LaVonne Forsberg, 82, of Thief River Falls, MN, passed away on Thursday, July 30, 2026 at Thief River Care Center in Thief River Falls, MN with her loving family by her side.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, with a 6:00 PM Prayer Service on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also take place one hour prior to the funeral service.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN, with Rev. Stephanie White officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Ekelund Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Goodridge, MN.

LaVonne Shirley Anderson was born on September 10, 1943, at Mercy Hospital in Thief River Falls, MN, the daughter of Orvin and Verna (Hyland) Anderson and brought home to the family farm near Highlanding. She was baptized on October 3, 1943 at Ekelund Lutheran Church in Highlanding Township, Pennington County and confirmed at Ekelund Lutheran Church. In her teen years, she was very active in 4-H and became an excellent seamstress and cook under the direction of her mom. LaVonne attended school in Goodridge, MN, graduating in 1961.

After her high school graduation, LaVonne prepared for her wedding by sewing all of the bridesmaids' dresses and the wedding dress.

While attending a dance with family at the Highlanding Hall, LaVonne met the man she would marry, Larry Forsberg. On August 5, 1961, the couple were married at Ekelund Lutheran Church, rural Goodridge, MN. Together they made their home in Thief River Falls where they also raised their family. Following marriage, LaVonne worked as a clerk at J & B Drug in Thief River Falls while she sewed for numerous people. During these years LaVonne took a Rosemaling class which started her love for painting. While her children were young LaVonne also did daycare.

In 1981 LaVonne opened an arts and crafts store called Country Class Arts. Her store was set up so she could teach painting classes, decorative painting, Rosemaling, Hardanger, wheat weaving, stained glass, flower arranging, and cross-stitching. In 1992, she moved her business into her home and continued framing artwork for others while pursuing painting and stained-glass work.

LaVonne enjoyed painting in all different mediums and teaching others. She and her husband, Larry designed and constructed stained glass windows for several churches in the area. Their first church was Ekelund Lutheran Church in rural Goodridge, then Bethany Lutheran Church, the Presbyterian Church, and St. John Lutheran Church – all in Red Lake Falls. They also did work at the Lutheran Church in Climax, St. Clements Catholic Church and St. Petri Lutheran Church in Grygla, Faith Lutheran Church in Goodridge, Our Saviors Lutheran Church of Thief Lake, St. Pauli Lutheran Church in rural Thief River Falls, Sanford hospital prayer room in Thief River Falls, Carnegie Library chandeliers in Thief River Falls, their last work was at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls. LaVonne was commissioned by the state of Minnesota to design and paint the Old Mill State Park entrance permit and collector's mug in 200l. In 2022, LaVonne was awarded Northwest Minnesota Star Artist of the Year for her lifetime achievement in art.

She also enjoyed fishing, camping, boating, golf, and doing the design of the stained-glass work which she did with her husband, Larry. Throughout her life, LaVonne and her family enjoyed many activities together. Spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren were an important part of her daily life.

LaVonne was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church of Thief River Falls, Artists of Minnesota, and Northwest Regional Arts.

LaVonne is survived by her husband, Larry of Thief River Falls, MN; children, Jeffrey (Lisa) Forsberg of Bismarck, ND, Mark (Joanne) Forsberg of Browerville, MN, Valerie (Jon) Lindgren of Thief River Falls, MN, and Veronica Forsberg of Lincoln, ND; grandchildren, McKenzie, and TrisTa Forsberg, Hailey (Dustin) Wiedrich and Justin Bannister, Alisha (Josh) Winter, Nick (Calley) Forsberg, Aundriah (Craig) Bucholz, Nathan (Farrah) Lindgren, and Aaron (Ashley) Forsberg; great-grandchildren, Jayden Forsberg, Kennedy, Gunner, Beau Wiedrich, Brooklyn, Joshua, Emmit, Greyson Winter, Lakelynn, Oakleigh Forsberg, Logann, Ethan, Adalynn Bucholz, baby Lindgren due in October; great-great granddaughter, Wrenley Cunningham; sisters and brother, Florence Becker of Fargo, ND, Darlene (John Schumacher) Halvorson of Grand Forks, ND, Linda Engelstad of Grygla, MN, Julie (Gary) Kiesow of Goodridge, MN, and Tim (Lois) Anderson of Goodridge, MN; sisters and brothers-in-law, LaVonne (Roger) Kurrle of Duluth, MN, Roger (Sharon) Forsberg of Thief River Falls, MN, Dean Stewart of Plymouth, MN; Barb Forsberg of Red Lake Falls, MN; Michael (Lynn) Forsberg of Breckenridge, MN, Steven (Helen) Forsberg of Faribault, MN, Julie (Bruce) Kucker of Watertown, SD, Susan (Jon) Aaseby of New Hope, MN, Laurie Forsberg of Grand Forks, ND; several nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Orvin and Verna Anderson; grandson, CeJae Forsberg; stepmother, Arda Anderson; brothers-in-law, Richard Halvorson, Vernon Becker, Ronald Engelstad, David Forsberg; sister-in-law, Sandra Stewart; grandparents, Magnus and Mary (Kompelien) Anderson and Theodore and Florence (Baird) Hyland; special cousin, Alan Hyland.

The family would like to thank the kind and caring staff at Thief River Care Center.