Lavon Margaret Marie Keehr, age 83, died Tuesday evening, Nov. 16, 2010, at her home in Spring Valley, following a short battle with cancer.
Lavon was born Nov. 28, 1926, the daughter of Palmer and Gladys (Thompson) Geving in Baldwin. She was baptized Dec. 25, 1926, at the home of her grandparents, Andrew and Mary Thompson. In 1934, the Gevings moved to Spring Valley and Lavon lived there the rest of her life.
Lavon attended Spring Valley schools, graduating with the class of 1944. She attended UW-River Falls for 2 years and Minneapolis Business College for 1 year. While attending school in Minneapolis, she met her future husband, Donald Keehr. They were married July 11, 1948, at Gilman Lutheran Church in Spring Valley. They were blessed with seven children.
Don came to Spring Valley and began working for Lavon’s dad, Palmer. They moved to Milwaukee in 1950 for a year while Don attended mortuary school so he could return to Spring Valley to work for Palmer. Lavon worked for Donaldson’s Department Store during her time in Minneapolis. She later worked with Don at the funeral home. After Don’s death, she continued to help her son Ross at the funeral home.
Lavon loved sports and was her children’s and grandchildren’s biggest fan. She attended thousands of sporting events and loved every minute. If not following the kids around, you could find her at a card table playing euchre or bridge. Don and Lavon loved to dance and spent many years on the local “Square Dance Circuit.” At the 25th Pop Concert Anniversary she was recognized as the parent having the most participants with six children playing in the band.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald, who died Dec. 25, 1984; stepfather, Carl DeJager; infant sister, Rosalind; an infant son in 1954; and granddaughter Aryn.
Survivors include her three daughters and three sons, Belinda (Jim) Foley of Beldenville, Benita (Tim) Gregg of Baldwin, Ross (Beth) Keehr of Spring Valley, Beatta Christoffersen of Hudson, Reece (Laurie) Keehr of Spring Valley, and Royce (Cathy) Keehr of New Richmond; 16 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren: Jeff Foley and his daughter Elise; Jenny Foley and her daughters, Kelsi and Karli; Kari Gregg; Todd Gregg; Amanda (Tom Renteria) Keehr; Katie (Jon) Washington; Cristi (Bryan) Kinkel and their sons, Wyatt and Benjamin Ross; and Samantha Perry and her sons, Jackson and Dominic; Nic DeGross; Adam Christoffersen; Aly Christoffersen, Kelli (Tyler) Schlegel and daughter, Kemri; Kayla (Jeff) Thompson; Kimmy (Jimmy Ehne) Keehr; Ryan Keehr and Katie Keehr; two brothers, Allan (Viola) Geving of Mesa, Ariz., Dick (Rosella) Geving of Osceola; many other relatives and friends.
Visitation was from 3:30-7:30 p.m. Friday at Keehr Funeral Home, Spring Valley, with funeral service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Spring Valley, with Rev. Erin Nelson officiating. Mary Nelson and Linda Anderson were organists. Special music was performed by Aarynn Deutsch and also by Belinda, Jenny and Kelsi. Burial was in the church cemetery. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren were pallbearers and honorary bearers.
Keehr Funeral Home, Spring Valley handled arrangements.
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