LaVaughn "Vonnie" Stotz | 1932 - 2023
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Sep 23, 2023 | 1:01 PM / 331 views
LaVaughn “Vonnie” Stotz, 91, Bowdle, died Saturday, September 23, 2023 at the Bowdle Nursing Home. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Bowdle, led by Pastor Janet Sandmeier. Interment follows at the Church Cemetery. Ushers will be Ward Oster and Stanley Zimmer. Organist will be Eileen Eisenbeisz and the congregation will sing “Just as I Am”, “When Peace Like a River”, “What A Friend We have in Jesus”, “The Lord’s My Shepherd”, and “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)”.
Funeral Home visitation will be from 3:00-8:00 PM Tuesday with family present to greet friends from 6:00-8:00 PM.
LaVaughn Loretta Schlepp, daughter of Eugenia (Dubs) and Adam J. Schlepp, was born December 21, 1931 at Bowdle. She was baptized into the Lutheran faith on February 21, 1932 and confirmed July 1, 1945. Her formal education consisted of eight years of rural school and Bowdle High School, Class of 1949. Vonnie, as she was best known, taught one year at a rural school near Lowry. She married Gordon Stotz at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bowdle on June 4, 1950. They settled in Bowdle. In addition to being a mother of four sons, over the years Vonnie was also employed at Mertz Floral, was a teacher’s aide at the Bowdle School for six years and was assistant cook at the Bowdle Senior Nutrition Center for 14 years. She belonged to the Women of ELCA (WELCA), the American Legion Auxiliary, the Bowdle Hospital Auxiliary, the Bowdle Golf Club, and Hi-Lo Bridge Club. Her hobbies included music, quilting, cheering for the Minnesota Vikings and Twins, and watching her children and grandchildren grow and attending their activities. Vonnie also enjoyed visiting shut-ins, nursing home residents, and anyone else who needs “cheering up”. Vonnie lived her life that God gave her to the fullest and was very thankful for her family and many friends.
Vonnie is survived by her sons—Dennis (Susan) Stotz of Rochester, MN, Ron Stotz of Aberdeen, SD, Todd (Kathi) Stotz of Elkhorn, NE, and David Stotz of Sioux Falls, SD; two sisters—Arliss Blumhardt of Aberdeen and Karen Weiszhaar of Bowdle; seven grandchildren; two step grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon, on October 31, 1998; her father, Adam, on April 16, 1972; her mother, Eugenia, on January 30, 1981; three brothers—Ozzie, Victor, Elmer; three sisters—Dorothea Imbery, Ramona Schlepp, and Elsie Weil; one half-brother, Roland Schlepp; and one-half sister, Hildegarth Fix.
Vonnie’s funeral will be livestreamed at the Lien Family Funeral Care Facebook page.
Casketbearers will be Michael Stotz and Rachel Scheerle of Aberdeen; Adam Stotz of Gretna, NE; Alex Gordon Stotz of Los Angeles, CA; and Scott Weiszhaar and MyRon Zimmer of Bowdle.
Services are in care of Lien Funeral Home, Bowdle.