LaVonne Willems passed away at Palisades Health Care, April 3^rd, 2020, at the age of 87.  She was born in Nobles County, MN on April 27, 1932 to John and Anna (Aanenson) McClure.  She attended grade school in Nobles and Rock County MN.  She graduated from Luverne High School in 1950.  After graduation she worked at the Rock Co. Bank in Luverne until she married Tom Willems on Nov. 17, 1952.  They farmed in Springwater Township, MN until 1968 when they moved to Garretson, SD.  LaVonne went to work at the Garretson Farmers Coop as a bookkeeper until she retired in 1987. After retiring they lived in Garretson until her death.

She is survived by her husband Tom; children: Mark, Madison SD, Mary (Brian Parr), New Ipswich, NH, Janet Tyrrell, Garretson, Nancy (John Brandsma), Brandon SD, Judy Sievert, Garretson, Daniel (Lisa) Garretson, and David, Brandon SD; 16 Grandchildren; 12 Great Grandchildren; and a brother Steven (Sheryl)  Mitchell, SD. She was preceded in death by her parents; daughters, Cheryl McKenna and Susan Marie (infant), and a son Michael James (infant); brothers: John Jr, Arlen, Melford, Douglas, Gary & Roger; a son-in-law Darwin Sievert; and a grandson Eric Bjorneberg.

Cremains burial and services will be at a later date.

Condolences may be sent to 924 4^th St Apt 6, Garretson, SD 57030.

www.minnehahafuneralhome.com

James Allen Schmidt, 85, died Friday, March 20, 2020, at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was born on September 20, 1934, in Milbank, South Dakota, to Oscar and Irene (Mollberg) Schmidt.

Jim graduated from Garretson High School in 1952 and from Augustana College in 1956. He majored in English and went on to teach speech and literature in public education for 40 years. He began his career in Hull, Iowa, and then taught for 36 years in Jackson, Minnesota. Jim also was the first girls’ basketball coach in Jackson and coached golf for most years of his career. Teaching was not just a career for him but a passion. He loved his students and really enjoyed interacting with them. During the summers, Jim and a fellow teacher formed the Blue Jay Paint Company and painted many houses in Jackson.

Jim married the love of his life, Mary Lou Engebretson, on January 31, 1953. Together they raised five children. Following retirement, Jim and Mary Lou lived in Bella Vista, Arkansas, for twenty years. Jim was a man of great faith and lived out his belief in his everyday life. Wherever Jim lived, he was always very involved in his church by singing in the choir, serving on committees and church council, and participating in Bible studies. He also served as a Stephen Minister for many years. He always had a kind word for those around him.

Jim was a devoted father and husband which was most recently exemplified in his caring for Mary Lou as her dementia progressed. Even after Mary Lou moved into memory care, he continued to visit her daily and took great joy in seeing her smile and holding her hand.

Golf was always one of Jim’s recreational passions. Back in the late 1960s, with his brother and brother-in-law, they started an annual golf outing that evolved into a golfing family reunion called the SOS (Schmidt-Odney-Schmidt). This family tradition has grown as we added more members to our family. It continues to this day.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Mary Lou of Sioux Falls, SD; daughters, Rondi (Darrell) Shafer of Colorado Springs, CO, Nancy (John) Hodge of Lakewood, WA, Sandra (Larry) Schoenecker of New Prague, MN, Cathy (Joel) Halbritter of Willmar, MN, and son Joel (Amanda Raetzman) Schmidt. He is survived by nine grandchildren: Joshua Shafer, Beret Shafer, Krista Shafer, Samuel Hodge, Kelsey Hodge, Nicholas Schoenecker, Anna Carstensen, Andrew Halbritter, and Kaia Halbritter and two great-grandchildren, Joby and Crew. Also surviving is his brother Todd Schmidt.

Jim was preceded in death by his father (Oscar), mother (Irene), stepmother (Erma), and sister, Virginia Odney.

Memorial Service will be held at Peace Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, SD at a later date.

For more information please visit www.MillerFH.com

Ethel Leona McDonald Schraad, 85, of Edmond, passed away peacefully on March 22, 2020 after a lengthy illness surrounded by her loving family. Given the worldwide COVID-19 virus pandemic, her immediate family will hold a private service, and then a larger gathering for friends and family will be held at a future date. Ethel loved to laugh and playfully wielded a sly sense of humor. She possessed a sharp intellect and relished reading and learning. All plants flourished under the care of her remarkable green thumb. She was an expert seamstress and created amazing designs for her daughters and grandchildren ranging from prom dresses and doll clothes to bridesmaid gowns and everyday outfits. No matter how busy she was, she made sure her family had a home cooked dinner together every night. Her dedication to improving her community was demonstrated through her involvement with the League of Women Voters, the Deer Creek Schools Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and many other charitable causes. Ethel taught Sunday School and confirmation classes, sponsored candidates, enjoyed Bible Study classes, and served on numerous committees at St. John the Baptist and St. Monica Catholic parishes. She valued the simple and meaningful things in life and will be sorely missed by her family and friends. Ethel was a daughter of the prairie and the proud descendent of South Dakota homesteaders. She was born October 1, 1934, to Miriam Tremblay McDonald and Joseph H. McDonald in Woonsocket, South Dakota. As the eldest of eleven children, Ethel took on numerous responsibilities from an early age. She and her siblings had many formative adventures and created wonderful memories in Split Rock Park, Devils Gulch, and The Palisades while growing up in Garretson, South Dakota. In all aspects of her life she was motivated by high standards and her dedication to excellence. She excelled as a student in high school, made top grades at the Presentation School of Nursing, and earned the highest score on the South Dakota nursing State Board exam the year she graduated. When her children became young adults, she returned to college at Central State University to earn a B.S. in Accounting. Ethel began her nursing career in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she met William (Bill) Theodore Schraad at a dance. Bill was introducing Ethel as “the woman I’m going to marry” within weeks, even before discussing that possibility with her. They married on November 22, 1958, and they remained true partners in life and sweethearts for over 61 years. After they set up household in Owatonna, Ethel became an obstetrics nurse at Owatonna City Hospital and was quickly promoted to Director of Nurses. Following a move to Oklahoma, Bill founded Schraad & Associates food brokerage company. Ethel was a vital partner in its success and along with providing wise counsel, was the accountant for the business.  She and Bill cultivated a group of close friends and enjoyed spending time with them at dinner parties, bridge club, and vacations. Ethel valued these lifelong friendships, and they brought much laughter and joy into her life. As a beloved and dedicated mother, Ethel instilled her own high standards in her five children. She encouraged and was very involved in their many school activities and personal interests. Ethel ran a tight ship, and her love of order and efficiency proved itself in her schedules, chore charts, and endless “to do” lists. Her holiday celebrations, decorations, and made from scratch cookies, pies, and breads created memorable and cherished traditions which have been passed down to her children and grandchildren. One of the joys of Ethel’s life was traveling and exploring the world. Her love of travel began with a horizon-expanding journey as a teenager to California with her father. She organized many unforgettable road trips for the family – which included stops at all historical markers along the way where she read each word out loud to her kids. Her last road trip was with Bill to re-visit Spearfish Canyon in the Black Hills, where they had honeymooned. She and Bill also visited locations around the world, including Europe, North America, Central America, and Africa. Ethel leaves a powerful legacy of instilling in her children and grandchildren a love of reading, music, knowing how to use your hands to make things, gardening, needlework, travel, and adventure. She demonstrated the importance of being grateful for the advantages possessed and of volunteering to share those blessings and improve the lives of others. She showed her children the satisfaction to be gained by hard work and perseverance. They are grateful for all she did to help make them strong, confident and independent adults. Ethel is survived by her husband of 61 years, William Theodore Schraad, and her children Patricia Lee, Nancy Schraad, Mary Beth Schraad (Dennis Roy), William Schraad Jr. (Elizabeth), and Jacqui Schraad; her grandchildren Katherine Lee, Steven Lee (Haley), Kristin Nicole Jevsevar (Matthew), Philip Holsted, Erin Holsted, Christopher Roy, Gillian Roy, Garrett Schraad, and Hayden Schraad; great-granddaughter Laurel Lee; her sisters Kay McDonald, Sheila Wolles (Walter), Pat McDonald (Bud Dickerson), and Jeanne McDonald (Kim Nagel); her brothers John McDonald (Polly), Bruce McDonald, and Ron McDonald. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers Dean, Phillip, and Gary. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Alzheimer’s Association in memory of Ethel Schraad would be appreciated.

www.matthewsfuneralhome.com