LAVON IRIS LUND
By Constance Lund Neel
LaVon was born on the 19th of October 1913 at 677 West Capitol Street in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was the fourth girl and child of Djalmar and Aagot Lund. The home on West Capitol Street was a very fashionable home at that time. Consisting of a kitchen, pantry, bathroom, dining room, living room, library, bedroom and porch. The porch was used for sleeping quarters for the children as the family got bigger; in inclement weather, oil cloth was placed on the bed to keep the children dry. A dresser on the porch helped the sleeping porch to suffice for a bedroom. There was a couch in the kitchen which was used only for the children when they were ill so they could sleep next to their parents. The Lunds took great pride in their home and tried to always keep it tidy and beautifully furnished. The home was located on a hill with the house nestled at the bottom with a rolling lawn for a front yard. A gravel road higher up on the hill was the access to the home. The hills which surrounded their home held a lot of crannies, caves and fascinating spots for children to play.
Vonnie attended the Washington School. She was baptized April 1, 1922. Vonnie had a very busy childhood caring for her younger brother, Abe, and younger sister, Connie. Connie recalls how Vonnie had to throw her coat out of the window when she went to school to avoid a scene of crying on the part of Connie (she was such a mother to her).
She spent many hours sewing at an early age for herself and the family to help ease the burdens of the depression years. Household chores were washing diapers after school, scrubbing floors, walls, doing dishes and general cleaning. Many trips were made to the 24th Ward wheeling a baby carriage for her mother. Vonnie taught herself how to play the piano, one of her accomplishments being the "Rustle of Spring" which was the envy of Connie, to whom she introduced the piano in her later years. Vonnie took dancing lessons from Lee Christ. Vonnie recalls being in several Roadshows directed by her sister Temmie. One of the favorite pastimes was walking down to the Star Theatre to attend a movie for ten cents. The Washington School was a favorite swimming haunt of Vonnie and her sisters. Warm Springs also was a swimming pool where the family could afford to go swimming free on Monday mornings. Many times the girls brought their lunch, hiding in the restrooms with their feet hoisted up in the air until open plunge for everyone started. Vonnie's closest friends at this time were Margaret Leatham, Tilda Jordan and Vera Huston.
Vonnie attended West Junior High. At the end of her Junior High years, the Lunds moved to 266 Douglas Street and Vonnie attended East High School. Ann Widstoe, daughter of Apostle Widstoe, was her Mutual teacher. Vonnie attended the 33rd Ward at the time. Ann became a dear friend and invited Vonnie to her Summer cabin. In the Summer of 1929 at this cabin Vonnie met Dell Thomas Tucker. He came up to the Widstoe's on horseback and Vonnie met him in the corral. Some of Vonnie's closest friends at this time were Don McDonald, Beth Hintze, and Naoma Melville.
Vonnie was endowed on the 2nd of May 1934 and sealed to Dell in the Salt Lake Temple on the same day. They lived in the Kimball Apartments on Main Street two blocks north of the L.D.S. Business College. Then they lived on University Street and 2nd South, and Unversity Street and 5th South while Dell attended the U. of U. During the depression years it was hard to find employment and these were very sore years because Dell could only drive a taxi part time while he attended school. Dell had managed to save money to attend the University and had lost it when banks failed in 1929. The couple moved to 27th South off of 11th East where their first child, Loralee D. , was born on June 13, 1940. They then moved to 27th South behind the church on Highland Drive, where they resided when Dell Raymond was born January 18, 1942. Dell was drafted into the army as a 1st Lieutenant serving in Riverside, California; Spokane Washington; San Francisco; Ogden, Utah; and Sacramento, California.
After the war, Dell started working as a draftsman and the couple settled in Sacramento. Vonnie continued to sew not only for her children but her sister Temmie who became very involved in many social activities such as programs for social groups, etc. Their two children graduated from the University of Berkeley, California - Loralee with a degree in Mathematics and Ray with a degree in Civil Engineering. Many sacrifices were made to support the children in school as they attended Berkeley living away from home.
Vonnie and her sister Temmie enjoyed a choice companionship as Temmie lived just around the corner from Vonnie. Their lives were really intertwined, each helping and enjoying the company of the other. Many days were spent visiting, shopping, swimming, and planning socials. Later, they went on trips together, including England, Tahiti, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Hawaii, Cuba, Canada, Mexico, the New England states, and Washington, D.C. Some of the most interesting sights that the girls saw in their travels were the home of Edvard Grieg where the goats at the thatch off the roofs of the homes, and the national dancers. They saw a thatch roof being built there. Norway, home of Aagot, was a beautiful sight to behold with the high majestic mountains, beautiful fjords, as mother had so often described to her children. The Fairyland Tour around Sollested, Denmark, where father Djalmar was born, was a highlight. Vonnie saw the Hansen Hotel which had been owned by Rasmus Hansen Lund on Yulling Island, the name being changed when the Germans marched through. Stork Island, where the storks migrating from the Nile lived, was a fascinating spot. Farmers built their roofs in a V shape so the storks could build their nests on the roofs.
The main island, Copenhagen, where the king lived in a palace, was so interesting, and the girls also saw the Summer home of the Hansens on the island of Bergen across the channel from England. Denmark was a fascinating place to vist. All the homes had red roofs and white sides as you approached from the air. The king's guard dressed immaculately and they had the opportunity to see them marching.
Vonnie is currently suffering from ill health. She has osteoporosis, heart trouble, arthritis, and failing eyesight, but still has the same determination to do her own housework, keeping her home lovely and clean. She manages to read much less frequently her beloved historical novels and keep abreast of the times. The love of her family is the motivating force in her life.