LaVonne Marie Willford

LaVonne Marie (Hansen) Willford, 99, of Mason City, passed away peacefully Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N Pennsylvania Ave., with Rev. Dan Gerrietts officiating. A visitation will be held an hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be directed towards the family of LaVonne Willford. 

LaVonne was born on April 19, 1925, to parents Herman and Grace (Gildner) Hansen on the family farm east of Mason City. She was baptized on the farm on October 28, 1928, by Reverend Oliver L.N. Wigdahl along with her siblings Betty and Richard.

In 1946, she was united in marriage to Robert Wilford at her parent's home in Plymouth, Iowa. They had two children, Kathy and Tom, and raised them in Mason City.

LaVonne graduated from Plymouth High School in 1942. Following graduation, she attended Hamilton School of Commerce in Mason City. After graduation, she worked in accounting for John Deere Tractor Co. and Diamond DX Oil Company in Waterloo. She moved back to Mason City and worked for Jefferson Bus Lines, where she managed the depot and its café, and later, also created and escorted bus tours throughout the United States.

LaVonne was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church, in fact, she was the longest living member having been a part Trinity for 96 years. Along with serving her church in many ways, she was also involved in the United Way, Mason City Noon Rotary, S.C.O.R.E., and KCMR radio. She was a charter member of the Women's Chamber of Commerce and the Wa-Tan-Ye Club.

Those left to cherish Lavonne's memory are her two children, Kathleen (Eldon) Weber of Cottage Grove, Minnesota; Thomas (Fran) Wilford of Minneapolis, Minnesota; four granddaughters, Katie, Michelle, Jennifer, and Ella; great-granddaughter Anna Oldenburg; two brothers, Gerald (LaQuetta) Hansen of Mason City and Richard Hansen of Cedar Rapids; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 32 years Robert, her parents, and her three sisters, Betty, Colleen, and Marlys.