Lavonne Ann Tollefson

Lavonne Ann Tollefson, 66, of Forest City passed away Monday, October 19, 2015 at the Muse Norris Inpatient Unit in Mason City after a thirteen month battle with pancreatic cancer.

A funeral service will be held Friday, October 23, 2015 at 10:30 A.M. at Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church, 3906 Bluebill Ave., Joice, IA 50446 with Pastor Kevin Olson officiating.

Visitation will be held Thursday, October 22, 2015 from 4-7 P.M. at Cataldo Schott Funeral Chapel, 505 N. Clark St. Forest City, IA and one hour prior to service at the church on Friday.

Burial will be held in the church cemetery following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Lavonne Ann Tollefson memorial fund in care of the family.

Lavonne Ann was born on March 10, 1949 to Walter & Ida (Frahm) Groth in Howard County, IA. She was the middle of three children. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Maple Leaf Lutheran Church in Elma, IA. She graduated from Riceville Community High School in 1967. After high school she attended the University of Iowa where she earned her doctorate in pharmacy. After college she worked at various pharmacies located in York, PA; Eagle Grove, IA; Webster City, IA; Kirkwood, IL; Cedar Rapids, IA; and Forest City, IA.

She was a loving mother to her two children, Mat and Amy.

On December 17, 1994 she married James (Jim) Tollefson at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Leland, IA. They lived in Forest City where she worked at Shopko Pharmacy until she retired in 2015.
Lavonne was a member of Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church in Joice, IA. Attending church had a special place in her heart. Her faith was always important to her and at the center of her life.
Lavonne enjoyed playing and winning at cards, gardening and reading. She loved to laugh until she cried. She enjoyed spending time with family, friends, Bandit (her dog) and especially her grandchildren. She also loved traveling with her husband, Jim, especially to outdoor locations. Lavonne loved to take of others and always put them above herself. She did this by having family dinners, including cooking and baking for them, sending cards to friends and family on their special days and just being there when you needed her. She had a servant's heart!

Lavonne is survived by her husband, James (Jim) Tollefson of Forest City, IA; son, Mat (Danielle) Prather of Forest City, IA; daughter, Amy (Ryne) Sunde of Forest City, IA; step-daughter, Melissa (Brad) Richason of St. Paul, MN; Aimee Tollefson of Austin, MN; step-son, Wade (Jessica) Tollefson of Rochester, MN; brother, David (Elsie) Groth of Austin, MN; sister, Carol (Rick) Baethke of Lime Springs, IA; seven grandchildren: Skylar Hall, Andrew Hall, Joshua Prather, Emri Sunde, Myles Bauernfeind, Abigail Tollefson and Lilianna Tollefson and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Walter & Ida Groth.