LaVonne Caroline Marcus

LaVonne was born in Yellowstone County Montana, three miles east of Laurel on November 1, 1939. She was one of three children born to Tillie (Kober) and Emil Gottfried Marcus. She graduated from Laurel High School, Home of the Locomotives in 1957.

LaVonne was married in 1958, and though it didn’t suit her very well, she and her former spouse did bring four beautiful children into the world; three daughters and a son. She was a renaissance woman and held a variety of jobs throughout her life such as legal secretary, Avon lady, travel agent, medical assistant and receptionist. She worked for a long time as a bookkeeper and collections agent for Cenex. During her time at Cenex, she was called “Guido”. She was very good at what she did there, collecting what no one else could. She was the “enforcer”. As a strong, stubborn, German lady, just getting it done came very naturally to her.

LaVonne liked to have fun and she was fun to have around. She liked Oktober Fest and would attend any gathering that offered margaritas and wine. She loved antiquing. If you took her to an antique shop, you couldn’t get her out of there. She also loved Neil Diamond and was able attend three of his concerts with her daughter, Coqui. LaVonne was an avid bowler in the late 70s and early 80s and had won many, many awards and pins, at Thunderbird Lanes in Boulder. She was a member of Phi Beta Epsilon, an adult women’s sorority based in Boulder. To say LaVonne was an avid reader would be an understatement. She had shelves upon shelves of books in her home. She enjoyed crafting, as well, such as leather work, embroidery, needle work, and painting. LaVonne loved all things cats.

LaVonne attended Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Longmont. It was her faith, at times, that kept her going in life. LaVonne was a fighter. She was not going to let her illness take over her life, though it did slow her down. Since her diagnosis, she wasn’t able to participate in many of the activities she loved. She always said the cancer wasn’t going to kill her, but something else surely would. In the end, she was right about that.

LaVonne loved and adored her grandchildren. She was a very supportive grandmother and she was very proud of her grandchildren. LaVonne was loved and she will be missed.

LaVonne was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Charles Eugene Marcus, and by her son, Derek Laitinen. She leaves behind a beautiful legacy and is survived by her daughters, Jill Renee Grant (Joe), Laura Jane Laitinen, and Coqui Johnna Stetson (Mike); and grandchildren, Thomas Patrick Hora, Maxine Renee Hora, Tyler Fogg-Laitinen, and Kiowa Laurill Stetson. She is also survived by her two orange tabbies, that she held very near and dear to her heart, Gus and Cecil, and numerous cousins.

A Memorial Service will be held for LaVonne on Sunday, July 10, 2022 at 12:30pm at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Longmont. Please consider a donation in LaVonne’s memory to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or The Longmont Humane Society. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com.