Sula LaVonne Putney

Sula LaVonne Putney went home to Jesus on July 27, 2024, at the age of 97 to be with her husband Kenneth and two sons, Denny and Ronald. 

Everyone has a story that is uniquely their own, and it’s impossible to sum up a person’s life in a few short sentences, especially for a woman who lived just a few years shy of one hundred years. LaVonne didn’t live a remarkable life by the standards of our culture, but she was remarkable to us. She was a woman who loved her family and instilled longstanding values. Our family is filled with gratitude to God for His creation of LaVonne and His care for her all the days of her life. Her legacy lives on in each of us, and her life’s ripple effect is growing through the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

LaVonne was born in Minot, North Dakota, on June 22, 1927 to Sarah Halvorson and Lloyd Hanson.    She was deeply loved by her children Bob (Mickey), Denny (Deceased) (Mary), Jerry, Ronald (Deceased) and Bill (Krystan).  Her grandchildren Jodi, Kristin, Brent, Angi and Ben, as well as 6 great grandchildren. She lived on the farm with her 8 siblings until she moved to the Twin Cities, where she met and married her husband Kenneth after WWII ended.  Kenneth and LaVonne were blissfully married for 55 years and shared a love of watching the boys and later grandkids play sports.  They moved around the Saint Paul area before settling into the White Bear Lake area where they raised their five boys.

Although LaVonne was a banker by profession, she will always be remembered for her baking, especially her chocolate chip cookies.  She loved baking and cooking for her family and others.  She was known as the “cookie lady” in her church group and neighbors within her senior living complex.  Her family, especially the grandkids and great grandkids loved baking with her, having tea parties and playing dress up.  She enjoyed embroidery and sewing, listening to music, playing the organ, dancing, watching the MN Twins with Jerry and decorating for the Holidays.  She was a loving caretaker of her son Jerry and of her late husband Kenneth.

2 Timothy 4:7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

The family will have a private internment.