LaDonna Louise (Priefert) Avers

Obit LaDonna Louise Avers of York formerly Hebron, NE

Kroll Funeral Home Hebron, NE 402-768-6165

LaDonna Louise (Priefert) Avers was born in Hebron, Nebraska on June 22, 1933 to Dail H. and Varena L. (Casper) Priefert and died on January 26, 2022 from health complications at Bryan LGH East Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 88 years, 6 months, and 34 days.

LaDonna spent her first 1 ½ years in Belvidere, NE with her parents. She and her family then moved to the Priefert family farm east and south of Belvidere, NE and lived there until she was the age of 12. While living there, she attended a one room school house.

When she was 12, she and her family moved to the east edge of Belvidere, NE where she then attended school in Belvidere and graduated from Belvidere High School in 1951. After graduation, she attended Fairbury Jr. College for two summers which qualified her to teach. She taught two years at District 25 school house outside of Belvidere, NE.

Loving music and dancing, LaDonna spent some social time attending dances with her friends. It was at one of these dances that she met the love of her life. She then married Allen Lee Avers on December 27, 1952. At that time Allen was a member of the armed services so they lived outside Fort Leonard Wood, MO. They lived there until after her first daughter, Ardys Lynne was born (1954). Leaving Missouri, the family moved to farms near Belvidere where daughters, Audrey Louise and Laurie Ann were born (1955-1959). In 1962, the family left farming and moved to Papillion, NE for a year (1962-63). During that time, a son, Larry Alan was born in Omaha, NE. The family then moved to Hebron, NE in 1963. LaDonna lived in Hebron until March 2016 when health issues forced her to leave her home. She finally settled in York General Hearthstone, York, NE where she lived until her passing.

During her childhood, LaDonna loved nothing more than to curl up with a good book and read which resulted in a life long activity. She liked nothing less than collecting eggs in the chicken coop causing her lifelong fear of birds. As a student she worked hard at school and established her love of education and sports. She played volleyball in high school where she remembers serving every point in one set to win the match.

Along with teaching school, LaDonna also taught Sunday School at the Congregational Church in Belvidere and Methodist Church in Hebron. She was also a 4-H leader for many years teaching girls how to sew and cook. LaDonna was a founder and lifelong member of the Better Homemakers Extension Club of Belvidere. She was also a two time president and life long member of the Belvidere Woman’s Club. As a member, she would occasionally submit a poem she wrote to the state Woman’s Club competition and received honorable mention. She had a love for writing poetry which began in high school. Her first poem was a result of an English assignment. It was called “A Whistle In the Night.” From then on, she wrote many, many poems about her beloved family members, dear friends, special occasions, and personal interests. For fun, she enjoyed bowling with her teammates and playing Pinochle with her husband and friends.

In LaDonna’s years after her children left home, she filled her time with work and additional memberships. She joined the Thayer County Historical Society and the Thayer County Hospital Guild Gift Shop. After retiring she enjoyed volunteering at Things And Stuff, and she was part of the committee that planned, built, and maintains the Belvidere Community Center. She helped with the conception of the Whistle Stop Train Watching Station in Belvidere. LaDonna also wrote the Belvidere News column for the Hebron Journal until health issues forced her to stop. One of her greatest joys was attending her grandchildren’s activities. Another of her lifelong joys was cheering on the Husker sports teams. She had fond memories of listening to the radio and hearing the play-by-play of the Husker games. She was a proud Democrat, and one of her favorite songs was “The Wind Beneath My Wings”(by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley). In a hand written note, she had written that her husband, Allen had always been the wind beneath her wings.

Those mourning LaDonna’s death include: son-in-law, Jeff Dunsmoor of York, NE, daughter, Audrey (Larry) Mathiesen of Lincoln, NE, and son, Larry (Suzanne) Avers of Spirit Lake, ID; grandchildren, Nic Dunsmoor, Chelsea (Sharmelle) Rice, and Annastacia (Nick) Korth, Vagas (Lauren) Mathiesen, Katie Mathiesen (Jeremy Brown), Nathan Avers, and Sierra Avers; great-grandchildren, CJ, Tori, Logan, and Clifford Rice, McKaylee, Brynlee and Kyler Korth, Nash and Nora Mathiesen, Calee and Myles Brown, Nathaniel Avers and Haileigh Moutray, Arabella and Aurora Avers, and great-great grandson, Ashton Baker; sister; Linda Hudson, brother, Russ (Bonnie) Priefert, plus many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, and a host of medical, nursing, and care staff who were a mainstay in the last few years of her life.

LaDonna was preceeded in death by her parents, Dail and Varena (Casper) Priefert, husband, Allen Avers, daughters, Ardys Dunsmoor and Laurie Avers, in-laws, Alvie and Viola Avers, brother-in-law, James Hudson, sister-in-law, Betty Ortiz, and niece, Teresa Demma.

A celebration of LaDonna’s life will be held on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at 2:00 at the United Church of Christ, Belvidere, Nebraska, officiant will be Pastor Kim Dunker, organist Ila Currey, pianist Linda Dudgeon, congregational hymns “Precious Lord Take My Hand” and “The Old Rugged Cross”, soloist Leah Lammers “Amazing Grace”, visitation will be Monday, January 31, 2-6pm at Kroll Funeral Home in Hebron, casket bearers: John Davis, Mark Virus, Ron Cazee, Jack Priefert, Bill Hudson and Tom Priefert, condolences may be left at www.krollfh.com. Memorials in care of the family can be mailed to Audrey Mathiesen 3631 Kimberly Circle Lincoln, NE 68506. Interment will follow at the Belvidere Cemetery. Following the internment, a reception will be held at the Belvidere Community Hall. Kroll Funeral Home of Hebron is in charge of arrangements.

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