FARGO — Lavonne Liversage, director of the Fargo Veterans Affairs Health Care System, will retire from her position as of Friday, June 7.
Liversage has served more than 23 years in various VA health care leadership positions. She's spent most of her career at the Fargo VA HCS, but has also worked within systems in Des Moines, Iowa, and Denver, Colorado.
Liversage grew up near Hampden, North Dakota. After high school, she worked for the University of North Dakota for almost 10 years where, as a single mother of a 3-year-old, she earned her undergraduate degree in business administration. Liversage went on to earn her master’s degree in business administration from the University of Mary, Fargo, and worked at the Internal Revenue Service before applying for a job at the VA.
Liversage said the moments from her career that stand out as bright spots are her interactions with veterans.
“It is not at all unusual for veterans to come down to the front office here to give us kudos for the care that they’ve received, either here in Fargo or at one of our community based outpatient clinics,” she said. “It’s so rewarding for me and it just warms my heart because I know we’ve got the best staff and they are always so caring for our veterans as they provide exceptional health care.”
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When asked about her next steps after retirement, Liversage laughed. "Yet to be determined," she said.
But she was sure of a few things she hopes to do now that she's retired.
“I really want to start having more of an opportunity to give back to the community so I will be looking for volunteer opportunities and that kind of thing," Liversage said. "My husband retired seven years ago so we have plans certainly to take some trips this summer, spend a couple of weeks at the lake. I'll probably take a little break from the cold winter weather and move south for a month or two and see more of my family and just enjoy some downtime."
A new director of the Fargo VA HCS has not yet been chosen.
