Lavonne June Brekke

Lavonne Brekke, age 97, of Clark, died Thursday, August 22, 2024, at Clark City Avantara with family by her side.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at 1:30 pm at Furness Funeral Home with Pastor Jody Peterson officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.  Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery.  Cookies and ice cream will be served at the Furness Funeral Home Fellowship Room following the burial.

Lavonne June Brekke was born to Emmet and Clara (Peterson) Warkenthien on March 23, 1927, on a farm west of Willow Lake, SD.  She attended grade school in the Peterson school and graduated from Willow Lake High School in 1945. She attended General Beadle College in Madison, SD, and taught country school for three years.  Lavonne worked throughout her life in their businesses. She later took a bookkeeping job with Taecker Plumbing and Heating in Watertown for 17 years until retirement.

Lavonne was baptized and confirmed at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Willow Lake.

In 1948, she married James (Jim) Brekke and they lived on a farm west of Willow Lake.  Jim passed away September 7, 1992. To them, three children were born, Bruce, Jolene, and Jill. Jim and Lavonne owned/operated Brekke Hardware from 1957-1971. They sold the business and moved to Clark where Jim was Clark County Sherriff. They also owned and operated Brekke Chevrolet and Pontiac in Clark until 1985. Jim served the City of Clark as Police Chief until his death.

During the years of Brekke Chevrolet and Pontiac, Jim and Lavonne were honored to win two overseas trips. Lavonne spoke often of their trips through Greece and Germany. Her children cherish Christmas ornaments and many toy gifts she carried back from Germany.

Lavonne treasured the family gatherings each fall when Jim organized and hosted large pheasant hunts. These hunts continued for years both on the farm near Willow Lake and after their move to Clark. While Lavonne worked at Brekke Hardware, she sold many hunting licenses to excited hunters. It was the atmosphere of the season that she loved. These fall gatherings started with siblings and in-laws and grew over the years to include grandchildren and friends of friends.  The more the merrier! Stories were shared, laughter was loud and memories were made as family and friends came from near and far to share this festive time. Of course, Lavonne's potato salad, fresh caramel rolls and tender fried pheasant were the highlight of the evening meal shared together.  She went to bed exhausted each evening already planning the next day's meals.

Lavonne's family was the joy of her life and all were very special to her. She enjoyed music, baking, gardening, stitchery and making quilts. Her special recipes were assembled into a book entitled "Grandma's Cookbook" for her 80th birthday and are a treasure to every family member. And, though her potato salad is among those recipes, none can make it taste quite the way she made it. She always had cookies ready for visitors. Her grandchildren and young neighbor children often called her the "Cookie Grandma."

She is preceded in death by her parents, an infant sister. her husband, Jim, brothers, Robert Warkenthien and Gene (Delores) Warkenthien, sisters, Shirley (Vernon) Stroschein, Nola (Allen) Tellinghuisen, and Loris (Harry Dean) Kannegieter, and son-in-law, Ron Rathe.

Lavonne is survived by her children, Bruce (Peggy) Brekke of Clark and their family, Joel (Wendy) Brekke and children, Hunter (Karli) and Mason Brekke of Fargo, ND, Ryan (Mandy) Brekke and children, Adam (Alistacia) Olson, Mickelle (Chris) Stokke, Bryce Ahlers, and Bailey (Cierra) Johnson of Sioux Falls, SD, Scott (Erin) Brekke and children, Drew (Lindsea), Ben (Jayla), and Alex of Sloan, IA, and Heather (John Zajac) Brekke of Chandler, AZ; Jolene (Wayne) Williamson of Yankton and their family, Jason (Irma) Williamson and children, Maximo and Lucas of Jasper, MN, Rusty (Michelle) Williamson and children, James, Parker and Ethan of Chesapeake, VA, and Justin (Amber) Williamson and children, Miles and Reese of Mound, MN; and Jill Rathe of Watertown and her children, Bryn (Chris) Hart of Madison, and Brielle Rathe of Watertown; eight great-great grandchildren, sister Gaylen (Larry) Grensberg of Willow Lake, sisters-in-law, Marge Brekke of Sioux Falls, and Bobette Warkenthien of Willow Lake, and several nieces, nephews and friends.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Prairie Lakes Hospice for their tender care and compassion.

Furness Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.