Tollefson, Lavonne Ann (1949-2015)

TOLLEFSON, GROTH, FRAHM, PRATHER, SUNDE, RICHASON, BAETHKE, BAUERNFEIND, HALL

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 11/16/2015 at 19:41:30

Lavonne Ann Tollefson
March 10, 1949 - October 19, 2015

Lavonne Ann Tollefson, 66, of Forest City, passed away on Monday, October 19, 2015, at the Muse Norris Inpatient Unit in Mason City after a thirteen month battle with pancreatic cancer.

Lavonne Ann was born on March 10, 1949, to Walter and Ida (Frahm) Groth in Howard County, Iowa. The middle of three children, she was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Maple Leaf Lutheran Church in Elma, Iowa. In 1967, she graduated from Riceville Community High School. Then, she attended the University of Iowa where she earned her doctorate in pharmacy. After completing her education, she worked at various pharmacies located in York, Pennsylvania; Eagle Grove, Iowa; Webster City, Iowa; Kirkwood, Illinois; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Forest City, Iowa.

She was a loving mother to her two children, Mat and Amy.

On December 17, 1994, she married James (Jim) Tollefson at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Leland, Iowa. They lived in Forest City where she worked at Shopko Pharmacy until she retired in 2015.

A member of Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church in Joice, Iowa, she, always, treasured her faith, placing it at the center of her life. Indeed, attending church services held a special place in her heart.

Lavonne loved traveling with her husband, Jim, especially to outdoor locations. Moreover, she enjoyed playing and winning at cards, gardening, and reading. She loved to laugh until she cried. She enjoyed spending time with family, friends, Bandit (her dog), and especially with her grandchildren. Always putting others’ needs before her own, she would invite family members to dinners, including cooking and baking for them, send cards to friends and family on their special days, and give them moral support when they needed it. She had a servant's heart!

Lavonne is survived by her husband, James (Jim) Tollefson, of Forest City, Iowa; her son, Mat (Danielle) Prather, of Forest City, Iowa; her daughter, Amy (Ryne) Sunde, also of Forest City, Iowa; her step-daughter, Melissa (Brad) Richason, of St. Paul, Minnesota; Aimee Tollefson, of Austin, Minnesota; her step-son, Wade (Jessica) Tollefson, of Rochester, Minnesota; her brother, David (Elsie) Groth, of Austin, Minnesota; her sister, Carol (Rick) Baethke, of Lime Springs, Iowa; seven grandchildren: Myles Bauernfeind, Skylar and Andrew Hall, Joshua Prather, Emri Sunde, and Abigail and Lilianna Tollefson; as well as by many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Ida Groth.

A funeral service will be held Friday, October 23, 2015, at 10:30 A.M. at Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church, 3906 Bluebill Ave., Joice, Iowa 50446 with Pastor Kevin Olson officiating. Visitation will be Thursday, October 22, 2015, from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. at the Cataldo Schott Funeral Chapel, 505 N. Clark St., Forest City, Iowa, and again one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Burial will follow in the church cemetery after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Lavonne Ann Tollefson memorial fund in care of the family.

Copyright © 2015, Cataldo Schott Funeral Home

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