Lavonne (Ingalls) Uthe, age 92, of Madison, formerly Chester, SD, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Bethel Home.
Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Wednesday, November 4 at Ellsworth Funeral Home, with family present. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, November 5, at the Chester United Methodist Church, Chester, SD . Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
Lavonne was born on April 24, 1934 in Colton, SD to Andrew and Nina Ingalls. She grew up in Colton with her 8 siblings and graduated from Colton High School in May 1952. On September 16,1956, she married Reginald Uthe of Chester, SD. They made their home and raised their four children on the Uthe farm west of Chester. They were married for nearly 60 years before Reg’s passing in 2015.
Throughout her life, Lavonne worked as a mother, farm wife, and nursery/landscape worker. Lavonne also spent 20 years working for Chester Area Schools, starting out in the kitchen at Franklin Elementary and continuing on as a paraprofessional/teachers’ aide in Chester. She loved working with kids and attending Chester school activities well-beyond the graduation of her own children. She maintained connections with former students and fellow employees, especially the “Franklin bunch”, for years after her retirement.
Lavonne was was known for her volunteer work as a Lake County 4-H leader, as an officer of the Chester American Legion Auxiliary, and for serving countless roles as a member of the Chester United Methodist Church. There she served for decades as a Sunday School teacher, Bible school leader, church board member, Ladies Aid member, Circle leader, and all-around helper wherever she was needed. Lavonne was also a lunchtime fixture for many years at the café in Chester where she loved visiting and laughing with friends and anyone who came in. Lavonne also hosted the Ingalls Family “Fun on the Farm” 4th of July family reunion every year beginning in 1967–a tradition that continues annually. She continued her social activities with new and old friends at the Bethel Independent Living Apartments in Madison from 2022 until a few days before her passing.
Grateful for having shared his/her life are her children, Kevin (Barb) Uthe and Scot (Dawn) Uthe of Sioux Falls, Reed (Stacey) Uthe of Kansas City, MO, and Amy (Jeff) Larsen of Marshall, MN; grandchildren, Kari (Clint) Jasper, Jake (Jamie) Uthe, Betsy (Aron) Hogden, Jared (Sara) Bly. Nathan Larsen, and Ryan Larsen; 9 great-grandchildren; and brother Harold Ingalls of Lake Andes, SD.
Lavonne was preceded in death by her parents Andrew and Nina Ingalls; her husband Reg; and 7 siblings: Verna Larson, Iona Vanderlinde, Margaret Dawes, Violet Flaskey, Darrel Ingalls. Rowland Ingalls, and George Ingalls.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Lavonne’s memory can be given to the Chester United Methodist Church “Milk Jug” fund that she began to help local families and children in need.
