LaVonne Keller, age 85, died Tuesday, January 23, 2018, at the Ostrander Care and Rehab Center in Ostrander, Minn.
LaVonne Mae Mlenar was born October 14, 1932, to William and Iva (Kolstad) Mlenar in Spring Valley, Minn. LaVonne was raised and grew up in Spring Valley. In July of 1950 she married Herbert Kendall and from this marriage they had two daughters, Evelyn “Snooky” Jahnke and Shari (Roger) Davidson. Von and Herb started the business Kendall’s Grocery and Locker in Fountain, running it for 17 years until they were divorced. She moved back to Spring Valley and lived there until her marriage to Maurice Keller and at that time moved to Rock Dell, Minn.
Von was very creative and was a talented painter. She was well known for her crafts, especially her snowmen and mountain men. She loved antiques and owned Von’s Unique Antiques store in Rock Dell, for several years. She loved going to garage sales and auctions. She was a private person but loved spending time with her family and friends. She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her feisty personality.
Von is survived by her two daughters, Evelyn Jahnke of Spring Valley and Shari (Roger) Davidson of Spring Valley; grandchildren: Jerime (Rochelle) Wojtkiewicz of Rochester, Minn., Jessie (Vee) Wojtkiewicz of Rochester, Minn., Lyndy (Wayne) Rohe of Centerville, Ohio, Krystal (Patrick) Campbell of Stewartville, Minn., and Dallas Davidson of Spring Valley, Minn.; 14 great-grandchildren, sisters: Delores Peters of Spring Valley, Minn., Sandra (Mike) Miller of Rochester, Minn., Gwen (Rich) Ruesink of Spring Valley, Minn., Donna (Vern) Loustad of Burnsville, Minn., and sister-in-law Maxine Mlenar of Spring Valley, Minn.; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, siblings Cleone Jean Mlenar in infancy, Mary Lou Regan and her husband Robert Regan, sister-in-law Marilyn Christenson, brother-in-law Rexford Peters, and several nephews.
Online condolences may be left at www.hindtfuneralhomes.com.