Lavonne "Bonnie" J. (Tolle) Ward

Lavonne "Bonnie" Ward, age 88 of Starbuck died peacefully, Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at Holly Ridge Manor in Starbuck. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 8th at Scandia Lutheran Church in rural Glenwood with Pastor Ron Kuntson officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday, March 7th from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. at the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood.

Lavonne June (Tolle) Ward “Bonnie”, the daughter of Earl and Marion (Hildum) Tolle, was born on July 6, 1934 in Kearney, Nebraska. Lavonne was the youngest of eight children. She grew up and attended school at Kearney and the small town of Odessa, Nebraska. The family moved and Lavonne attended school at Franklin, Nebraska in her high school years. Lavonne enjoyed shorthand and bookkeeping in school. She graduated from Hastings High School in Hastings, Nebraska in 1952. After high school, Lavonne moved to rural Litchfield, Nebraska to help her sisters. There Lavonne met Galen P. Ward. Their first date was to a movie with Lavonne's sister and brother-in-law as chaperons. Lavonne was united in marriage to Galen on November 22, 1952. They made their home on the family farm near Litchfield, Nebraska. In 1955 they moved their family, cattle, machinery, and household to Baudette, MN. They farmed there until 1957 when they moved to Glenwood, MN to farm near Lake Gilchrist where Lavonne lived for 60 years. Lavonne was very proud of the new home that she and Galen had built on their farm by Gilchrist. June 19, 2020 Lavonne moved to Holly Ridge Manor where she lived until she passed away on Tuesday evening February 28, 2023.

Lavonne worked alongside her husband on the farm and sawmill. She even helped with Galen's fur-trapping by combing the furs to prepare them for sale. She was an Avon Lady and employed as a pastry chef at the Glenwood Retirement Home. Lavonne was an active member of Rolling Forks Church and later a member of Scandia Lutheran Church. She was happy to teach Sunday school and to be the WMF president.

Lavonne was a good seamstress, making clothing and quilts for family and friends. Lavonne loved to knit and crochet, too. She always had time for a large garden. Lavonne was an avid reader and crossword puzzle worker. As years passed, she found time to play cards and do puzzles. Throughout her life she was a loving mother and grandmother to her four children and grandchildren.

Lavonne is survived by her son, Leland (Nancy) Ward of Terrace, MN; her daughter, Rita (Antone) Stockman of Burnsville, MN; daughter-in-law, Mary Ward, of Willmar, MN; grandchildren: Christopher Ward, Michael Ward, Joshua Ward, Matthew Ward, Michael McCoy, Mary Beth Wold, Patty Schrock, Kristi Overman, Julie Ziemer, Katie Ward, Royce Stockman, Ryan Stockman and Andrew Stockman; 26 great grandchildren, 1 great-great-granddaughter; her sister, Fairy Myers along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Lavonne was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Marion (Hildum) Tolle; her husband, Galen P. Ward; sons, Kyle Ward and Richard Ward; grandson, Derek Ward; brothers, Louis Berry, LeRoy Berry, and Earl Tolle Jr,; sisters, Lilian Schaad, Letty Fread, and Lorraine Fread; and by her former husband, Clarence Fread.

She enjoyed her friends at Holly Ridge Manor very much. Thank you to all at Holly Ridge for the loving care and friendship showered upon her these last years!

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