LaVern M. Hying

LaVern M. Hying, age 82, passed away on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 at Four Winds Manor in Verona, WI. He was born on May 13, 1944 on the home farm in Muscoda, WI a son of Elmer and Coletta (Lins) Hying. LaVern graduated from Muscoda High School in 1963 and shortly after he began working for the Milwaukee Road as a railroad engineer. LaVern would work for Milwaukee Road and later Soo Line for forty years retiring in 2004. During his time with the railroad, he was based out of Madison, WI, Ottumwa, IA, Kearny, MO, Prescott, WI, and Portage, WI. On June 26, 1976 he was united in marriage to Luella (Berg) Bongard. LaVern and Luella made their retirement home in Pardeeville, WI for several years. LaVern enjoyed tinkering in the shop working on restorations of Farmall tractors that tied him to his roots on the farm. He was also an avid Green Bay Packer fan and LaVern was able to experience the Frozen Tundra one last time.

LaVern is survived by his sons Rick (Debbie) Bongard, Mike Bongard, Duane (Kay) Bongard, and Andrew Hying, four grandchildren Travis (Chelsea), Kyle, Dylan (Nikkoleen), and Lori Ann, and ten great-grandchildren. He is further survived by his siblings Jim (Germain) Hying, Donne Hying, Bernard “Butch” (Cindy) Hying, Gloria Miller, Carol Bartels, and Diane Hinkle, sister-in-law Gert Hying, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Luella, brother Ken Hying, brothers-in-law Karl Miller, Alan Bartels, and Bill Hinkle, sister-in-law Celene Hying, and infant sisters Marilyn and Catherine.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, October 5, 2026 at the Becker-Beal Funeral Home, 109 Greenway Cross, Belleville, WI with Fr. Ryan Ruhle officiating. Burial will follow in the Oak Hall Cemetery, Fitchburg, WI.

A visitation will precede the funeral service from 10:00 a.m. until time of services on Monday, October 5, 2026 at the Becker-Beal Funeral Home in Belleville.

Memorials are suggested to the Mineral Point Railroad Society, www.mprs.org.