Lavella Grace Pfeister, 58, of North Platte, NE, passed away Thursday, December 19, 2013, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte.

Lavella was born September 2, 1955, to Demar Wesley and Ethel Faye Timmons Garner in North Platte where she grew up and attended school. In 1993 Lavella received her Associates Degree in Journalism from Mid-Plains Community College.

On November 18, 1972, Lavella married Leonard Arthur Pfeister in North Platte. Lavella was mainly a stay-at-home mother but had worked for Zenith Radio Corporation and Brower Construction in Iowa and for Karl’s Appliances and The First Group in North Platte. She retired in 2007 from The First Group.

Lavella enjoyed reading (especially books by Earnest Hemmingway) and as a child learned about the Bible Jehovah’s Witnesses. She also liked gardening and yard work but Lavella’s greatest passion in life was her family.

Lavella is survived by her husband, Leonard Pfeister, and son, Joseph Pfeister, both of North Platte; two daughters, Nicole (Justin) Steinhauser, of Lincoln, NE and Mary (Kevin) Stewart, of North Platte; five grandchildren, Aaron, Isaiah, Isabella, Natalie and Cassie; and a great-grandson, KamRyn.

She is also survived by four sisters, Glendin Patrick and Janie (Dale) Newtson, of North Platte, Orpha (Terry) Walker, of Cozad, NE, and Johnette (Fredrick) Long, of New Orleans, LA; three brothers, John (Lora) Garner, of Gothenburg, NE and Don Garner and John Hanson, both of North Platte; her aunt, Marymae (Don) Seery, of North Platte; sisters-in-law, Judy Pfeister and Linda (Jack) Beam, all of Sioux City, IA, and Karen (Steve) Carlson, of Des Moines, IA; brothers-in-law, Louis Pfeister, of Holyrood, KS, Gary (Nancy) Pfeister, of St. Michael, MN, Charles (Mary Kaye) Pfeister, of Sioux Center, IA, and James (Sue) Pfeister, of Sioux City, IA; several nieces, nephews and other family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Demar Garner and Ethel Hanson, and stepfather, Gerald Hanson; her sister, Leona “Lee” Webster; a brother-in-law, Bradford Patrick; her niece, baby Walker; and a nephew, J.D. Garner.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Monday, December 23, 2013, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore. Burial will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Visitation will be 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore which is in charge of arrangements. The family has established a memorial.