LaVaye Herness

LaVaye Ardis Herness was born on June 3, 1941, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota the daughter of Arthur and Sarah (Mekalson) Evavold.  She was baptized and confirmed in Grue Lutheran Church, attended Rural School District #285, and graduated from Battle Lake High School in 1959. 

LaVaye passed away on October 8, 2023 at Alex Assisted Living at the age of 82.

LaVaye and Morris Maudal were married on September 16, 1961, in Grue Lutheran Church.  They lived in Fergus Falls and then rural Battle Lake.   To this marriage five children were born, Shari, Jeffrey, Kevin, Brenda and Tammy.  She was employed with Otter Tail Power Company and then the West Otter Tail County Fair Board.

LaVaye and LeWayne Herness were married on November 29, 1997, at the Mall of America in Minneapolis.  They lived by Ashby, Henning and then in Battle Lake. LaVaye enjoyed playing piano, baking, sewing, gardening and she loved flowers.  She was most famous for her Chocolate Chip and Aunt Sally cookies.  LaVaye loved kids and loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

LaVaye is survived by her husband, LeWayne; five children, Shari (Dave) Laven of Osakis,  Jeffrey (Karen) Maudal of Lakeville,  Kevin (Amy) Maudal of New Ulm, Brenda (Phil) Frederick of Battle Lake and Tammy (Chris) Cichy of Henning; 12 grandchildren,  Nicholas (Brittany) Laven, Matthew (Charnell) Laven, Andrew Maudal, Sarah (Dustin) Sauter, Michael (Rachel) Maudal, Emma Maudal, Morgan (Nate) Gesme, Jordan Frederick, Savanna (Zack) Anderson, Madison (Cole) Dorow, Macie Cichy, and Mitchell Cichy; 16 great-grandchildren, Toby, Lucy, Hadley, Molly, Boedy, and Ruthy Laven; Charlotte, Shae, and Brooks Laven; Nora, Wesley, and Greta Sauter; Sage Maudal, Isla and Oslo Gesme; Paisley Anderson; step-children, LeAnn (Rob) Walters and Lori (Jon) Davis;  step grandchildren, Shaina (Lincoln) Hofmeister, Jordan Walters, Josh Walters, Drew Davis, Sareyna (Clayton) Mikelson; step great-grandchildren Kingston and Jagger Hofmeister; siblings, Sylvia (Duane) Burau, Jerome (Mary) Evavold and Darlene (Richard) Akerman; two sisters-in-laws, Joanne Evavold and Peg Evavold, and several nieces and nephews.

LaVaye was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Donald (Joyce) Evavold, Charles Evavold, Glenn Evavold, and Virgil (Vicki) Evavold.

Thank you to the staff of Alex Assisted Living and Douglas County Hospice for taking such good care of LaVaye.

Funeral Service: 11 a.m., Saturday, October 14, 2023, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Battle Lake, with a visitation one hour prior to the service.

Clergy: Rev. Nicholas Laven

Interment: Inman Cemetery, Henning, MN

Funeral arrangements are with the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Battle Lake.

LaVaye Herness Video Tribute-

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12pzHR6lKbWTMsc11E59SLI1TWmZ3iRN7/view?usp=drive_link