Lavonne Echter

Sibley, IA        Lavonne Echter, age 93 of Sibley, IA died Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at Sibley Specialty Care in Sibley.        Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, November 3rd at Trinity Lutheran Church of Sibley, IA, with Reverend Barbara Kopperud officiating.        Burial will follow in the Holman Township Cemetery of Sibley.        Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church of Sibley.   Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley is in charge of services.        Lavonne E. Echter was born March 2, 1924 in Sheldon, Iowa, the daughter of Harry and Clara (Mell) Grieser. She was raised in Sheldon and graduated from Sheldon High School in 1942.        She was united in marriage to Donald E. Echter on June 12, 1946. Together they moved to Sibley, IA and raised seven children. She was a homemaker and an excellent seamstress who provided those services for her family and many people in the community. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Sibley, active with the Women’s Circle, Sewing Club, and enjoyed working within the local elections throughout the years. Very special to her was the Coffee Birthday Club she had for years with special friends. When visiting Lavonne all guests were welcomed with a dessert or a “must have” piece of Russell Stover chocolate. Together Don and she enjoyed playing pinochle with their friends at their card club. Lavonne loved flowers, and every spring would be found at their greenhouses helping to plant and serving customers. She enjoyed collecting antiques, dishes, glassware and was so fond of the many dolls she had accumulated over the years. Lavonne and Don enjoyed many summers at their lake home in Okoboji, IA. Beyond her love for collectibles, what Lavonne truly cherished the most was visiting and spending time with her many children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She will be remembered as a loving, soft spoken woman who always put other’s needs first.         Lavonne is survived by seven children, Pam (Greg) Kleve of Omaha, NE, Linda (Rich) Rachwalik of Omaha, NE, Rick (Barb) Echter of Sibley, IA, Denise (Dean) Stucky of Marshalltown, IA, Greg (Lyn) Echter of Omaha, NE, Doug Echter of Mesa, AZ and Barb (Steve) Schuck of Cherokee, IA; 18 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren; two brothers-in-law, Bob Echter of Denver, CO and Jim (Colette) Echter of Oceanside, CA; a sister-in-law, Florence Grieser of New Ulm, MN; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family and friends.        She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Donald; an infant daughter, Connie; a brother, Ronald Grieser, brother-in-law, Paul, and a sister-in-law, Mary.