92
Colton, SD
December 31, 2021
Lila LaVonne was born on March 7, 1929, in Sioux Falls, the only child of Rosanna (Haslam) and Harold Zimmerman. When she was five, her parents divorced and she was raised by her mom Rose and her mom’s mom Gram Turner. After LaVonne graduated from the 1946 Class of Washington High School, she was employed as a seamstress by Weatherwax’s Men’s Wear, beginning a lifelong love of sewing. She also worked part-time as a coat check girl at the Arkota Ballroom in Sioux Falls where she met and later married the love of her life, Donald Fladmark. They were united in marriage on June 25, 1949.
LaVonne was a farmer’s wife for 64 years and a loving mother of 11 children. She was a hard-worker, and nurtured her family on farms in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. In 1979 the family moved to the home they built north of Lyons. She worked doing alterations for Sears & Roebuck in Sioux Falls and later joined a knitting club. She mastered the knitting machine and made many hats, mittens, scarves, beautiful Norwegian sweaters and other gifts for her family.
LaVonne will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered with deep gratitude for all she gave to so many. She is survived by her 11 children: Toby (Beth), Sioux Falls; Nancy (Perry) Swenson, Sioux Falls; Jim, Niwot, Colo.; Pam (Roger) Osborne, Eden Valley, Minn.; Sally (Bean) Svenson, Hermosa; Jane (Steve) Wirsch, Canton, Ga.; Polly (Rich) Hilgert, Crystal River, Fla.; Peggy (Ed) Zaharris, Owego, N.Y.; Daniel, Colton; Ronald (fiancé, Leia Lazarte), Sioux Falls; Jennifer (Daniel) Soodsma, Rock Valley, Iowa; 33 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband Donald (2013) and grandson Jacob Soodsma (2019).
Funeral services were held January 7, 2022, at Abiding Savior Free Lutheran Church. Interment will follow the service at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Christian Worship Hour or to www.smiletrain.org
Arrangements provided by Miller Funeral Home.