Lavonne Cleveland

Lavonne Cleveland, 84, of Center, peacefully went to be with our Lord on January 16, 2026, while being held in the hands of her loving family.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Center with Pastor Dennis Ristvedt officiating. Burial will be at Bagnell Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the church with a prayer service beginning at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday.

Lavonne “Vonnie" was born south of Price, ND on May 11, 1941, and later as a child, moved to the Hall Coulee where her father, Martin Husfloen, leased land for farming. Her mother, Alice, taught school at the Miller School during this time. The transportation to school was by horse, and in the winter by sleigh. Often times in the winter, they slept in the schoolhouse and kept warm by a wood-burning stove.

In the early 1950's, her father bought a farm northwest of Center, but the old farmhouse was too drafty, so they lived in Center during the winters. Vonnie attended school in Center where she was on the 1956 basketball team that placed 2nd in State under the coaching of Leonard Moore. After high school, she attended Dickinson State College and the University of North Dakota.

In 1961, Vonnie married Delbert Cleveland in the Lutheran church in Center and the wedding dance was held in the old pig barn in Price. They danced the night away with best man and maid of honor, Chuck and Jan Staigle.

One year later, where times were tough, Vonnie and Delbert moved to the Leo Ogden farm near Hensler. Here, their daughter, Jody, was born and they also took in Delbert’s niece and two nephews. The only water was from a well, which had to be hauled from the well to the house for bathing, cooking, and washing clothes. A few years later, they moved back to Center, where their sons, Marty and Patrick were born.

In 1968, the family moved to Cross Ranch where Delbert became the manager. In 1973, Vonnie became the secretary at Center High School where she worked until 1979.

Vonnie decided to attend powerplant school at Bismarck State College, which was a surprise to many, as not many women were doing such a thing back then. While in school, she was sent to Basin Electric under a work/study program. Following power plant school, Vonnie became a part of the area's medical board and managed clinics in Center and Beulah. She recalls having a tough time getting doctors to come to the small towns. One time, a doctor called in sick because he was in jail in Stanton.

In 1981, she obtained a part-time job at the United States Postal Service in Bismarck and in 1984, she became the postmaster in Riverdale where she worked for many years until her retirement.

After Vonnie retired, she and Delbert moved back to Center where they lived a happy life, surrounded by friends and family. Vonnie enjoyed baking and playing cribbage, pinochle, and bridge, as well as crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles.

Vonnie was a true matriarch to her family. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren thought of her as a saint and were blessed to have her in their lives. She always seemed to be happy and smiling and never had a bad word to say about anybody.

Vonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Delbert Cleveland; her parents, Martin and Alice Husfloen; and sister, Lenore Sack.

Vonnie is survived by her siblings, Lee (Regina) Husfloen and Michele (Royce) Roberson; brother-in-law, Jim Sack; daughter, Jody (Jeff) Reinke; sons, Marty Cleveland and Patrick (Joan) Cleveland; grandchildren, Morgan (Jeremy) Gordon, Jordan (Susan) Reinke, Aaron (Olivia Haugerose) Reinke, Colton Reinke, Brittany (Chris) McCabe, Garrett (Madison) Cleveland, and Weston (Aspen) Cleveland; great-grandchildren, Gianna, Blake, and Bo Gordon, Avrey, Eli, Henry, Benjamin, and Thomas Reinke, Lainey Haugrose, Ryan and Connor McCabe, Riley Cleveland, and Gianna Cleveland; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. 

Memorials in Lavonne’s name are suggested to benefit the Oliver County Ambulance Service.