Obituary | LaVonne "Vonnie" E. Nygaard of Ludlow, South Dakota | Krebsbach Funeral Service (2024)

LaVonne “Vonnie” E. (Echternach) Nygaard (88), passed away July 12, 2024 at the Fallon County Medical Complex in Baker, MT. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 4:00pm at the Peace Lutheran Church in Scranton, ND. Pastor Mary Peterson and Pastor Galen Strand will officiate. A Family & Friends Service will be Friday, July 19, 2024 at the Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Home Chapel in Bowman, ND beginning at 7:00 pm. Visitation will be 12-9 pm Friday. Burial will be held at a later date in the Bowman Cemetery.

The funeral will be live-streamed through Sierra Jenkins Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sierra.jenkins.35

LaVonne Erlyss Echternach, daughter of Herbert Echternach and Sadie (Jensen) Echternach was born January 25, 1936 in Albert Lea, MN joining two brothers. Raised on the family farm, she helped with chores and other jobs. At age 7, she picked milkweed pods for WWII floatation jackets. At age 16, she helped with corn detasseling and also worked at several canneries. Vonnie attended Lakefield High School and was very active. She loved music, participating in the school band, marching band, and the saxophone symphonette. She played the alto saxophone and was occasionally found swinging a baton. Vonnie had a beautiful soprano voice, singing and harmonizing in both school and church choirs. She enjoyed gymnastics. She proved to family she could still do a back bend at age 50! Vonnie graduated high school in1954. It was 1952 when Vonnie first met the love of her life, a tall, dark and handsome stranger on a "blind date" as a promise for giving a fellow classman a ride back to his hometown, Lakefield, MN. Engaged in 1956 and married May 12, 1957 at Lakefield, MN, Vonnie became the wife of Leonard O. Nygaard. Shortly after their wedding Leonard was deployed to Germany for army duty and she continued her 4 year nurses training at Hamline University of St. Paul, MN. Vonnie received her LPN in 1956 and her RN license in 1958.

In 1958 after receiving word of his fathers failing health, Leonard was granted an emergency discharge to return home. Both Leonard and Vonnie reported for duty to the Nygaard family ranch in NW Harding County, SD. Vonnie put her RN degree to use at the Bowman Hospital and also began the new active role as a ranchers wife.

Vonnie and Leonard were blessed with three delightful daughters: Nancy Nina (1959), Kathy Marie (1961) and Lori LaVonne (1967). They were the best 'sons' a couple could have ever asked for... and much cuter too!! 😉

Vonnie had a beautiful smile, she was a 4-H Leader for the Lanesboro Buckaroos, a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Haley, WELCA, SDACD Auxiliary (50+ yrs), Sons of Norway, Prairie Petals Homemakers Club, and on the Bowman Hospital Board, just to name a few. For fun nights out, Leonard and Vonnie bowled couples league and later joined a supper/card club that they enjoyed tremendously.

The grandchildren were Vonnie's true joy. She enjoyed doing anything and everything with them, from playing games, going on picnic adventures and teaching them to cook and bake. She attended nearly all the events the grandchildren were in, cheering very loudly and with much enthusiasm. Grandma Vonnie was definitely one of their best supporters.

Highlights for Leonard and Vonnie were trips to Norway and Demark to see the country and visit relatives. Many pictures were taken and many cherished memories were made.
Summer of 2009, her daughter, Kathy (fighting cancer) was able to be with family for the special Centennial Nygaard Ranch Celebration!

In August 2013, Vonnie and Leonard retired from the ranch and moved into Sunrise Village in Bowman. Their last move was to long term care in Baker, MT in November of 2019.

Vonnie was preceded in death by her parents Herbert and Sadie Echternach, her brothers Verlyn and LaVoy Echternach, her husband Leonard Oscar Nygaard, and her daughter Kathy Marie (Nygaard) Kolb.
Vonnie is survived by daughters Nancy Teigen (Russell Hehn-fiancee) of Bowman, ND; Lori (Dean) Jenkins of Ludlow, SD; grandchildren Joshua (Alfahnique) Teigen of Gladstone, ND; Jory (Anna) Teigen of San Bernardino, CA; Jasmin (Rich) Lewellyn of Williston, ND; Justin (Katrina) Kolb of Belle Fourche, SD; Wil (Paige) Kolb of Belle Fourche, SD; Dalton Jenkins and Sierra Jenkins both of Ludlow, SD; and great-grandchildren: Jaceten Teigen, Joslen Teigen, Jaxden Teigen, Owen Teigen, Lyla Teigen, Kace Kolb, Ryker Lewellyn and expecting another Teigen this summer.

Memorial suggestions: St. John's Lutheran Church of Haley and Ludlow Community Hall.

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