M. Lavonne Marubbio

Dr. M. Lavonne Marubbio, a remarkable woman who shared her love of learning, literature, art and dogs with all who knew her, has died after a short illness in Fargo, ND. 

Vonnie was born to Ruth and Elliot Aandahl, missionaries to China, during a furlough to Fergus Falls, MN, in 1941. Her family lived in Bellingham, WA, before traveling to Manila then Taiwan. In 1956, she returned to the States where she met and married A. Thomas Marubbio, her husband of 64 years, in 1961. Together, they crossed the U.S. as he completed his medical training and military service, and then enlisted as medical missionaries with the Lutheran Brethren Church. They moved with their two young daughters first to Calcutta, India to train in tropical disease medicine and then to Papua New Guinea, where they lived and worked in the 1960s. Returning to the US in 1968, they settled in New York City, NY, then Minneapolis, MN, before relocating to join The Fargo Clinic Hospital system, in 1977. Vonnie and Thom made Fargo their permanent home and over the next 47 years mentored several generations of new doctors and their families as they trained in the Merit Care/Sanford hospital system.

Vonnie’s experiences instilled in her a lifelong fascination with Asia, it’s language, culture and arts, and as an adult Vonnie earned her BA and MA in East Asian Studies at Columbia University in NYC then her PHD in Chinese Literature and Art at the University of Minnesota. She ‘went to the dogs’ in the early 2000s and using her knowledge of German Shepherds (they owned 10) became a founding member of the Red River North Dog Obedience Club in Fargo. There she led in curriculum development and served as a trainer and board member until she stepped down in 2022. 

Vonnie was born at a time when little was expected of her except to become a wife and mother. But she was remarkable. She dedicated her life to learning and sharing her love of art, culture, and history, and to nurturing her extended family. A quietly brilliant woman, her wisdom, experience and devotion were gifts to all who knew her. She encouraged people of all generations to find their passions, and the safe, nurturing, inspiring spaces she created helped us all succeed. Her strength, warmth, and ability to make everyone feel seen, heard, and valued is deeply inspiring and she will forever be remembered as someone who filled our hearts with joy.

Vonnie is survived by her husband, Dr. Thomas Marubbio; her daughters, Elise Marubbio of Minneapolis, and Kari Marubbio Freeburn of Surrey, England; her son-in-law, Alex Freeburn; her granddaughter, Bria Freeburn; grandson, Devlin Freeburn; and also, by her remaining sibling, Loren Aandahl of Austin, TX; her beloved nieces and nephews, goddaughters, and many others who were her ‘adopted’ family and friends. 

The Memorial Service for Vonnie will be held on Monday, October 21st at 11 AM at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Fargo.