NEW SWEDEN TOWNSHIP–LaVonne Carol Kyrklund Olsen, of New Sweden Township in Nicollet County, 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.

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 she was an only child, she developed a close relationship with her first cousin Lloyd Nelson.

LaVonne graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1959, majoring in business education. She excelled in her coursework and created lifelong 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. Vonnie and Juni quickly became a couple, getting engaged the following spring.

They married in August of 1960. LaVonne taught at Belle Plaine and St. Peter High Schools for eight 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.

In 1983, LaVonne opened a store selling European imported goods and Vonnie’s Gift Cupboard soon became a neighborhood destination. For over twenty years, “Vonnie’s” provided gifts to the entire Norseland community.

In later years LaVonne and Julian retired so they could enjoy their final years together. Above all else LaVonne enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, always present to support them with kind words and wise advice. Throughout her life she met everyone with kindness. 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.

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