Yvonne “Vonnie” Linnevold, 101, passed away peacefully at home in Decorah, Iowa, on May 29, 2026.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026, at First Lutheran Church, 604 W Broadway St, Decorah, IA 52101, with Pastor David Severtson presiding. Burial will take place at Washington Prairie Lutheran Cemetery following the lunch.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E. Water Street, Decorah, Iowa 52101. There will be no visitation prior to the service on Friday. Please come in and be seated.

Funeral Service will be livestreamed: https://youtube.com/live/If-ZD5G7HMI

Memorials may be directed to the Willard and Yvonne Linnevold Scholarship in Music at Luther College, First Lutheran Church in Decorah, WinnMed Hospice, or Decorah Food Pantry.

Vonnie was born on November 17, 1924, in Marianna, Florida, to Gurney and Pearl Maloy. The family soon moved to West Palm Beach and survived the hurricane of 1928, the deadliest natural disaster in Florida history. Vonnie grew up in West Palm Beach and attended Palm Beach High School, followed by Stetson College and the University of Miami. She began vocal and violin lessons at an early age and began performing in public as a child, continuing through college years and beyond. Her mother, an excellent seamstress, designed and made many of her beautiful performance dresses in the styles of the day.

Vonnie met Willard Linnevold during WWII, and they were married on September 23, 1944, in New Bern, NC. Their union lasted over 70 years, until Willard’s passing in 2015. After the war, they moved to Decorah, Iowa to begin their life together and raised three children. Despite her upbringing in a Southern Baptist environment, she had the flexibility to adjust to the Norwegian Lutheran traditions of her new community. Vonnie’s music career continued in Decorah as she performed solos for weddings, funerals, and sang with the First Lutheran Church choir. She was also the soprano for a women’s trio that sang Norwegian folk songs for special occasions. She was an ardent community volunteer for many organizations, including Decorah Community Concerts, Town and Country Garden Club, Luther College Women’s Club, First Lutheran Church women’s circle, and PEO Chapter GO. A highlight for her was collaborating with other volunteers to host Harry Bellafonte and other well-known performers for a post-concert meal of the “famous Community Concert hot dish” in the home after performances.

Friends and family remember Vonnie as a loving mother and grandmother who had a most welcoming and affirming personality toward everyone. Her sense of color and creativity enhanced her work in the garden and with sewing and knitting. She shared her award-winning talent for flower arranging with others, learned to make delicious Norwegian meatballs, and had a wonderful sense of humor.

While living well beyond the years of most of her contemporaries and her husband, Vonnie continued to be engaged and involved in her community. She frequently mentioned her good fortune to live in a community with such a wealth of creativity, diversity, and warmth.

Vonnie is survived by her sons Gordon Linnevold (Paula) and Gary Linnevold (Patsy), daughter Rebecca Shaw (Robert), grandchildren Wendy Linnevold, Murray Linnevold (Khrista), Robin Frost (Ryan), and Nichole Borchardt (Kevin). She was preceded in death by her parents and her spouse.

Vonnie’s family is grateful for the wonderful care provided by the caregivers at Happier at Home, WinnMed Hospice, and Dr. Tyler Menke and his staff at WinnMed Medical Center.