Lylah R. Dragvold

BLACKHAMMER, MINN. - Lylah R. Dragvold, 84, of Blackhammer, Minn. died on Thursday, April 15, 2010, at Franciscan - Skemp Healthcare in LaCrosse, Wis. Lylah was born on July 6, 1925, near Houston, Minn. to Alfred and Alice (Nerison) Carlson. She was raised on Fort Ridgely and moved to Badger Valley with her family. She graduated from Houston High School in 1944. She married Fergus Happel in 1950, they were later divorced. She married Gerald Dragvold in 1971. Lylah and Gerald farmed at Blackhammer. Lylah was very active on the farm raising horses. She loved all animals, the outdoors, parades, and trail rides. She also enjoyed Hand sewing, mending, nature walks and cooking wild game and meats. Lylah was very proud of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her nieces and nephews. She is survived by two sons: Dean (Angela) Happel of Sheldon, Minn. and Gordon (Patricia) Happel of Blackhammer; one daughter, Karen (John) Lausten of Lanesboro, Minn.; twelve grandchildren: Josh (Trina), April (James), Autumn, Christopher, Micheal, Casandra (Cody), Dustin, Reggi, Matthew, Caleb, Brady and Israel; thirteen great-grandchildren, with two on the way; six Sister's-in-law: JoAnn Carlson of Houston, Darlene Carlson of Winona, Minn., Marlene (George) Morken of Spring Grove, Minn., Charlotte (Bill) LaBonne of Canton, Minn., Evelyn Jonak of Grand Island, Neb., and Linda Gorder of Peterson, Minn.; and by two other relatives: Jean Happel and Jill Gibson. She was preceded in death by her first husband Fergus; second husband, Gerald; parents; one son: Dennis Happel; three brothers: Kenneth, John and Leonard; one sister, Shirley Skree; three brother's-in-law: Larry Jonak, David Gorder and Roger Valedez; and one sister-in-law: Helen Valedez. There will be a memorial service for Lylah at 12 noon on Saturday, April 24, at Hoff Funeral and Cremation service in Houston with funeral celebrant John Wagenaar officiating. Burial will be at the Faith Lutheran Cemetery in Blackhammer. Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday at Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service in Houston. Please leave a memory of Lylah, sign her online guestbook and view her tribute video when it becomes available online at www.hofffuneral.com
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/133222