LaVon I Opheim

LaVon Ileen Opheim was born to Frank and Edith Dailey on February 12, 1924, in Bradgate, Iowa. She was the ninth of ten children. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith, in which she continued to participate until she passed away on April 29, 2017.

She attended Bradgate School from grades 1-12, where she graduated as the salutatorian of her class. After graduation from high school, she attended Business college in Ft. Dodge, Iowa.

On May, 8, 1943, she married Keith Opheim in Monroe, North Carolina. Keith was in the Army and was stationed in North and South Carolina. When he went overseas, Lavon went home to Iowa and worked.

LaVon and Keith lived in Ft. Dodge and Des Moines, Iowa, until 1959, when Keith was transferred to San Diego.

They settled in Chula Vista in a neighborhood which they both loved. LaVon worked as a school secretary at Rosebank Elementary for over 20 years. She enjoyed helping the students and their families, and made lifelong friends with her colleagues.

Lavon was an active member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church for 56 years. She was the leader of her Circle and participated in the Prayer Quilt ministry.

In her retirement, she and Keith were members of the Camping Club, the Lanciers Dance Club, and the Solar bowling league. She continued to bowl with the Chula Vista Elementary District league until she was 90 years old.

LaVon is survived by her daughter, Nancy Simpson, her three grandchildren: Danny (Tawyna) Simpson, Dianne (Kevin) Balderas, and Jeff (Lacie) Hayden; and her four great-grandchildren: Sierra, Kylee, Carson and Ashlynn Hayden. She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Keith, (2005) and by her daughter, Judy, (1986).

LaVon loved her family, her friends and neighbors, and her church. She was always willing to help whenever anyone needed her.

Memorial services will be held at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 580 Hilltop Drive, Chula Vista, on Saturday, May 6, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in LaVon’s name.