Lavonne S. Hanson

LaVonne Hanson, age 78, of Decorah, Iowa, died suddenly on Monday evening, January 22, 2007, at the Winneshiek Medical Center, in Decorah, Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 26, 2007, at the Hesper Lutheran Church with Rev. Matt Larson officiating. Burial will be in the Hesper Cemetery, Hesper, Iowa. Friends may call from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah, Iowa, and after 10:00 a.m. at the church on Friday morning. LaVonne Shirley (Engebretson) Hanson was born on March 15, 1928, the daughter of Clifford and Mathilda (Bjergum) Engebretson, in the log cabin on the family farm, near Lenora, Minnesota. LaVonne attended country school. She married Donald Welch; they later divorced. LaVonne married Lloyd Hanson on May 2, 1971, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. She worked at the Green Lea Manor in Mabel, MN, retiring in 1982. LaVonne was a wonderful cook, enjoyed gardening, canning, bird watching, and especially her hummingbirds. LaVonne enjoyed loving and caring for her family and grandchildren. She was a member of the Hesper Lutheran Church. LaVonne’s survivors include her husband, Lloyd Hanson, Decorah, IA. One daughter: Candy (Jeff) Ode, Decorah, IA and one son: Todd (Joan) Welch, Brownsville, MN. Four grandchildren: Megan Welch; Jordan Welch; Jeremy Ode and Bridget Ode. Two step-grandchildren: Brian and Tracy Heim. Two sisters: Marlis Pierce, Mabel, MN and Geri Worden, Spring Grove, MN. LaVonne was preceded in death by her parents; two sons: Clayton in 1968 and Gregory in 1952; one sister: Connie Remick and one brother: Allen Engebretson on Nov. 14, 2006.