LaVerne S. Briggs

She was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on September 8, 1925, daughter of the late Hazel and Ivan V. Sedrel, who moved to Des Moines, Iowa the year following. Blaine A. Briggs, her husband of 73 years

predeceased her in January 2020. She is survived by her son Robert of Germantown, Tennessee; grand-daughter Audrey and great-grandson Russel, both of Cardiff, California. Another son, Jimmy, died of leukemia in 1968.

La Verne graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa. She was a member of the golf team; chorus and orchestra; lead in the class musical; and Queen of the senior prom. Music was always of great importance in her life. Starting by playing ‘cello in the fourth grade, she graduated from Drake University, Des Moines with a Bachelor of Music Education degree; played in the Des Moines symphony; sang Barber Shop music in the “Sweet Adelines”, forming a quartet called the Chord Queens who won a national title in 1957; taught music in Des Moines public schools; established scholarships for music students at Drake and an endowment for the Drake Professor of ‘Cello. La Verne’s other activities at Drake University included membership in Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, serving as President during her junior year; Panhellenic Council; Homecoming Queen; and years later serving on the university’s Board of

Trustees.

In 1980, she and Blaine moved to Rancho Santa Fe, California, where they lived for 29 years. She was very involved with the Village Community Church, serving as a Deacon, Elder, Chairperson of the worship & music committee, and member of the choir and bell ringers. She likewise served the community as Chairman of ladies golf; treasurer of the golf Board of Governors; Country Friends Fashion Show committee; lifetime member of both the Garden Club and Rancho Santa Fe Historical Society.

In 2007, moving to La Costa Glen, a retirement village in nearby Carlsbad, California, she continued to organize numerous musical events and the annual theatrical ‘show’ productions through 2020. La Verne and Blaine shared great joy as active philanthropists and enjoyed seeing the fruits of their gifting. Besides Drake, charitable interests included Iowa Methodist Hospital, Scripps Encinitas Hospital Foundation, and the Village Church where they worshiped the entirety of California living. La Verne hoped to lead by example to foster similar charitable behavior for her extended family members.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, July 17, 2021

at the Village Church in Rancho Santa Fe.

Friends are welcome to attend the celebration with refreshments immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, any memorials should be directed to the Village Church or

Scripps Encinitas Hospital Foundation.