Luverne Peter Jorgensen, 97, died Sunday, December 19, 2010 at Avera Flandreau Medical Center. Luverne was born October 4, 1913 to Andrew and Laura (Esthegard) Jorgensen in Minnehaha County, SD. He grew up in the Colman, Egan and Flandreau area and graduated from Egan High School in 1933 and spent the following 4 years in the U.S. Navy. Luverne then served in the Merchant Marines until the end of the war in 1945. He returned home and farmed in Clare Township until retiring in 1976. On February 24, 1953 Luverne married Dolly (Mettler) Nelsen in Luverne, MN. Dolly preceded him in death on September 21, 2010. Luverne was a member of Colman Lutheran Church.

Luverne is survived by three children, Laurie (Jerry) Garry, Mitchell, SD, Tom (Mary) Jorgensen, Parker, CO and Amy (Dave) Weiler, St. Louis, MO; 8 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren and 3 sisters, Margaret Headrick, Ingrid Payne and Dorothy Chapman, all of California. Luverne is preceded in death by his wife; a step-daughter, Susan Nelsen; a step-son, Dale Nelsen; his parents and 2 brothers.

Memorial services will be Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at 10:00 AM at Colman Lutheran Church with interment at Colman Cemetery. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church.