RAPID CITY--LaVerne (Vern) Anton Faust died Nov. 6, 2013 at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Vern was born May 24, 1925 in Elgin, Neb., to Joseph and Catherine (Selting) Faust. His family moved to South Dakota in 1933. Vern attended St. Liborius Parochial School in Polo. When his mother became seriously ill, he left school to help on the family farm. He joined the Navy in 1944 and served during World War II on the Destroyer DD496 USS McCook in the North Atlantic. After his ship, the McCook, was converted to a Mine Sweeper, he was assigned to the South Pacific. His ship was the second ship into Tokyo Bay clearing the way for the Battleship Missouri to enter the Bay where the Surrender of Japan took place. He was honorably discharged from the Navy on July 5, 1946. He worked on the west coast for a short time before returning to South Dakota to marry his sweetheart, Shirley Jackson, on Nov. 25, 1946. Vern and Shirley had four daughters and two sons: Sharon (Bill) Gikling, Linda (John) Maas, Barbara (Jerry) Mitzel, LaVonne (Tom) Martley and Michael Faust, all of Rapid City and Joseph (Christine) Faust of Los Angeles, CA. Vern moved to Rapid City in 1952 to manage the Elite Laundry and Dry Cleaners. In 1962, he purchased the Robbinsdale Cleaners, which he and Shirley operated until 1983. Vern was a dedicated veteran, active in the VFW Local 1273. He served as Post Commander in 1978-1979. One of his most special memories was participating in the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in 2010. Vern was an avid champion of his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He regularly attended events, games, pageants and matches. He would search in tall grass to retrieve home run balls and stayed (almost) awake through 8 acts of Shakespeare. Vern was the proud patriarch of his large family and at holiday gatherings, numbering over 50 people, with a tear in his eye he would say to Shirley "look what we started." Vern is survived by his wife, Shirley, his six children, 13 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and one great, great granddaughter. He is also survived by his brother, Wilfred Faust, of Miller; three sisters, Iola Hanson, Lewiston, ID, Bernice Banman, Meridian, ID and Patty Fawcett, Ree Heights, SD. He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters and one brother. Visitation will be on Sunday, Nov. 10, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m., at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home, with a Christian wake service at 4 p.m. at the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 2:00 p.m., on Monday, Nov. 11, at the Cathedral of Our Lady Perpetual Help, with the Rev. Michel Mulloy presiding. Interment, with military honors rendered by the Rushmore VFW Post 1273 and the South Dakota Army National Guard, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. A memorial has been established.