Lavern Bjorklund Obituary Bjorklund, Ruby LaVern I urge you to offer your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God was LaVern Bjorklund's mission for over 60 years, half of it spent teaching physical education and biblical wellness at Wheaton College in suburban Chicago. LaVern died on February 7th in Spring Park, Minnesota at the age of 88. Ruby LaVern Bjorklund was born in Henning, Minnesota on December 20, 1917, the fourth of seven children of Selma and John Oscar Bjorklund. She is survived by sisters Maxine Slinden and Eunice Hotek. She was pre-deceased by sisters, Muriel Turnquist and Caryl Bjorklund and brothers, Oren Bjorklund and Roland Bjorklund. From an early age LaVern dreamed of being a teacher. She enrolled at Bethel Junior College in 1935 and finished her undergraduate work at Macalester College in 1939. She received a master's degree in recreation from New York University in 1950 and a master's degree in Christian Education from Wheaton College in 1963. LaVern taught in Twin Cities junior and senior high schools for many years and taught physical education at Wheaton College from 1954 to 1983, including service as director of Women's Athletics. Her book, The Way to Wellness, was published in 1983. Visitation will be held at the Maple Plain Community Church in Maple Plain, Minnesota at 2:00 pm on Sunday, February 12. Funeral services at the church begin at 3:00 pm. Burial will be in Henning.