Simonson, LaVonne Mrs. Dick) 1932-2017

SIMONSON, LOOMIS, BUCHACKER

Posted By: Mary Lou Verburg,volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:37

LaVonne Ruth Simonson, daughter of Clarence and Hazel (Buchacker) Loomis, was born on the old John Burk farm four miles north and 3/4 mile west of Ayrshire, on October 26, 1932. She received her education at Silver Lake School in Ayrshire, graduating in 1951. Following high school, LaVonne attended the Fort Dodge Beauty Academy, graduating in November 1952.

At the age of 8, LaVonne’s father died, leaving her mother with six children to raise. Two years later they moved to the LaClare farm southwest of Ayrshire. They resided there until LaVonne was a teenager and then her family moved into Ayrshire.

LaVonne met Dick Simonson at the Hiway Café in Ruthven in 1948. They were united in marriage on December 14, 1952, at Zion Lutheran Church in Ruthven. To this union five children were born. They made their home on the Simonson family farm near Ruthven.

Dick was a Farm Bureau Insurance agent in the area and then in 1971 he accepted the position of Agency Manager for Farm Bureau in Sioux County so he and LaVonne moved their family to Orange City. They resided there until his retirement in 1985 when they moved to the Lakes.

LaVonne and Dick enjoyed bowling and playing cards with their friends. LaVonne was especially fond of playing Bridge with her friends and playing Cribbage with Dick. LaVonne loved fishing, playing golf and boating.

Dick passed away in 1994 and LaVonne moved to Sioux Center to live closer to her children. In 2004 LaVonne told her children she was moving home to Ruthven. She wanted the familiarity of the places and faces she had known since her youth. She missed her friends and the comfort and joy of them.

At her home in Ruthven, LaVonne had a large pear tree and she enjoyed sharing her fruit with friends, family and neighbors. She will be remembered by her family as a “fun mom” and she was witty, strong, brave and stubbornly independent. She taught her family how to work hard, have good manners and be kind to others.

LaVonne passed away Thursday, June 22, 2017 at the Ruthven Community Care Center, at the age of 84. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dick; a sister, LaDoma Rierson; brothers, Richard, Dale and Donald Loomis; and a grandson-in-law, Jay Taber.

She is survived by her children, Diane (Ray) Raak of Orange City, IA, Valerie (Mike) Cleveringa of Rock Rapids, IA, Gary (Lisa) Simonson of Olathe, KS, Jalien (John) Secord of Hospers, IA and Scott (Margie) Simonson of Sioux Center, IA; grandchildren, Ryan (Missy) Raak, Rachel (Eric) Van Ravenhorst, Sarah (John) Rayhel, Alyssa Taber-Steuhm (Kelby Steuhm), Eric (Leslie) Cleveringa, Stephanie (David) Bellis, Nicole (Brian) Brown, Melissa (Eric) DeJager, Kelsey (Billy) Mousel, Haley Simonson and her fiance (Alex VanHolland); sixteen great grandchildren; a brother, David Loomis; as well as many other relatives and friends.

Arrangements by Martin-Mattice Funeral Home

Source: Sioux County Capital-Democrat 6-29-2017