LaVand Merlyn Syverson

LaVand "Van" Syverson was born on April 8, 1932, to Reuben and Hattie Syverson of Kerkhoven, Minnesota. He grew up on their small, diversified farm, learning in the process the meaning of an honest day's work. He became a Christian at ten years of age during evangelistic services at the Kerkhoven Evangelical Free Church. During high school, music and basketball were his favorite activities. Graduating in 1950, he went to Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. There, he earned his BA Degree in Business. In the Chapel Choir, he met Beverly Brush and after two years, they graduated and married on June 14, 1954.

Soon after marriage, he joined the Word of Life quartet singing bass, while also attending Columbia University in New York. There, he earned two Master's Degrees in Business and Hospitalization. Upon graduation, he was invited, along with Beverly and daughter Cheryl, to move to Beirut, Lebanon, where he was appointed Director and Professor of Hospital Administration with the American University of Beirut and Associate Director of the American University Hospital, during this time, two more daughters were born, Carole and Cyndy. After 11 years, the family returned to the United States to St. Paul, Minnesota, where Van was appointed Associate Director at St. Paul Ramsey Medical Center and Adjunct Professor of Hospital Administration in the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. In 1978 he was promoted to CEO/President of St. Paul Ramsey Medical Center.

In 1980, he became CEO/President of Presbyterian Healthcare Services, a conglomerate of three hospitals and nursing homes, with over 900 beds. He also served as the COO of the multi-hospital system known as the Southwest Community Healthcare System in Albuquerque, NM. After 8 years and early retirement in 1992, he and Beverly moved to Redlands, California, where they were elected to become missionaries with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). Van held numerous positions including Regional Director for Africa, VP/Director of Development and Communications, and President of MAF Foundation until 2003. After spending 22 years in Cherry Valley, in 2013 Van and Beverly moved to Sun Lakes, Banning, California. At this time, he also served on the International Bible Society Foundation Board.

During their married life, LaVand and Beverly were active members of four different churches. In each church, Van was a leader and beloved Bible teacher. Van had a servant's heart. He was a man of God, a man of integrity, who so willingly shared with others his spirit of encouragement, his gift of faith and teaching, his hearty laugh, and his rich musical voice. He will be deeply missed by his loving wife Beverly, 71 years, his three daughters, Cheryl, Carole, and Cyndy, their husbands, ten grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews whom he dearly loved. He is also survived by his sister Shirley (Jim) Norman, sister Madelon Hall, and sister-in-law Barbara Syverson.
Van lived a very full life, always serving the Lord whom he loved wholeheartedly.

The committal service will be at Hillside Cemetery in Kerkhoven, Minnesota. The memorial service will be later at Fellowship Church Beaumont, California.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be given to Mission Aviation Fellowship, PO Box 47, Nampa, Idaho 83653.

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