LaVine J. Dudden, born November 26, 1930, in Dike, Iowa went home to her Lord and Savior on January 16, 2016. Born to Otto & Dena Grimmius at the beginning of the Great Depression, LaVine was part of a generation that lived history. Raised on the family farm, she rose before daybreak to share in the farming chores, all before heading off to catch the school bus. LaVine drove a team of horses and a Farmall tractor before she drove a car. Laboring on the farm alongside her dad, she took pride in the fact that she "worked as hard as a man."
LaVine met her husband, Roland Dean Dudden, Sr., on a blind date in 1948. When Roland returned to college the next day, he told his roommate that he had met the girl he was going to marry. On September 14, 1949, he made good on his prediction by marrying the girl of his dreams. LaVine and Roland were married for 66 years. They raised three children, Dean, Jeffrey, and Renee.
During their marriage, LaVine worked in many capacities. During the Korean War, she was a telephone operator at FE Warren AFB, Wyoming. After Roland was honorably discharged from the Air Force, the two of them owned and operated several businesses throughout the years. They started their first family business, a weekly shopper's guide, in Vinton, Iowa. It was here that LaVine also served as county chairman of the Republican Party and sang in the local Sweet Adeline's chorus. In 1976, LaVine and Roland moved to Prescott, Arizona, where they owned and operated The Stockroom, an office supply store in downtown Prescott, until 1993. LaVine was active in the church and sang in the choir for years. She also sang with the Sweet Adeline Song of the Pines Chapter. LaVine was a member of the Prescott Downtown Association, Prescott Chamber of Commerce, and Soroptimist International. She volunteered at the Yavapai Regional Medical Center and the Soroptimist Thrift Store.
LaVine is survived by her daughter, Renee Dudden, son, Dean Dudden, and his wife Stacie; her grandson, Eric and his wife, Lauran; and granddaughters, Krista and Shauna. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roland, and son, Jeffery Dudden.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 6th at 10:00 AM at the Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home, 509 4th Street, Grundy Center, Iowa, preceded by one hour of visitation. The burial will follow the funeral service at the Rosehill Cemetery in Grundy Center.