LaVila Gertrude Fraley

About LaVila

LaVila Fraley, 86, of Bemidji, Minn. died peacefully in her home on Sunday May 21, 2023.

LaVila Gertrude Giese was born December 6, 1936 to Elmer and Edna Giese in Wood Lake, Minn. When she was nine, the family moved to Island Lake near Northome, Minn. to build and run a resort. She attended Bergville Grammar School, then Northome High School, graduating in 1954.

On December 4, 1954, she married Harlan Jennings Fraley at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Mizpah, Minn. They began married life in International Falls, Minn. and eventually moved to Coon Rapids, Minn. where they lived for ten years.

In 1970, Harlan and LaVila decided to return with their family to Mizpah, settling in Forest Grove. Later they built a home on Island Lake. In recent years they lived in Bemidji, Minn. to be close to their family.

LaVila was a devoted homemaker. She worked occasional odd jobs, did bookkeeping for Harlan’s logging business, and provided childcare for family and friends. She was especially skilled at cooking, gardening and sewing. She made numerous quilts - each grandchild and great grandchild was given one of her creations. She was an avid reader and kept journals of events and thoughts.

Bible studies, individual and group, were meaningful throughout her life. She enjoyed kids’ sporting events, recitals, musicals, boating, picnics, fish frys, lefse making, birthday parties, graduations, showers, weddings - anything that involved getting the family together around a happy event.

LaVila was a woman of deep and authentic faith in Jesus Christ. This was the source of her love for people, and the strength she relied on to serve them. She, with Harlan, were members of Gemmell Community Church for many years, later Mt Zion Church in Bemidj where she helped with thrift sales to fund projects in the church.

LaVila is survived by daughter Jill (Jeff) Sullivan, son Jay (Lori) Fraley, daughter Jan (Joe) McSharry; 16 grandchildren: Kate, Martin, Daniel, Jenny, Samuel, Keegan, Eric, Ruth, Annie, Ellen, Patrick, Jessica, Grace, Connor, Peter, LeeAnn; 27 great grandchildren; former daughter- in -law Terry Notsch (married to son, Joel) and her children, Amy and Morgan; sisters Marlys Fraley Hanson and Lucille Schuster.

LaVila was preceded in death by her parents, husband Harlan, son Joel Peter Fraley, and sister Betty Bloom.

memorial service

Memorial Services for LaVila

June 11, 2023

Mt Zion Church 414 Lincoln Ave SE, Bemidji, MN 56601, USA

Interment will be at the Forest Grove Cemetery in Mizpah, MN, at a later date.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Cease Family Funeral Home