Lavonne Faith (Mickelson) Johnson passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 7, 2011, at her residence at The Villages of Lonsdale in Lonsdale. LaVonne was born Dec. 26, 1920, in Albert Lea, to Henry and Rebecca (Peterson) Mickelson. Her childhood was spent growing up in the community of Clarks Grove. She graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1939. After marrying George H. Johnson on April 8, 1941, they lived in a number of Minnesota communities. During the years they resided in Adams and Austin she developed and maintained close friendships that have endured into her final days. She will be missed by close friends Lois Osmundson, Gladys Roy, and Ruth Hovland.

Her life focused on her family and friends. She and George loved fishing trips to northern Minnesota where they had the most fun imaginable and had memories to share for a lifetime. LaVonne and George took advantage of every opportunity to go dancing. She was healthy and vibrant into her late 80s and enjoyed several trips to Branson and was thrilled to take an Alaskan cruise in 2007.

Lavonne was preceded in death by her husband, George; grandson, Brian Clapp; and brother, Jerry Mickelson.

She is survived by her daughters: Sally (John) Clapp of Bella Vista, Ark., and LuAnn (Richard) Pacholke of Shakopee; grandchildren: Tracy Clapp of Iowa City, Iowa, Jason (Jessica) Clapp of Highland Village, Texas, and Fred (Sara) Pacholke of Shakopee; and great-grandchildren: Michael, Lauren, Anabelle, Charlotte and Devin. She will also be deeply missed by other family members and friends.

Please join the family for a celebration of LaVonne’s life at 2 p.m. Thursday at Grace Lutheran Church, 2001 6th Ave. SE, Austin. Visitation one hour before the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to The Villages of Lonsdale, Community Garden Fund, 1000 Birch St. NE, Lonsdale, MN, 55046, or The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 8441 Wayzata Blvd, No. 340, Golden Valley, MN, 55426.