LaVonne Beata Ludwig

LaVonne B. "Vonne" Ludwig, age 83 of Melrose, died peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday, April 21, 2014 at the CentraCare Nursing Home in Long Prairie, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 24 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Christian Mothers will pray at 5 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

LaVonne B. Schlicht was born June 4, 1930 in Morris, Minnesota to Norbert and Hedwig (Hoffman) Schlicht. Vonne graduated from Melrose High School and was later employed there as an office assistant. She married Marlin Evens at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose. Marlin passed away in 1970. She was united in marriage to Mike Ludwig on August 21, 1980 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose. Vonne cleaned houses into her 70's and at that time was still on her hands and knees scrubbing floors. She also volunteered at Pine Villa in Melrose.

Vonne was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose and the Christian Mothers. She enjoyed playing cards, bike riding, sewing, working word finds, and loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband, Mike Ludwig of Melrose; children, Carla Bodeker of Melrose, Ned (Annette) Evens of Tomball, Texas, Eric (Kay) Evens of Brooklyn Center, and Jonel (Bruce) Walz of Melrose; 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; sister, Doris Ferm of Maple Grove; brother, Tom (Patricia) Schlicht of Woodbury; and sister-in-law, Diane Schlicht of Plymouth.

Vonne was preceded in death by her first husband, Marlin Evens; parents; son, Mark Evens; great-grandson, Jack Iverson; brother, Jerry Schlicht; son-in-law, Dean Bodeker; and brother-in-law, Bob Ferm.

Serving as casket bearers will be Aaron Bodeker, Allan Bodeker, Hope Klaphake, Abby Walz, Michael Evens, Ethan Walz, and Nathan Evens. Cross bearer will be Hana Totten and scripture bearer will be Sadie Iverson. Honorary bearers will be LaVonne's dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Michael's Hospice in Sauk Centre.