LaVonne C. Olsen

LaVonne Carol Kyrklund Olsen, of New Sweden Township, peacefully began her everlasting life in her 87th year on June 21, 2025, surrounded by her loved ones.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday July 12, 2025, at Norseland Lutheran Church. Visitation is 4:00-6:00 p.m. Friday, July 11th at St. Peter Funeral Home, and 10:00 a.m. Saturday at church. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Memorials can be directed to Gustavus Adolphus College. Condolences for the family can be left at www.saintpeterfuneralhome.com.

Born to Emery and Helen (Nelson) Kyrklund of rural Cornish Township Sibley County, on Jan 1, 1938, LaVonne’s youth was spent happily on the family farm. Though an only child, she was never lonely, as she busily populated her imagination with endless creative projects and kept company with her pets and dolls. She taught herself how to sew at age six on her mother’s treadle sewing machine. Early on, she honed hostessing and artistic skills by designing and building a playhouse in the woods that became the neighborhood hub. A special lifelong bond existed with her beloved first cousin Lloyd Nelson.

Early school days were spent in the District 61 one-room school, located about a mile from the farm, accessible by bicycle. When asked which was her favorite subject she said, “All of it. I liked school…I liked school.” Her parents felt she was ready for first grade at age five, and she never looked back, graduating eventually from Winthrop High School as salutatorian of her class.

LaVonne entered Gustavus Adolphus College in the fall of 1955 and chose to major in business education. She thrived in the college environment, excelling in her coursework, and creating lifelong steadfast friendships. These friendship connections led to being set up on a blind date to attend the Minnesota State Fair in the summer of 1958 with a Norseland farmer named Julian Olsen.

Machinery Hill and Ye Old Mill boat ride worked their magic, and Vonnie and Juni became a couple, getting engaged the following spring. When LaVonne graduated in the spring of 1959, she decided she wanted to get a year of teaching under her belt before marriage, accepting a position at Belle Plaine High School teaching typing, shorthand and other business subjects.

They married in August of 1960, and built a thoughtfully designed house on the Olsen Family Farm. LaVonne taught at St. Peter High School for seven years until children blessed the marriage (Solveig, b. 1968, and Erik, b. 1970), when LaVonne turned her attention to full-time motherhood, homemaking, and embracing life as a farm wife. LaVonne loved the Homemaking Arts, and the hard work of country life. She took pride in her accomplishments and creations.

In 1983, she decided to put her education in business to good use when she opened a small store selling beautiful European imported goods. Much like the playhouse of her childhood, Vonnie’s Gift Cupboard soon became a neighborhood destination. People loved “the shop” for the special and unique items she curated and sold for reasonable prices. For over twenty years, “Vonnies” provided bridal, shower, wedding, birthday and Christmas gifts to the entire Norseland community.

In later years Julian retired from farming and LaVonne closed her business so they could enjoy their final years together. They took up travel, visiting many of the country’s natural wonders, and fulfilling a lifelong goal to see Sweden and Norway. Above all LaVonne enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, always present to support them with kind words and wise advice and maybe a tasty cookie or two. Paying careful attention to the economy and the markets remained a favored pastime. Throughout her life she met everyone with kindness and rose with all her might to every challenge she faced. Her loss is deeply felt by all who knew and loved her.

LaVonne is survived by her two children, daughter Solveig Olsen and son Erik (Sarah) Olsen; granddaughters Antonia Langr, Helena (Robert) Satterness, and Ruby Langr; grandson Ethan Olsen; great-grandson Walter Satterness. LaVonne is preceded in death by her husband Julian Olsen, her parents Emery and Helen Kyrlund, and a stillborn baby daughter.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Ecumen Prairie Hill and nursing staff at Mayo Clinic Health System Mankato for their care.