LaVergne Hedman

LaVergne H. (Otto) Hedman, age 93, passed away Thursday, May 11, 2017 at Rita’s Home Care in Milbank, SD.

Services for LaVergne will be Saturday, May 20, at 2:00 p.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home. Pastor Carl Larson will officiate.

Visitation will be two hours prior to the service. Burial will be at LaBolt Cemetery following lunch at Speedway Event Center.

Pallbearers will be Paul, Darin, and Travis Dahle, Michael Hay, Ryan Sampson, and Eric Sime. Honorary pallbearers will be her granddaughters: Tanya Klunck, Heidi Sampson, Erin Sime; her caregiver, Rita Wellnitz; and others caregivers from Rita’s Home Health Care.

LaVergne was born on July 3, 1923, to Charles L. and Hilda S. (Nulle) Otto near Claire City, SD. She was the oldest of five children. She grew up on a farm by Sisseton, SD where she completed her education through the eighth grade. At the age of 19, LaVergne moved to Milbank. She started working at the St. Hubert Hotel as a waitress with her aunt, Leona. She worked there until her marriage to Merlyn Hedman on October 10, 1948. They were united in marriage at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Watertown, SD. From this union, they were blessed with two children, Brenda and Clayton.

LaVergne and Merlyn lived on a farm by LaBolt, SD from 1948-1956. From the farm, they moved to Milbank where Merlyn became a State Farm Agent. LaVergne was a hostess at the Lantern Inn for the Friday Night Fish Fry. She and Merlyn managed the Lantern Inn Motel from 1968 to 1969.

LaVergne was a charter member of American Lutheran Church. She enjoyed spending time with her family, baking (especially angel food cake and chocolate chip cookies), and sewing for her grandkids. She enjoyed traveling with her husband on several State Farm trips, especially their trip to Maui. LaVergne had a “green thumb” and loved yellow roses.
LaVergne’s birthday was always a special time, as she shared a birthday with her twin grandsons, Paul and Darin. LaVergne loved spending time with her two sisters, family and friends.

LaVergne will be greatly missed by her two children: Brenda (Collis) Dahle, of Milbank, SD; and Clayton (Peggy) Hedman, of Wheaton, MN; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Paul (Belinda) Dahle, Rachael and Matthew, of Albuquerque, NM; Darin Dahle of Sioux Falls, SD; Tanya (Danny) Klunck, Cody, Hailey, and PJ of Albuquerque, NM; Travis (Megan) Dahle, Joy and Nora of Harrisburg, SD; Michael (Shanda) Hay of Sioux Falls, SD; Heidi (Ryan) Sampson, and Decker of Fergus Falls, MN; Erin (Eric) Sime, and Finnley of Waseca, MN; one sister, Eunice (Carlyle) Trygstad of Milbank, SD; one sister-in–law, Clarice Berg of LaBolt, SD; one niece, and ten nephews, along with other family and friends.

LaVergne was preceded in death by her parents, two infant twin brothers; one sister, Arlet Nicoletti; and her husband, Merlyn, in 2002.