Lavonne K. Otten, 83, Luverne, died Thursday, March 23, 2023, at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage.
Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, April 6, at the Christian Reformed Church in Luverne. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church, with burial to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Luverne.
Lavonne Katherine Otten was born on Sept. 5, 1939, to Ralph and Henrietta (Driesen) Otten in Rock Rapids, Iowa. She grew up on a farm in Iowa and attended school through the eighth grade at Doon Christian School.
When she was 15 years old, she moved with her family to a farm in Minnesota, where she lived and worked alongside her parents until their retirement.
On June 29, 1958, she made profession of faith at the Christian Reformed Church in Luverne. Lavonne then moved with her parents into Luverne and continued living with them until they moved to a nursing home, at which time she moved into the Blue Mound Tower. She later moved into a group home in Luverne until health complications brought her to the Hospice Cottage in Luverne.
Lavonne worked as a janitor or housekeeper for several companies in the area, first TAC in Worthington, then Hardees in Luverne, followed by a hotel in Brandon, and finally for RCO in Luverne. She was very meticulous and liked things to be clean so housekeeping was a natural gift of hers.
Lavonne was very active and enjoyed many walks throughout town. She enjoyed visits at many local businesses, but her favorite places to stop were to visit the gals at First Farmers and Merchants Bank and for some potatoes and chicken at the Pizza Ranch.
She was an active member at the Christian Reformed Church in Luverne, participating in Friendship Class, helping at the nursery, and helping with Coffee Break Bible Study. She loved holding newborn babies and playing with little kids, as well as coloring pictures. She also very much enjoyed spending time with family.
Lavonne is survived by her brother, Gerald Otten, of Montclair, California, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Hermina Van Meeteren; a brother-in-law, John Van Meeteren; and a sister-in-law, Helen Otten.
Arrangements are provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, hartquistfuneral.com.
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