Lavonne A. Buckentine

LaVonne Buckentine, age 74, of Arlington, died peacefully at home surrounded by her family, Sunday, November 13, 2011. Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M, Saturday, November 19, 2011, at Zion Lutheran Church in Arlington, with visitation from 4-8 P.M. Friday at the church, and one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Rev. James Carlson will officiate, and interment will be at Arlington Public Cemetery. LaVonne was born on August 31, 1937, to LoVerne and Arvilla (Slette) Prinz in Glencoe. She was baptized and later confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Arlington. She graduated from Arlington High School in 1955 and married Erwin (Pete) Buckentine on November 25 of that same year. LaVonne worked as a receptionist at the Arlington Clinic for many years until she and Pete opened a CarQuest Auto Parts business in Norwood in 1978, where they worked side by side for 17 years. LaVonne was a devoted mother of five children, and a doting grandmother to her nine grandchildren. She was a member of VFW Post 6031 Ladies Auxiliary, active in ladies organizations at Zion Lutheran Church, and a member of Sibley Medical Center Auxiliary. LaVonne also loved quilting, playing bridge, and many other social events. LaVonne is survived by her children, Julie (Scott) Nielsen of St. Paul, Nancy (Patrick) Leclerc of Irving, TX, Pete (Diane) Buckentine of Green Isle, Renee Lommen and special friend Scott Hunke of Alexandria and Karen Rezek and fiancé Steve Sennett of Knoxville TN; nine grandchildren, Rachel, Anne and Daniel Nielsen, Alex, Brady and Erik Buckentine, Nicholas Lommen and Ethan and Evan Rezek; sister, Sharon (Clifford) Franke of Park Rapids; sister-in-law Patricia Buckentine of Elrosa MN; aunts, Jane Bernard of Menlo Park, CA and Pearl Schnorr of Newberry, MI, as well as many special friends and neighbors. LaVonne was preceded in death by her parents; husband Pete; and an infant daughter and son.