Lavonne Hellman

(Age 79)

Lavonne Shaffer was born January 24, 1935 in Sioux City, Iowa and passed away at her daughter’s home in Greenacres, Washington on October 3, 2014 after a short struggle with Dementia and Alzheimers. In September 1953 she married Jerome Hellman. Their only child, Lynn Marie, was born in October, 1954. Lavonne and her husband, Jerome, were long-haul truck drivers, taking their grandchildren with them on some of their adventures. Lavonne was the first female school bus driver in the state of Iowa. In 1983 Lavonne and her husband moved with their daughter and their two grandchildren from Sioux City to Spokane so they could begin a new chapter in their lives. In 1987 her third grandchild was born. Lavonne lived for her family; her daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her best friends. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church for many years. She loved life, laughing, playing games, scrabble, cards, going to Taco Tuesday at the Elks, her wonderful friends at Grace Court, the Elks and the Valley Senior Center, animals, teddy bears and hershey kisses. She loved everyone and had a zest for life. Lavonne was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Hazel Shaffer; her husband, Jerome Hellman; her sisters, Janice Kinnaman and Bonnie Wright, and her first-born great-grandson, Carson Jerome Stephens. Lavonne is survived by her daughter, Lynn Thompson, and her husband, Tom; granddaughters, Rachelle Stephens, and her husband, Casey, Amanda Knopp, and her husband, Derek; grandson, Jeremy Foster, and his wife, Christina; step-grandson, Brett Thompson, and his wife, Jena; five great-grandsons, Bryan Reynolds-Thompson, Chase Stephens, Tristan Thompson, Joseph Foster, Kaylob Knopp; four great-granddaughters, Matilda Foster, Maleah and Carly Thompson and Kennedy Knopp; one sister-in-law and many nieces, nephews, cousins and wonderful, amazing friends. Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. A celebration of Lavonne’s life will be held at the Valley Elks, 2605 N. Robie Rd., Spokane Valley, WA on Sunday, October 26, at 1:00pm. (There will be tacos!)