LaVonne Elaine Bird

LaVonne Elaine Bird was born on May 20, 1943, at home on the farm near Ocheyedan, lowa, the daughter of Clarence and Ivadelle, (Ver Steeg) Buysman. She was baptized at the First Reformed Church in Sibley, IA, where she was also confirmed in 1959.

She rode the big yellow school bus to Harris Public Schools in Harris, IA for kindergarten through 7th grade, then the district lines were reconfigured, so she went to the Ocheyedan Public Schools for 3 years.

LaVonne was a hard worker on the farm, tending to the chores of feeding and watering the animals, gathering eggs, pulling and chopping weeds out of the corn and soybean fields. She learned to cook for the family at a young age. LaVonne liked being a helper!

With the many animals on the farm, she especially liked the pet lamb who would follow her like a puppy, and she also liked hunting for newborn kittens in the haymow. LaVonne loved the boxes of cheeping fluffy yellow baby chicks each spring!

Many neighbors appreciated LaVonne coming to babysit their children. She got off the bus with the Lago children when she was 11 years, old and cleaned, cooked dinner, and took care of the 3 children until their mother got home from work. In her teen years, she worked in a cafe in Ocheyedan.

In September 1959, LaVonne married Harlan Else. They lived in Sibley, where she worked at Glen's Cafe and the A&W Drive Inn. They lived in a 20 x 8 foot trailer home.

LaVonne and Harlan were blessed with three daughters: Shelly born in 1960, Wendy born in 1963, and Marne born in 1968.

Harlan was an educator, so the family lived in many communities in Iowa: Storm Lake, Jefferson, Urbandale, Newton, and Carroll, In 1984, they moved to Fort Lupton, Colorado.

Throughout the early years, LaVonne was a stay at home Mom, and she loved everything domestic! But what she really cherished was caring for her three precious girls! She sewed their clothes, their doll clothes, and quilts for their beds. She busied herself decorating the home, cooking, baking, canning, and cleaning the home, tending to the laundry, and doing many crafts kept her busy.

LaVonne volunteered at church, attended Bible studies and Women's group meetings. She worked with Senior High Youth Groups, taught Bible School, and was Girl Scout Troop assistant. She enjoyed playing bridge, and other card games with friends.

When Marne was in first grade, LaVonne went to work outside the home. She worked at an office supply and print shop in Carroll, lowa. Later she worked at JC Penney catalog, at a dental office, and was a bank teller for several years in Colorado.

In January 1988, LaVonne started a new life as a single, and began her college career at Aims Community College in Fort Lupton. She earned her Associate Arts Degree in December 1988.

In January 1989, LaVonne transferred to the University of Northern Colorado, LaVonne and daughter, Marne (also a student there) graduated side by side in December, 1989 earning their Bachelor of Arts Degrees. LaVonne was hired for a part time Special Education teaching position in Boulder Valley Schools. The following year she was hired as a full-time teacher at Heatherwood Elementary School in BVSD.

LaVonne loved learning, so she continued education classes at UNC. She earned her Master of Arts Degree in the summer of 1991. She was certified in Special Education, Moderate Needs, and Elementary Education.

She spent 17 years at Heatherwood Elementary School in Boulder teaching special education for 3 years, and first and second grades for the next 14 years. She loved the children, the families, and her work as a teacher! After she retired from her full-time position, she spent a half year at home, but missed teaching, so she contacted a principal in Broomfield and was hired to be a literacy teacher for 3 1/2 years at Aspen Creek school, a BVSD school.

LaVonne often said, "My best job was being a Mom to Shelly,Wendy, and Marne. My second favorite job was being a teacher!”

In 1992, LaVonne and Michael Bird were married. They were very happy to have found each other and made a wonderful life together. They liked taking walks, watching the College Basketball tournament each year, attending weekly church services and often ushering, taking religious classes, family get togethers, and taking trips. Each summer, they went to Traverse City to see the Bird family, and they would go to Mackinac Island, too. Michael and LaVonne loved the island!!!

LaVonne and Michael lived in Westminster. She loved decorating their home for each season, cooking, baking, sewing, reading, and walking in the neighborhood everyday. She appreciated and marveled at the beauty of God's creation. She loved the ever changing mountain views, the change of seasons, gorgeous trees, and flowers. She liked the winter scenes, too. LaVonne enjoyed taking photographs and compiled a sizable collection saved on their Apple computer.

She loved being "Grandma, Gram, and Grammy" to her five grandsons and two granddaughters. She loved her family dearly, enjoyed going to activities the Colorado grandsons were involved in, sharing holidays with them, and loved playing games with them, too. The granddaughters live in Pittsburgh, and it was special to go to see them dance, perform in plays, visit them at their home and school, and just hang out in PA with them and be a part of their family. It was special to have the Busatto family come to Colorado, too. A few weeks ago LaVonne was thrilled to learn of the upcoming birth of her first great grand baby (a girl!) in May.

LaVonne's three daughters were certainly the best gifts God ever gave her! When each one of the girls were born, she felt a strong bond with the Lord and continued to feel extremely blessed. The girls gave her such joy through the years! The sons-in-law were special, too. Her heart was full of love for all of them!

LaVonne accepted the Lord Jesus as her Savior when she was 12 years old, and God has guided her throughout her life. She yearned for a closer relationship with God, so she went to weekly Bible study, loved the homework, and the fellowship with the ladies, It was very important to her to go to church every Sunday to worship God the father, Jesus Christ the son and the Holy Spirit so she could continue growing in her faith and her understanding of God's Holy Word. She loved Christian music and connecting with fellow Christians. Praise be to God!

LaVonne is survived by her loving husband, Michael, daughters, Shelly (Tom) Prenger, Wendy (John) Sparks and Marne (Brad) Busatto, grandchildren, Tony (Chris) Prenger, Mark (Marc) Prenger and Chris (Kelli Bradley) Prenger, Tyson (Christine) Sparks and Tanner (Jade) Sparks, Kate (Pulak Goyal) Busatto and Brooke Busatto, brother, Roger (Jalene) Buysman, sister, Char (Todd) Swanson and sister in laws, Lynn (Tom) Muszynski and Sandy (John) Korzek.

She is preceded in death by her parents Clarence and Ivadelle Buysman, and a sister, Carol Stahl.

LaVonne will be laid to rest at Mackinac Island, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in LaVonne’s memory to Dementia Together. 4025 Automation Way, Ste F-2 Fort Collins, CO 80525