon passed away on March 25, 2007. Laurel became a resident at Lilac Home in Moorhead in August of 2013.

Laurel was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America and her "card" club which was made up of local retired telephone operators. She was an artist both in paint and pencil drawings. She was a great cook and enjoyed being the hostess/event planner. She loved to go to family events and especially liked the times spent at their cabin at East Lost Lake and later at Ottertail Lake, as well as at the farm in South Dakota.

Laurel is survived by her daughter, Diane (George) Clark, Fargo, ND; her grandson, Andrew (Mandy) Kraus, Minneapolis, MN; her sister-in-law, Karol Pavek, Fergus Falls, MN; her nieces and nephews, Linda (Ken) Lund, Jeff (Annette) Struck, Beverly (Joe) Hecker, Stephen (Phyllis) Swenson, Doug (Deb) Swenson, Gary (Susie) Pavek, Tom (Belinda) Pavek.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Vernon, and her two sisters, Marine Struck and Gracine Swenson.