Rapid City - Our beloved mother, LaVonne Ophelia LaCroix Henrickson, went to join the Lord on Thursday, October 20, 2011. LaVonne was born in Sioux City, Iowa on December 6th, 1922, the daughter of Albert N. and Ophelia Shannon LaCroix. Raised in the hard times of the 20s and 30s in Elk Point, South Dakota, her widowed mother moved them in the late 30s to Long Beach, CA where she opened a restaurant for fishermen on Balboa Island. So Mom started early with hard work. She earned a 2-year degree in business from Pepperdine College for Women. After the end of WWII, she met the navy man of her life, Carl V. Henrickson, who was returning from duty in the South Pacific and they were married on the 14th of March, 1947. In 1957 the family moved to San Mateo, CA, where they raised three daughters. They transferred in 1970 to Tulsa, OK, then, after retirement, moved to Rapid City, SD in 1994 to be with their daughters and grandchildren, the joy of their lives. LaVonne was a loving and fun wife and mother who dedicated her life to her family and all their activities from Brownie and Girl Scouts, PTO president, Sunday School teacher, sports, camping and great vacations to beautiful places all over the West, yet always finding time to have a well-balanced traditional family meal each night-- pretty much a Donna Reed mother and wife. LaVonne owned and managed apartments where ever they lived, was secretary for the San Mateo County & Fire Dept., sold Mutual Funds, was very active in church, Pres. & secretary/treasurer of Presbyterian Womens group in Tulsa, PEO, and other philanthropic work. She and Carl sponsored a Laotian family immigrating to the US helping them find work, shelter and become valued citizens. LaVonne dearly loved her family and friends and was always more concerned for others than for herself. She would never be comfortable until she was sure that everyone was taken care of. She was fun, smart, kind, patient, never complained, always had a smile for everyone and brightened the lives of all the people who she was around. She embodied the idea of love for all of us and was the light of our life. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl. She is survived by her 3 daughters; Shannon Parham, and her special friend, Jerry Peacock; Beth and her husband, Dale Sartorius, all of Rapid City; and Linda and her husband, Max Agather, Kalispell, MT; 3 grandchildren, Jenny and Riley Cassidy, Katie and Wayne Thompson, and Justin Parham; and her 4 great grandchildren. Services will be at 4:00 pm, Sunday, October 23 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home, 2700 Jackson Boulevard, with Rev. Diane Janssen-Hemmen officiating. LaVonne will be buried with Carl, her husband, at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD on Monday October 24th.