Lavonne "Vonnie" M. Feather

Lavonne Mae Feather, “Maĥpiya To Winyan” (Blue Cloud Woman) 63 of rural Warwick ND passed away on Friday, September 11, 2020 at her home.  

Lavonne Mae Longie was born on May 18^th, 1957 in Devils Lake ND, the daughter of Donald E. and Caroline L. (Ross) Longie.  She grew up in Tokio ND and Clinton IA.  She graduated from Clinton High School with the class of 1976. 

Vonnie was united in marriage to Virgil D. Feather on June 14, 1980.  They made their home in several places through the years including Tokio, Minneapolis, Clinton, Marcus and for many years until her passing, they made their home in rural Warwick ND.  Besides being a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Vonnie worked as a CNA and on a mink farm.  Virgil passed away on November of 2016. 

In her younger years, Vonnie was active playing basketball and participating in track and band.  She was crowned an Indian Princess and sang in the church choir.  She loved music and was frequently enjoying her oldies and country songs on the radio.  She was very talented at arts and crafts.  She especially enjoyed making dream catchers, drums and native dolls. She was fond of the colors lavender and purple, daisies and sunflowers were her favorite flowers.  She was an avid gardener too. 

Vonnie will be greatly missed by her family.  Her children Elijah D. (Rochelle) Feather and his children Caden, Cadence, Elijah Jr., Caylen and Brayden, Brandon J. Feather (Geraldine Dumarce) and Dustin Virgil Feather (McKay L. Belgarde), LaDawna J. Feather, Virgil D. Feather Jr.; siblings Gary Longie, Kenneth (Karen) Longie, Donna (Dennis) Stephen and Wilma Longie; nieces and nephews Cheryl, Jennifer, Synthia, Anna, Conrad, Tina, Gary Jr., Lance, Jessica, Kenneth Jr., Samantha, Bryon Jr., Jasmine, Denvir, Sky, Christopher, Shiloh, Autumn, Waylon, Curtis, Cheyenne, Angie and Jerome.

Others survivors include her foster family, foster sisters Rachel Mentink, Rebecca (Martin) Letsche; foster brother Michael (Cathy) Mentink; foster nieces Emily (Matt) Bork and Sarah Mentink; foster nephews Danile (Jacquie) Letsche, Pastor Jason (Lindsay) Letsche and Eric Mentink; foster great nieces Audrianna, Allison, Cheyenne, Willa, Lenna, Michaela and Alexis; foster great nephews Liam and Judah;

Preceded in death her parents, husband Virgil, son Dylan Feather, brothers Jerry Longie and Derek Longie, foster parents Pastor Lee and Eleanor Mentink, foster brother Mark Mentink.

Casket Bearers for Vonnie will be Caden Feather, Chris Stephen, Curtis Longie, Tyler Redfox, Archie Redfox III and Eldwin Guy.  Honorary Bearers will be Myra Pearson, Pastor Mike and Libby Flowers, John and Penny Knudson, Lois Leben, Larry and Darla Thiele and Eileen Railing.

Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday, September 25 2020 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.  Graveside Services will be on Saturday, September 26^th at 11:00 a.m. at the Dakotah Oyate Cemetery, rural Tokio ND.   The procession to Tokio will leave at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday from City Plaza in Devils Lake.