LaVonne Berndt

LaVonne Berndt, age 92, of Canby, Minn., passed away on Monday, May 25, 2026, at Sylvan Court Nursing Home in Canby. Funeral service was held Friday, May 29, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Canby, with burial in the Canby City Cemetery. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby, was entrusted with the arrangements.

LaVonne Darlene (Olson) Berndt was born June 30, 1933, to parents Henry and Ella (Halvorson) Olson at their family farm in rural Marietta, Minn. She was baptized and confirmed at Garfield Lutheran Church.

After graduating from Madison High School, LaVonne worked at the courthouse in Madison. There, her friends coaxed her on a “blind, double date,” introducing her to a young man serving his country, Harlan. The rest is history!

LaVonne was united in marriage to Harlan Berndt on October 23, 1954. To this union, three children were born: Terry, Tammy and Julie. Together they spent their years farming. After farming near Marietta a few years, they settled on a farm near Canby in 1961 until 2017 when Harlan passed. LaVonne remained on the farm several more years until moving to Sanford Assisted Living.

It takes an industrious woman to be married to a farmer and that she was. Always cooking, gardening, canning, cleaning, mowing, sewing, embroidery, tending animals … she was not idle. There was always a cup of coffee and lunch for anyone who dropped in. Along with all these things and more, her heart was ever toward her children, a mother’s love felt so strongly.

Outside the farm life, LaVonne and Harlan danced for 25 years, members of the Gary 8’s Square Dance Club. She was also a member of the Gary Legion Auxiliary. After all her children graduated, LaVonne went “back to work” at the Madison Lutheran Home, working in the Activities Department for 23 years. She was well known there for her leadership of the quilting ladies club. LaVonne was a member of WELCA and served in various roles at Florida Lutheran Church and later Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. Retirement did not slow LaVonne or Harlan down as they continued to help on the farm, garden, care for grandchildren, care for elderly neighbors, take bus trips with Rhoda and Herm, and quilt, quilt, quilt, bringing Harlan into the hobby!

LaVonne passed away on Monday, May 25, 2026, at Sylvan Court. She had reached the age of 92 years, 10 months, and 25 days when her strength gave out, and she went to meet her Savior.

LaVonne is survived by children: Terry (Cheryl) Berndt, Tammy Berndt, and Julie Berndt; grandchildren: Chad, Cory (Allison), and Nathan Berndt; Steven (Mara) Oates and Shannon Oates; Neil (Briana), Caleb, Colton (Nikki), and Paul (Kayla) Citrowske; great-grandchildren: Grayson and Carter Berndt; Chloe, Caelyn, and Lincoln Citrowske; Patrick Citrowske; and Madison and Peyton Oates; brother: Darrell (Kathy) Olson; sisters-in-law: Rhoda Rabanus and Marilyn (Bill) Matthes; and cherished nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

LaVonne is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harlan; brother, Lowell Olson; sisters-in-law: Adeline Ashling, Norma Berndt, and Winny Giese; and brothers-in-law: Lester Steen, Warden Ashling, Bob Giese, and Herm Rabanus.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church.

Ps. 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.”