Mavonne "Vonny" Lofstrand

Mavonne “Vonny” Lofstrand, age 88, of Fosston, MN, passed away on Saturday, August 20th. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 4th, at Fridhem Lutheran Church in Lengby with the Rev. John Ragan officiating. Interment will be in Fridhem Lutheran Cemetery, rural Lengby. Family will greet friends for one hour prior to the service on Sunday (September 4th) at the church. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.

Mavonne Shirley Swanson Lofstrand was born June 27, 1934, at the Swanson family farm by Poplar Lake, Columbia Township near Fosston, Minnesota.  She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church.  She attended schools at Columbia Heights country school, Fosston, and Duluth when the family lived there during the war years.  In 1948 the family moved to Lengby, Minnesota.  In 1952 she graduated from Fosston High School.  After graduation she moved to Minneapolis.

On May 21, 1955, she married Bobby Lofstrand at Fridhem Lutheran Church in Lengby, MN.  They lived and worked in Minneapolis until 1958 when they returned to the family farm in Island Lake Township near Lengby, MN. They lived and farmed there till 2003 when they moved to Fosston.  Bob died in December of 2019; they were married for 64 years.  They have two daughters, Becky born in 1958 and Beth in 1962.

The Fridhem church was an important part of her life, and she was active in many aspects of church life; Sunday school superintendent and teacher, Ladies Aid, Circles, Quilting and the Financial Secretary for over 30 years.  Other community activities she was involved with were the Lengby Improvement Club, Girl Scout leader, Homemakers and a volunteer at the Embassy Thrift Store for many years.  Mavonne was always a hard worker starting in her youth; waitressing at the Herb Otness café, babysitting, picking potatoes in Buxton, ND and waitressing and making potato salad at a Drive Inn in Minneapolis.  From 1952-1958 she worked at Lutheran Brotherhood Insurance Agency in Minneapolis until they moved to the farm. In 1975 she started working at the Ben Franklin Store in Fosston and worked there for over 30 years.  She made many good friends there.

Vonny and Bob enjoyed travelling with trips to Scandinavia, Europe, and the United States.  They also had a 5th wheel camper which they pulled around the U.S.  taking in the sights of America.  In 1994 they got a summer place on Fishhook Lake near Park Rapids and enjoyed summers there with family and friends until 2018.  Vonny especially loved the lake life of boating, fishing, and swimming.

Vonny was known for her great cooking and baking, stopping at Vonny’s for coffee was always a highlight because of the good conversation and delicious baked goods.  She was adventurous and ambitious her whole life, she was not afraid to try new things. She would take adult education classes and liked learning.   She enjoyed cross country skiing, biking, reading, gardening, growing flowers, bird watching,  playing cards, attending concerts and plays, new recipes and time with girlfriends. She especially treasured her time with her three sisters for their Christmas and summer gatherings.

Grandkids were very important to her and a source of pride.  She was very active with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed playing with them and attending their events.  She loved reading the newspapers and would clip things out for discussion especially politics and finding new recipes.   In her later years she became interested in family history for the Bagstad’s, Grundyson’s and Swanson’s.

Vonny is survived by her daughters; Becky (Mark) Ratchenski of Cavalier, ND, Beth Hemming of Grand Forks, ND.  Grandchildren, Lily Flage (Alex), Matthew (Kaitlin) Ratchenski, Nathan (Michaela) Hemming and Noah Hemming and four great granddaughters; Lauren, Olivia and Emerson Flage and Ramsey Jo Ratchenski.  Also surviving are her siblings; Pat Heagerty, David Swanson, Dan Swanson, (Patty) and Priscilla Gunderson.  Vonny was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby and siblings, Leroy, Sharon, and Mark.