LaVonne Tschetter

Lavonne Tschetter, 89, passed away Tuesday, December 16th at the Freeman Regional Asisted Living Center. Funeral services will be Saturday, December 20th at 11AM at the Hutterthal Mennonite Church of rural Freeman. Visitation will begin at 9:30AM Saturday at the church.

To livestream the service, click on the following ling: https://www.youtube.com/live/xQe9-VF8C7c

A Life Remembered

LaVonne Sadie Tschetter

LaVonne Sadie Hofer was born to Ed K. Hofer and Sadie (Wipf) Hofer on February 13, 1936, on a farm by Bridgewater, SD. She attended country school in District 101. LaVonne accepted Christ at an early age. She was baptized at Neu Hutterthal Mennonite Church by Rev. Albert Ewert on October 5, 1952. After LaVonne got married, she later transferred her membership to the Hutterthal Mennonite Church.

On April 19, 1957, LaVonne married Melvin Tschetter at Pioneer Hall in Freeman. To this marriage, three children were born: Melva Jean, who died at birth, Darnell, and Darla, who died in 1997. Following their marriage, they lived on a farm a few miles south of Bridgewater. Later, they moved to a farm located on the north edge of Freeman where they operated a dairy farm together. In June of 1998, they moved to town. They were married for 50 years. In 2020, LaVonne moved to the Freeman Regional Assisted Living.

Music was always a big part of LaVonne’s life. Her talent in singing and playing the accordion started in her early years. She sang in a group called the “Gospel Herald’s” for many years. She had another talent for baking special cakes and decorating them for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and other special occasions.

LaVonne sold Avon products for over 40 years. She also worked in her brother-in-law’s grocery store in Bridgewater during her early years of marriage. In addition, she worked for the Freeman Public School, Dairy Queen, the Freeman Café, and some business places, for which she cleaned.

LaVonne loved to travel and took many bus tours, including a trip to Europe. She went to 7 different countries and visited almost all 50 states. She loved going to gospel concerts and sporting events, too.

Grateful to have shared her life are Darnell (son) and Lori Tschetter, Dustin (grandson) and Kym Tschetter, Kylea (granddaughter)and Brandon

Waltner, her great-grandchildren: Riley, Easton, Aubree, and Gunnar Tschetter, and Isabel, Addison, Ethan, and Avery Waltner, all of Freeman, two brothers-in-law: Ben Engbrecht of Marion and Victor Schaeffer of Menno, three sisters-in-law: Evelyn Wallmann of Huron, Diane Graber of Winner, and Edna Tschetter of Huron.

LaVonne was preceded in death by her parents Ed K. and Sadie Hofer, her husband, Melvin, two daughters: Melva Jean and Darla, three sisters: Violet Engbrecht, Esther and Robert Potter, and Nancy Hofer, one brother, Vernon, her in-laws: Paul P. and Barbara Tschetter, her sisters-in-law: Elizabeth (Betty) and Ervin Gross, Elsie and Eli Wipf, Maria Hayes, Susie and Wilmer Bunger, Darlene Schaeffer, and Judy and Allen Schofield; her brothers-in-law: Paul and Susie Tschetter, Dave S. Tschetter, Solomon Tschetter, Edwin Tschetter, Kenneth Wallmann, and Orval Graber.

LaVonne went to be with her Lord on December 16, 2025 at the age of 89.