January 6, 1936 – March 21, 2026
LaVonne May Tow, daughter of Christian and Minnie (Nielsen) Pedersen, was born on January 6, 1936, at her parents’ home in Armstrong, Iowa. On the evening of Saturday, March 21, 2026, at her home in Ringsted, she passed away surrounded by her loving family at the age of 90.
LaVonne was raised in Armstrong in a home with strong Danish roots, which she was proud of and passed on to her family. Before she even graduated from Armstrong High School in 1954, LaVonne had already met the love of her life, Ordean Tow. The couple were wed on July 5, 1955, at Grace Lutheran Church in Fairmont. The next day they traveled to Norfolk, Virginia to live for nine months while Ordean was serving our country aboard the USS Juneau CL119 and she worked on the Naval base Cafe. Following his discharge, they moved to Des Moines where LaVonne worked cleaning houses while Ordean went to Barber School. After their son Steven was born, they moved to Ringsted to make their forever home. While in Ringsted they welcomed their second child Lucinda. LaVonne kept busy during her working years, serving as City Clerk for Ringsted for 17 years and simultaneously working as the office manager at Ringsted Telephone Office for 33 years. Many nights she would finish her job at the telephone office, come home to care for her family, and then spend late into the night doing books as the clerk.
LaVonne was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Faith. She was baptized and confirmed at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Armstrong, when they moved to Ringsted she joined St. John’s Lutheran until its closing. She then joined United Lutheran Church where she was an active member until her death. She loved the church and the Lord. In their younger years LaVonne and Ordean took ballroom dancing classes and enjoyed going to dances together. Later in life she was a member of a bowling league. LaVonne enjoyed going to sell at Antique & collectable shows and Flea Markets with Ordean. She loved to read, but spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandson was her favorite pastime.
LaVonne is survived by her daughter Lucinda (Marty) Kane; three grandchildren: Andrea Bradeen, Heather Winterfeld, and Zachary Kane; great-grandson Solomon Winterfeld; and great-granddog Kelsie Kane all of Ringsted. Along with many nephews, nieces and friends.
LaVonne is preceded in death by her parents, husband Ordean Tow, son Steven Tow, brother Donald Pedersen, and sisters Velma Pedersen, Betty Johansen, and Darlene Hummel.
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