First Rate Care

LAVINA KRUEGER

Lavina was born June 22, 1932, in rural Ellendale, ND. She was the eldest child of her parents, Emil & Ella Franz.

Lavina had six younger siblings-most are deceased with some still living in the Chicago area. Lavina was sent away from home at a very early age (14) to work as a “house girl” for an area farmer. Her earnings were all sent to her parents to help support her family at home.

In 1949 she married her husband, Arno (Arne) Krueger of Fredonia, ND. Lavina and Arne lived in Fargo, ND for a few years while Arne received mechanics training under the GI Bill. They then made their first home in Kulm, ND where Lavina was a housewife and worked various part-time jobs.

While in Kulm, Lavina gave birth to her two sons, Bruce (married to Jill-Crookston, MN) and Kerry (married to Gwen-Westminster, CO.) In 1968 Lavina & Arne moved to Crookston for Arne’s job. They lived at their home on Radisson Rd for 45 years until Arne passed away in 2013. Lavina then lived at Summerfield Apt. before coming to Fair Meadow in 2019.

Lavina only had formal education through 5th grade before leaving home. Durning her early years in Crookston she earned her GED high school equivalency degree. This was a very proud moment in her life! In Crookston she worked for many years as a telephone operator for ATT and later as a Physical Therapy Assistant at the Villa Nursing Home.

Lavina cooked fantastic German-Russian food, like knefla, strudel, sauerkraut, keichia and kuchen, and made the very best home canned garlic dill pickles. She enjoyed gardening vegetables and flowers and was always on the lookout for bargains at local garage sales. Lavina has three grandchildren, Olivia (Elko, MN) Erin (Westminister, CO) and Jack (White Bear Lake, MN.) She also has two great grandchildren, Isaac and Eleanor.