LaVonne E. Evans

LaVonne Elaine Evans, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, died peacefully while surrounded by family on Monday, July 13, 2020, at the age of 88. She was born on September 7, 1931, in Moorhead, MN, to Bennie and Tina Thorson.

LaVonne was a single mother to her three children, Jennie, Steve and Julie. Her three children were the light of her life and she was their "momma bear." LaVonne was fearless when it came to her children, unless the screen door went unlatched on a windy night-on those nights she was a source of comfort for Steve and Julie under the bed, while Jenny phoned the police. She raised them to become strong, independent and loving people, who passed that strength on to her eight grandchildren.

LaVonne loved life and lived it to its fullest. Her laughter filled every room she was in, almost as much as her humor. During her visits to California to see Julie, Gary and the girls, she was sure to pack her suitcase with games, pranks and gifts-the potion that made her the best grandma a person could ask for.

Every one of these items would be used throughout the visit. One early morning in particular, Kaysie-the youngest granddaughter, who hates mornings the most-was woken by the sound of loud farting. Propping herself up she looked over judgingly at her sister, still asleep, when she heard giggling outside the door. There was her grandma, peeking in, pushing the button to her mechanical fart machine over and over and over. That fart machine got a lot of use on that trip.

She was never too big or too old to play on her grandkids' level. Sleepovers at Grandma's involved nights filled with Lifetime movies, stalking her police scanner and rummaging through her closet filled with high heels-the bright red ones were Jamie's favorite. She always wanted her grandkids close. So, the extra bedroom in her small house was off limits and instead the grandkids curled up beside her bed, either on a blowup mattress or a makeshift bed comprised of stacked lawn chairs and blankets. And in the mornings, she would show off her barista skills, making cups of sugary coffee at her wet bar.

Games of Old Maid were given that extra LaVonne touch with the addition of humiliating animal noses, to be worn by losers of the games. By the end of the game everyone would be wearing one, laughing at how stupid the other ones looked. She laughed the hardest of course.

Her humor was matched by her sassiness-just ask her neighbors…and their cats…or lawn ornaments. Also, ask the cop who pulled her over for speeding, to which she replied, "Oh I was not!" And sped off. People always knew where they stood with LaVonne, whether through her facial expressions or her trademark lines: "JESUS Christ," or "Oh for dumb." She was never fake.

Life dealt her a difficult hand as a single mom, and she matched it head on. It fed her strength, pushing her to always speak up for herself and those she loved. It's the reason why Betty Broderick was her personal hero-sadly she never got to meet her in person, but they would have loved each other.

LaVonne was a mother, a mother-in-law, a sister, a grandmother, a fighter and survivor. She was everything a person could be. She was filled with life and brought life to those around her. God has his hands full now. Right now, they're probably cracking open a beer and negotiating her new position as the head guard of his gates.

She is survived by her daughters, Jennifer (Lyle) Rasmussen and Julie (Gary) Ellingson; seven grandchildren, Lisa (Andy) Henkel, Jamie (Ron) Horpedahl, Kristina (Anthony) Robles, Lindsay (Sean) Clayton, Kaysie Ellingson, Sean Evans, and Katie (Dustin) Wendt; nine great-grandchildren, Courtney Melkert, Gregory Melkert, Skyler Horpedahl, Evelyn Wendt, Anisten Wendt, Ava, Brynlee and Chloe Robles, and Carter Clayton; siblings, Arlene Josal, Ione Gebeke, Diane Ochoa, and Lydell (Karen) Thorson. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Steve Evans; grandson, Robbie Rasmussen; siblings, Orman Thorson and Judy Sell; and brothers-in-law, Ronnie, Leon, and Joe.

A Visitation for LaVonne will begin Saturday, July 18, 2020 at 10:00 AM, followed by a Celebration of Her Life, at 11:00 AM, in Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead.

Due to Covid-19, social distancing will be followed and masks will be required.

Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Fargo, ND.

(Korsmo Funeral Service, Moorhead, MN)