August 15, 2019 at 1:18 p.m.
LaVonne Foster
LaVonne Foster
LaVonne was born on July 6, 1934 in Kost, MN to John and Effie (Magison) Olson. LaVonne attended the country school in Kost through 8th grade. She moved into North Branch to live with her sister, Myrt, to attend high school in North Branch, where she graduated.
LaVonne was united in marriage to Arthur C. Foster on February 17, 1952. They celebrated 56 years of marriage together and Art passed in 2008. In the early years of this union, she enjoyed gardening, canning green beans, beet pickles, carrots and tomato sauce that her garden produced as well as canning peaches and pears. She was very involved in church groups such as women’s circle, church council, the memorial committee, homemakers and Sunday School. She was proud to be a member of the Northern Star at the Masonic Lodge, girl scout leader, the garden club, North Chisago Historical Society and chauffer to her six children over many years.
With young kids still at home, LaVonne did her part to help support her family by collecting census, had a small home daycare and did some catering. In 1975 she took a job with the North Branch School district working in the kitchen. Eventually she transferred to the laundry department at the school until 1990 when she left to go work at the Cambridge Hospital. She retired in 2004.
Out of this employment she gained a special group of friends who she loved spending time with. Most Monday mornings, you would find this group of retired cooks sharing stories and breakfast at McDonalds and solving world problems. Our mother’s “claim to fame” was the story of attending Kost School and how they boys would fight for her to be on their team to play baseball during recess.
LaVonne was a very proud Swede who loved “Krubs” and her Swedish heritage. She was very involved in cradle rocking at the United Methodist Church in North Branch where her children and grandchildren were rocked. She loved to read and to garden, which is evident with all her beautiful flower beds surrounding her home.
LaVonne is preceded in death by her husband Art; parents, John and Effie Olson; brother Loren (Rose) Olson, brother Arvid (Margaret) Olson; sister Myrtle (Oliver) Swenson and sister Daisy Olson.
She is survived by her children; Don (Kathy) Foster, Pam (Mitch) Olson, Terri Lyn (Gary) Storlien, Todd Foster, Penny Foster and Faith (John) Lichtscheidl; brother Fillmore Olson; 14 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.
A celebration of life will be 11 am, Saturday, August 17, at Bethesda Lutheran Church, North Branch, MN. Visitation will be held from 4-7 pm, Friday, August 16, at the Grandstrand Funeral Home in North Branch and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be at a later date in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Arrangements are with Grandstrand Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed online at www.grandstrandfh.com.
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