LaVonne J. (Kleven) Russell Hootman

LaVonne J. Russell Hootman passed away at Valley Elder Care in Grand Forks, North Dakota on June 27th, 2019. She was 87 years old.  LaVonne Jolene Kleven was born on November 11th, 1931 in Grand Forks, ND, to John B. Kleven and Lillian (Austreng) Kleven.

LaVonne graduated from Grand Forks Central High School in 1949, where she was a Varsity Cheerleader, a member of various organizations such as the Red Cross, the Sioux Science Club, a modern dance group called “Orchesis”, and the “Centralian Singers”.

After graduating high school, LaVonne went on to earn her Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Dakota in 1954.  She then became a faculty member at the College of Nursing the day after graduation.

LaVonne married Maurice T.  Russell in August 1955, together they had one son, Erik Russell.

She served as a clinical instructor, working with patients and students, and went on to get a Master's Degree in Education in 1961 from the U of M.

LaVonne received a certificate as a family Nurse Practitioner in 1981, from the UND; and a Doctorate Degree from the University of Texas-Austin in 1989.  She served on the faculty of the College of Nursing from 1954 until her first retirement in 1994, and again in 1997 to 1998 to direct the Recruitment/Retention of American Indians into Nursing (RAIN) program, in which she was instrumental in launching. She also served as an Assistant Dean, Acting Dean, Associate Dean, and other leadership roles during her tenure and was promoted to full professor in 1981.

LaVonne was also appointed by the Governor to the North Dakota Board of Nursing, where she served two terms, from 1972 – 1980, including time as Board President, as Vice President, and as Treasurer. She has earned several major awards, including the Edgar Dale Award for distinguished teaching and service (UND, 1979); the North Dakota State Nurses Association Honorary Recognition Award (1980 and 1996); and induction into the North Dakota Nursing Association Hall of Fame (2004).

LaVonne Russell Hootman received an honorary Doctorate from UND's College of Nursing during the spring commencement ceremony in May of 2009. This was the first honorary Doctorate the University has bestowed upon a nursing alumna.

Several years after the passing of her husband Maurice, LaVonne married Joallan (Joe) Hootman in March 1997.  LaVonne and Joe spent their years together traveling to places such as Norway, Turkey, Italy, cruises to Alaska and thru the Panama Canal. She especially loved visiting Joe’s grandchildren in Texas and Minnesota. She and Joe spent many summers at her cabin on Ottertail Lake, where she swam nearly every morning to a sailboat anchored about 1/2 mile away from their dock. She also loved gardening and planted many day lilies and other flowers that still bloom every year.

She and Joe were members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Grand Forks. Her faith in God is strong and she is rejoicing in Heaven with all that went before her. She was preceded in death by her husband, Maurice, parents, sister Audrey, and younger brother (John) Jack Kleven. LaVonne is survived by her only child, Erik (Jacqueline), her second husband Joe Hootman, Joe’s children, Joseph (Neisha), Janine Wilke (Jeff) and his 6 grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Recruitment/Retention of American Indians into Nursing (RAIN) program CNPD/Nursing 314 430 Oxford St Stop 9025, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9025.

Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Grand Forks.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, July 2, 2019 from 5 to 7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at Amundson Funeral Home and will continue 1 hour prior to the start of the service at the church.