Mavis Laber, age 88, of New Rockford, ND, passed away on October 3, 2011, at Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd, New Rockford.

Elsie Mavis Sutton was born August 22, 1923, in Detonti, Arkansas, the daughter of Claude and Pearl (Magby) Sutton.  She was raised and received her schooling in Saline County in Arkansas and graduated from Bauxite High School.  After high school, she worked in Little Rock for the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA) in the payroll department.  On June 9, 1945, she married Joe Laber in Little Rock, where he was stationed in the Army.  Later that year, after his honorable discharge, they moved to New Rockford, where they farmed until 1978.  Mavis became a proficient North Dakota farm wife and learned how to survive the ND winters.  She also worked part-time as a housekeeper at Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd for five years.  In 1978, they moved into town.

Mavis was a member of the United Methodist Church in New Rockford and United Methodist Women.  In earlier years she also belonged to a homemakers club.  She was an excellent cook and loved spending time with her family and friends.  She loved to visit, and everyone enjoyed listening to her talk.  In the spring of 2006, Mavis and Joe became residents of the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd.  Joe died on March 3, 2008.

Mavis is survived by two sons, Gary Laber (Kris Bjelde), Fargo, ND, Randy Laber (Linda Simon), Bismarck, ND; two daughters, Judy (Fred) Bott, Mandan, ND, Jena Laber; 6 grandchildren, Tiffany (Cameron) Hanson, Fergus Falls, MN, Anthony Stroklund, Devils Lake, ND, Adam Stroklund, Mandan, ND, Jessica and Austin Everson, Devils Lake, ND, Amanda (Dean) Windhorst, Center, ND; and great-grandchildren, Dominick and Olivia Hanson, Fergus Falls, MN; one brother, Doise Sutton, Benton, AR; one sister, Marilyn Sutton (Donal) Applegate, Roswell, GA, and many nieces and nephews.

Mavis was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Joe, two brothers, and two sisters.

FUNERAL SERVICE: United Methodist Church, New Rockford, ND

DATE AND TIME: Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 2:00 PM

BURIAL: Prairie Home Cemetery, New Rockford, ND