LaVera Edna (Runge) Ellis, 88, passed away on January 1, 2017, at the Phillips County Hospital, in Phillipsburg, KS. She was born on July 27, 1928, the daughter of Edward and Martha (Deinert) Runge. LaVera was the youngest of five siblings; Frances, Regina, Richard, Harold, and Harvey.
LaVera was born near Lincoln, NE and her family moved to Burlington, CO in 1929. She married Charles Gaines on December 23, 1945. In 1947, they moved to Thayer, MO until 1961 when they moved to a farm 10 miles south of Logan KS, and later moved to their home in Logan. To this union, five children were born; Elaine, Earl, Ellen Fay, Aaron, and Marvin. LaVera moved to Reno, NV in 1971, and married Omar Ellis on April 20, 1971. They lived in Idaho about four years. In 1976, they moved to Sterling, CO where she was currently living. While she was living in her own home, she had nieces, nephews, and many friends in and around Sterling that helped her as needed. When her health allowed her, she attended the First English Lutheran Church in Sterling where she was a member. Later on the pastor would come out to her home and have prayers and communion with her.
LaVera enjoyed her garden and outside yard work. She was very religious and read her Bible daily; always saying her prayers every morning and night, and before every meal. LaVera worked at the Logan Manor and the Norton State Hospital as a nurse's aide.
In 2000, her family got her a Pomeranian puppy named Rascal. He brought so much joy to her life. Rascal died in 2014 then she got another dog named Dale. Her grandchildren brought great joy to her when they came to visit and the time they spent just being with her made her so happy.
She is survived by her two daughters, Elaine Horn Brown of Idaho and Ellen Fay Kemper and her husband Gary of Phillipsburg, KS, her son Marvin Gaines of Logan, KS, along with seven grandchildren, Oliver, Brenda, Wanda, Kevin, Brittany, Marcy and Bessie, and a special one, Teresa Griffin, four great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husbands, her sons, Earl and Aaron Gaines, son-in-law Rich Brown, and her daughter-in-law Linda B. Gaines. She will truly be missed by all.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Jan. 5 at 9:00 a.m. CST in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Joel Hiesterman officiating.

A graveside service will be held at 3:00 p.m. MST in the Riverside Cemetery, Sterling, CO.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Phillips County Hospital or the First English Lutheran Church.

Visitation will be from noon to 5:00 Tuesday & 9:00 to 5:00 Wednesday at the funeral home.