Page created by: Joni Isaman

LaVon Kay Vandiver, 84, died on July 13, 2022, at The Springs in Missoula where she had lived with Parkinson’s disease since 2017.

LaVon was born in 1938, to Menno and Mabel (Good) Springer in the small town of Hopedale, Illinois. She grew up on a farm in a Mennonite family with her older sister, Lila Lee, and her younger brother, Steven.

She met her husband, Richard Dale Vandiver at Goshen Mennonite College. They married in 1958 and had a daughter Joni Lynn in Elkhart, Indiana in 1959. They moved to Boulder, CO where LaVon worked as a secretary while Richard worked on his Master's degree. Daughter Jana Kay was born in 1962. In 1964 the family moved to Rock Island, Illinois and in 1966, son Jack David was born.

LaVon grew up baking with her mother and sister on the family farm and forever it was their way of sharing their love. She won first prize in Carbondale, Illinois for her Peaches & Cream Pie. She made holidays and birthdays special with great parties and delicious home-baked treats.

In 1971 the family moved to Missoula, MT. LaVon was an active member of the University Congregational Church. She sang in the church choir and joined the Missoula Symphony Chorale, and the Gourmet Club. LaVon worked at WIC for 23 years and proudly displayed the plaque she received upon retirement. She ran a 5k race with her friend, Carol Brett in the ’70s and neither of them could ever remember why they’d done it! LaVon took painting lessons and discovered a hidden passion and talent. Music was another passion and she always enjoyed singing, dancing, and listening to music.

LaVon and Richard (deceased) were married for 30 years and divorced in 1988 but remained friends with their shared love for their children and grandchildren until his death in 2012.

LaVon fell in love with and married Tom Devlin (deceased) in 1999 and they enjoyed many years together until his dementia changed him and stole him away from her. Tom and LaVon enjoyed traveling, camping, karaoke, golf, playing cards, and visiting their 6 children and 14 grandchildren.

In 2017 LaVon’s Parkinson’s forced her to move into Assisted Living at The Springs in Missoula where she reconnected with old friends, and made new friends, including Jim Burke who held her heart for her last remaining years.

LaVon is survived by her children, Joni and David Isaman, Jana and Stephen Felt, and Jack Vandiver, her grandchildren, Hadley, Stuart, and (LaVon's great-grandchild), Oscar Mouritzen! Levi Felt, Sadie Felt, David Vandiver, Kaylynn and Nick Mattox, Michaela Vandiver, and Kawika Charles Isaman. She also is survived by her sister, Lila Lee (Arlan) Martin, her brother, Steven (Marsha) Springer, her sister-in-law, Norma Mason, and many loved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

We would like to acknowledge Tyler Iverson for his many years of excellent care and friendship of "Lavagna", at The Springs. Tyler will be playing the piano at LaVon's service on Sunday, July 17 @ 3 pm at The Springs, 3710 American Way, Missoula.

LaVon/Vonnie/Mom/Nana will be remembered with love for her wit, smile, and kindness, her love of shopping, singing, and dancing, her pies, sweetbreads, and toffee, and her special cocktail The LaVon made with vodka, orange juice, and tonic water.

Donations can be made in honor of LaVon to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research to help find a cure for this horrible disease, or locally to Partners in Home Care a non-profit organization providing Hospice Care.