Obit: LaBonte, Leone (1918 - 2018)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Erickson, Jay, LaBonte, Lancour, McElmurray, Melius, Ragatz, Schmidt, Schneider

----Source: The Plombon Funeral Home (Stanley, WI) 8/28/2018

LaBonte, Leone (Jay) (15 MAY 1918 - 26 AUG 2018)

Leone (Jay) LaBonte, Age 100, of 111 W. 8th Ave., Stanley, WI, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 26 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Eau Claire, WI with her family at her side.

Leone was born on May 15, 1918 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was adopted by Lewis and Margaret (McElmurray) Jay and grew up in the Huron area. She graduated from Stanley High School in 1937. She married William LaBonte on August 20, 1936 in Stockton, MN. They celebrated 64 years of marriage.

She and Bill farmed in the Stanley Area for twenty years and then moved to the City of Stanley in 1956. She graduated from the School of Cosmetology in 1956 and worked at Vi’s Beauty Salon in Stanley. She worked many years at the Farmers Store Co. in Stanley and also at Samuelson’s Department Store at London Square Mall in Eau Claire, retiring in 1988. In 1968, they moved to Lake Wissota and lived there for 40 years. She moved back to Stanley in 2011 and enjoyed getting reacquainted with her many friends. Leone’s most recent joyous event was celebrating her 100th Birthday with her family and friends at the Stanley Historical Museum with 145 friends and family attending. In October of 2017 she was honored by the Stanley-Boyd Area School with a plaque noting her 80th Class Reunion and also as one of the original “Golden Girls” that initiated the All School Alumni Association.

Leone had many hobbies and interests including camping, sewing, crafts, cake decorating, gardening, baking, and still enjoyed her computer and corresponding with family and friends
on Facebook every day. She continued to live independently, until one month ago, doing all her own cooking and cleaning. She was a faithful member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Stanley attending church every Sunday and taking part in several bible study groups.

She is survived by three children, Jay LaBonte of Kaysville, Utah, Margaret (Jack) Ragatz of Stanley, WI, and William Jr. (Gena) LaBonte of Lake City, MN. She is also survived by eight
grandchildren, Laurie (Kurt) Schneider, Jeff (Christy) Ragatz, Sherri (Jon) Lancour, Julie (Bob) James, Jay R. (Kathy) LaBonte, Mike (Tara) LaBonte, Chris (Susan) LaBonte, and Trevor
LaBonte and many great grandchildren. She is survived by one great, great, grandchild Brekken Erickson.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William in 2000, her parents and one sister, Marjorie Melius and daughter-in-law, Becky LaBonte.

A memorial service will be held at 11AM on Friday, August 31, 2018 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church-Stanley with Pastor Kenneth Schmidt officiating. Interment will follow in Holy Family
Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 AM until time of service at the church.

Plombon Funeral Service assisted the family with arrangements.