Laverne Raymond Wilson, age 90, of Owatonna died on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at Prairie Manor in Blooming Prairie.

Laverne was born on June 23, 1932, in Faribault, the son of Raymond and Lillian (Schroht) Wilson. He attended Medford High School and graduated in 1950. He was in the Air Force Reserves while still in high school. He then spent the next 21 years traveling the globe while serving in the US Air Force. Laverne earned the Bonze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster while in service. On May 24, 1952, he was united in marriage to Josephine Klamm at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Meriden. He and his family lived in several places before he retired and they moved to Huntington Beach, California. They moved to Owatonna in 1977 and he began working for Wenger until he retired in 1992. He volunteered for the American Red Cross; helping with many natural disasters and teaching CPR. Laverne was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church. He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing and camping. He especially enjoyed elk hunting in Wyoming.

He is survived by his wife Josephine Wilson of Owatonna; children Randy (Wendy Lorentzen) Wilson of Kasson, Lynn Wilson of Owatonna and Tom Wilson of Owatonna; grandchildren Mike (Danielle) Wilson, Nicole (Jessie) Wise, Ben (Brittney) Wilson; great grandchildren Jenesis, Jaida, Anthony, Audry, Jaxson, Lucy, Jessie Joshua, Owen, Evan and Nacia Star. He is also survived by his brother Ron (Shirley) Wilson of Owatonna and sister Della Herbst of Sheridan, Wyoming. He was preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter Nacia Marie Wilson and sister Lorraine Tresidder Christanson.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at 2:00 PM at Michaelson Funeral Home. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Steele Center Cemetery with military honors by the Steele County Military Funeral Unit.