Lavita Budde

Lavita C. Budde, age 96, of Preston, Iowa, passed away on Friday, December 11, 2015 at home surrounded by her loving family. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Preston, with Father Don Hertges as Celebrant. Burial will take place in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Preston. Visitation will be held from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with a Rosary Service held at 10:00 a.m. Memorials may be given to the family in Lavita’s memory.
Lavita was born at home on May 8, 1919, in rural Springbrook, Iowa, the daughter of John and Mary (Helmle) Tebbe. She attended Slabtown Country School, rural Jackson County, Iowa. On November 30, 1939, Lavita married the love of her life Vernon Budde in Springbrook, Iowa. Vernon passed away February 8, 1984.
Lavita and her husband farmed in Spragueville, Iowa until retiring and moving to Preston in 1975. She also helped her husband operate Budde Construction from 1975 until Vernon’s death in 1984. Lavita also worked as a Janitor for Preston Community School, Preston. Lavita was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, and prayed the rosary often. She enjoyed quilting, gardening, and especially loved cooking and baking for her family.
Lavita will be dearly missed by her three sons, Roger Budde of Maquoketa, Iowa, Dean (Linda) Budde of Preston, Rickie (Doris) Budde of Bellevue, Iowa; a daughter, Connie (Lonnie) Ernst of Preston; one daughter in-law, Bev Cook of Preston; eighteen grandchildren; fourty-one great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; a brother, Sylvester “Scout” (Arlene) Tebbe of Preston; two sisters, Regina Clasen of Springbrook, Iowa and Rosemary Dondlinger of Bellevue.
Lavita was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon; one son, Loras; a daughter in-law, Linda; six brothers, Elmer, Alfred, Johnny, Harold, Oliver “Seppy”, and Richard Tebbe; two sisters, Rosella Sullivan and Armella Clasen; and a granddaughter in-law, Theresa Budde.