Lavonne Grace (Larsen) Buettner Obituary (1941 - 2020)

Lavonne Grace Buettner (Larsen) 78, of Lincoln, died on May 16, 2020. A memorial Mass will be held 3PM, on Friday, May 22, 2020, at North American Martyrs Catholic Church in Lincoln, NE with Father Brian Connor and Father Paul Colling officiating. Her body was donated to science hoping it will be of help in finding a cure for others who have ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs Disease. Lavonne was born on November 23, 1941 on a Sunday morning at home to Raymond E. Larsen and Ina Fay Lyon Larsen Rothfuss. She graduated from Grand Island High School with the class of 1959 and lived in the same home until she married. She married Ronald G. Buettner at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Grand Island on November 28, 1959. To this union four children were born: Susan Marie, Ronald "Joe", John Paul and William Todd. Lavonne was a stay-at-home mom while the children were young. She also worked in a couple factories, had her own cleaning business and enjoyed being a caregiver to many. Her favorite job outside the home was cooking at Lexington St. Ann's Catholic School, where everyone enjoyed the large homemade cinnamon rolls and cookies she made with love. In fact, there was never a time when she didn't have some type of rolls, cookies, cakes or something else made with love available to anyone who visited. She joined the Catholic Church in 1960 and has always been grateful she made the choice to become Catholic. She helped the church in many ways by taking pictures of mass, was a Eucharist Minister, was part of the CEC team, made meals for shut-ins, often visited the care home and helped with mass there. She was very much a part of a 12-step program and sponsored an Alateen group. She was always willing to help others and was friendly, kind and a good listener to all. Lavonne loved being a mom, enjoyed her boys' sports events and helped them grow into honest fine young men. Each of her 18 grandchildren were very special to her and a big part of her life. They gave her 40 great-grandchildren. She remembered all of their birthdays and made sure they had a homemade cake and gifts. They all knew they were important to her and loved by her. In 2017, Lavonne and Ron moved from their home of 40 years in Lexington to Lincoln to be closer to their family and their doctors. In July 2019, she was diagnosed with A.L.S. and entered in Hospice care on Christmas Eve, 2019. While in Lincoln, they joined the North American Martyrs Catholic Church and she immediately joined many groups. Her favorite was the Alpha group. She is survived by husband Ron of Lincoln, sons R. Joe and wife Lillian of Holdrege, John and wife Kim of Lincoln, Bill and wife Susan of Lincoln, sister Shirley and husband Richard Buettner of Virginia, and sister Pat and husband Jack Buettner of Arizona. Lavonne was preceded in death by her parents Ray and Ina, her stepfather Al Rothfuss, daughter Susan Marie, sister Marilyn Meyer and husband Bill, brother Melvin Larsen and wife Ann, sisters-in-law Linda Buettner and Carolyn Jorgensen, and sister-in-law Clarice Luther and husband Gerald. Memorials can be made to N.A.M. Altar Society, 1001 Isaac Dr., Lincoln, NE 68521; St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery, 1214 N. Tyler St., Lexington, NE 68850; A.L.S. in the Heartland, 1320 S. 119th St., Omaha, NE 68144. North American Martyrs Altar Society1101 Isaac Dr, Lincoln NE 68521Tel: 1-402-476-7373Web: https://www.namartyrs.org/ St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery1214 N. Tyler St, Lexington NE 68850 ALS in the Heartland1320 S 119th Street, Omaha NE 68144Tel: 1-402-592-2374Web: https://alsintheheartland.org/