LAVONNE V. JOHNSON was born October 7, 1929, near Wakefield, Nebraska to Emmet and F. Dorothy (Swenson) Erickson. She passed away Thursday, March  5, 2009, at  the Oakland-Mercy Hospital in Oakland, Nebraska at the age of 79 years.

Lavonne’s parents were farmers and she attended rural schools in the area. While in high school, her family moved to a farm near Lyons, Nebraska. She graduated from Lyons High School in 1947.  Following her graduation, she attended summer school at Wayne, Nebraska. She taught school for one year at District No. 69 and two years at Rock School. Lavonne then did secretarial work for Farmers Mutual Insurance until her marriage.

On October 7, 1951, Lavonne and  Stanley C. Johnson  were  married  in Oakland, Nebraska. They operated a  registered Brown Swiss dairy  farm near Oakland.

Lavonne was a member of the Salem Covenant Church and Covenant Women in rural Oakland, and also played the piano at her church.  She was also a member of the Morningside Extension Club and the Neighborhood Birthday Club.

She enjoyed going to the state fairs and Brown Swiss Cattle shows with Stan, while they were showing cattle. She also enjoyed playing the accordion and piano, was an avid sports fan and a goodwill ambassador to Oakland Heights.

Lavonne was diagnosed with MS when Alan was still a toddler. It has been a gradual decline and she was always striving to be as independent as possible. She  loved  to  visit  and  welcome  guests  at  Oakland  Heights and will  be remember for her positive smile.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Stanley in October 2000; brother-in-law, Glenn Johnson.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law: Alan & Renae Johnson of Oakland; three grandchildren: Aaron, Nathan and Natalie; brothers and sisters-in-law: Eldon and  Nyona Erickson  of  Lenexa, Kansas, Marland and Pat Erickson of Paola, Kansas, Maynard and Alice Erickson of Oakland; sister-in-law: Nan  (Mrs. Glenn) Johnson of Omaha, Nebraska;  many nieces and  nephews.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Monday, March 9, 2009, at 10:30 a.m., at the Salem Covenant Church in rural Oakland, Nebraska.

VISITATION: Sunday, March 8, 2009, 2 - 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 6 - 8 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Home in Oakland. Visitation will also be held Monday at the church one hour prior to the service.

BURIAL: Oakland Cemetery at a later date

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelanfuneralservices@hotmail.com