LAUREL — LaVonne M. Madsen, 87, Laurel, died peacefully April 5, 2024, at the Hillcrest Care Center, Laurel.

A memorial service will be 10:30 a.m., April 23, 2024, at Faith Community Church, Laurel, with Rev. Chris Clinchard officiating.

Burial will be in the Laurel Cemetery, Laurel.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the memorial service at the church.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Laurel.

LaVonne M. Madsen was born Oct. 9, 1936, on the family farm south of Belden,, to Walter and Lora Mae (Sovereign) Krei. She grew up on the farm and graduated from Laurel High School in 1950. She married Verner Madsen July 2, 1955, at the United Methodist Church, Laurel. LaVonne worked as a telephone operator and also sold Tupperware, but mostly worked as the activities director for the Hillcrest Care Center, Laurel, for 27 years. She enjoyed taking care of the residents at the care center and became a resident of Hillcrest Care Center in 2003.

LaVonne was very active in the United Methodist Church in Laurel. She enjoyed bowling, camping, watching Nebraska football and basketball, watching golf and rodeos, listening to all kinds of music, but especially loved spending time with her family and attending the steak fry with her group of friends.

Survivors include her daughters, Lesa Kathol, South Sioux City; Janelle (Jeff) Cameron, Frederick, Md.; sons, Dan Madsen, Laurel, and Paul (Jean) Madsen, Saginaw, Minn.; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brothers, Dale (Joan) Krei, South Sioux City, and Darrell (Anita) Krei, Ankeny, Iowa; sister-in-law, Yvonne Grimmus, Sibley, Iowa; brother-in-law, Sam Young, Chambers; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Verner, on Nov. 30, 2020; son, Mike; and brother, Bob Krei.