LaVon Hattel

Minot

A Funeral Mass for LaVon Mae Hattel will be conducted 11AM, Saturday, January 31, 2026 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Crosby. Visitation will be from 5PM until the Vigil service at 7PM. Friday, January 30, 2025 Interment will then follow the funeral Mass at the St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery north of Crosby. .

LaVon, Minot, formerly of Crosby, passed away peacefully at home on January 23, 2026 after a hard fought decline in her health. She was born on May 12, 1936 in Grenora ND to Gust and Olga Westin. She grew up in Grenora and attended school there at the “Home of the Gophers” and graduated in 1954.

LaVon worked for a time in her younger years at a cafe in Grenora and her mother Olga was also a cook at that same cafe.

LaVon was married to Jarold Vannatta until his passing due to ill health. She was later introduced by her sister to Fred Hattel of Crosby, and they found a love connection, and were married in 1964. They were together for 54 years until Fred passed away in 2018. They had two children Sheila and Tim.

LaVon was a stay at home Mom for many years until the kids were older and that was so special to Sheila and Tim. It was awesome to come home from school to the wonderful smell of fresh baked buns or any other yummy things Mom had cooked.

She was an excellent cook and baker and her entire family always looked forward to being treated to her meals and baked goodies. She was especially known for her fantastic donuts that were always enthusiastically gobbled up by family and friends.

LaVon was the sweetest and cutest lady you would ever meet and she loved to do things to help others. She was also very good with crafts and crocheted and knitted many beautiful things. She had a love for all animals and always had cats or dogs in her life and loved her grand kitties and dogs as well.

LaVon worked at the Crosby Good Samaritan Center for a few years as a dietary aide and she loved it and especially enjoyed all the residents there. She worked there until she had to retire due to health problems.

LaVon and family went on many camping trips over the years and those get-togethers were always special and so much fun was had by all! So many wonderful memories were made through the years.

She was our “Sunshine” in life and she often sang “You Are My Sunshine” along with Sheila and Tim before going to bed for the night.

LaVon is survived by her children Sheila and Tim both of Minot; grandson Nick of Bowbells; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Gust and Olga; step-mother Verna; husband Fred; sister Eunice; brothers Gerald and Loran; sisters-in-law Kaye and Sandra; as well as aunts and uncles.

Published by The Minot Daily News, January 28, 2026.