LaVey Thalmann

LaVey Phyllis Helmrichs was born on March 25, 1933 in Deer Creek Township, rural Deer Creek, Minnesota. Her parents were the late Alva and Elvira (Macklanburg) Helmrichs.  She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Deer Creek and graduated from the Deer Creek High School with the Class of 1951. After graduation she was employed as a service representative with Northwest Bell in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

On October 29, 1954 LaVey was united in marriage to Roland Thalmann in Hampton, Virginia. Their marriage was blessed with three children. LaVey worked as a homemaker, and for 20 years in the summers she was employed at Chalet Chanticleur Restaurant on Ottertail Lake and worked winters at Custom Fleshing, Inc in Ottertail.

LaVey enjoyed church work and was a long-time member of St. John’s Ladies Aid and LWML where she held various offices. She served as Regional Vice President for Minnesota North LWML for several years. She was also a member of the Jolly Leaf Lakers Homemakers Club, small group bible study and the Red Hatters. Roland and LaVey received the Valley Farmer & Homemaker Award representing East Otter Tail County at the Crookston Winter Show in 1989.

After retiring from the farm, they resided in Ottertail City. LaVey enjoyed sewing, reading, bowling and watching the grandchildren participate in school activities.  They enjoyed traveling together on many vacations in the United States and loved the cruises they took to Alaska and the Caribbean.  The highlight being the trips to Germany and Hawaii.

On June 30, 2019 LaVey passed away at her home at 86 years of age. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Preceding LaVey in death were her parents, Alva and Elvira; and infant granddaughter, Katie; great-grandson, Bryce; brother, Melvin.

LaVey is survived by her husband, Roland Thalmann of Ottertail; children: Rodney (Sharon) Thalmann of Henning; Ruth (Richard) Bosse of Ottertail; Pete (Renae) Thalmann of Ottertail; 9 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Mildred Helmrichs of Deer Creek; Janice Thalmann of Fargo, North Dakota; many other relatives and a host of friends.

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