LaVonne Winnefred Young, age 96, of Waukon, Iowa, died Friday, July 24, 2020, at the Northgate Care Center in Waukon, Iowa.
LaVonne was born July 5, 1924, in Fremont Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Entsminger) Safford. She was baptized at about age 13 in the Mississippi River near Guttenberg, Iowa, and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Locust. She attended rural schools and then the Decorah High School.
On February 14, 1942, she married Jesse Young at the Lutheran Parsonage in Cresco, Iowa. Together they raised their four children, Robert, Emma, Phillip and Willet, on the family farm.
LaVonne worked alongside her husband milking cows, doing chicken chores, driving horses and tractor when needed, and raised a large garden, much of which was canned to feed the family. She was a very patient and loving person. She was a good seamstress, making clothes and quilts, and many other things for her family and church bazaars, and was an excellent baker.
LaVonne is survived by her daughter-in-law Sandy (Vern Gavle), previously married to Robert, of Decorah, her daughter Emma Thompson (Bud Gavle), previously married to Frederick, of Decorah, her sons Phillip (Sheryl) of Waukon and Willet (Rhonda) of Decorah, 12 grandchildren: Bobbie Kay (Jeff Brink) of Waukon and Ronald Young of Ossian, Nancy (Aaron) Gipp of Decorah, Kathryn Thompson (Kevin Peterson) of Houston, Minn., Maynard (Rhonda) Thompson of Cresco, Iowa, Brandon (Erika) Young of Denver, Colo., Blair Young of Los Angeles, Calif., Brea Young (Alex Longuefosse) of Tampa, Fla., Shannon Young (Daniel Fullhart), Jordan (Hannah) Young, Justin Young, and Ryan Young (Lexy), all of Decorah, Iowa; 20 great-grandchildren: Robert (Taji) and Jesse Anderson, Joseph, Victoria and Cassidy Young; Isabella Gipp, Justin and Michael Bigler, Bryer, Trystin, Brayden and Brenden Thompson; Alexus and Jayda Romero, Alex Longuefosse Jr., Rowan Young, Colton, Kinley, and Weston Young; and Adrian Young; and one great-greatgrandchild, Maverick Bigler.
LaVonne was preceded in death by her husband of 74 years, Jesse; her parents Joseph and Mary, son Robert Young, a brother, Charles; sister-in-law Imogene, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Evelyn (Walter Quandahl), son-in-law Frederick Thompson, Sr., grandson Frederick Thompson Jr., great-grandson Thomas Young, and two nieces, Carmelita (Allen) Deters and Helen (Jerry) McCormick.
Private graveside services will be held in the Locust Cemetery. Mengis Funeral Home of Mabel, Minn., is assisting with arrangements.
Randy & Paulette Darling says
Willet ,Phil & families , Deepest sympathy to you and your family, these are hard times when you can’t have a visitation or funeral . Sad that the world has came to this .Dad is in Wellington at Decorah and can’t get in to visit only 15 minutes at a time and by appointment only from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm don’t they think people have a job !!! Haven’t seen him now almost 3 weeks ! Your mom is in a better place now , Cherish the memories as they last forever Deepest Sympathy 💙💕
Marilyn Torgerud says
Prayers to family and friends. She was a wonderful person and will be missed.