LaVay D. McCool, 84, West Concord
LaVay D. McCool, age 84, of West Concord passed away on February 13th, 2023, at Madonna Summit Assisted Living Memory Care in Byron, MN.
She was born April 4, 1938, along with her twin brother Leon, to Edmund and Frances (Behrends) Beyer of Romona, South Dakota. The twins were born premature and were a miracle of their time. LaVay spent her early childhood on a farm in Romona, SD, and later moved to Madison, SD. She attended Central High School and worked at the local movie theater as a ticker seller, where she met her future husband, Pat. She graduated high school in 1957.
LaVay and Thomas “Pat” McCool were united in marriage on May 31, 1958 , at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Madison, SD. LaVay worked for the county performing office and bookkeeping duties and welcomed the first of seven children into the world. In 1959, the family moved to Ruthton, MN where Pat accepted a teaching position. They then moved to Lakefield before ending up in West Concord with their growing family. Over the years, LaVay worked outside the home to support her family. At various times she worked at the Kenyon canning factory at night during the corn harvest, the Berne Church as a secretary and at Culligan in Kasson. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading mystery and romance novels, journaling, and playing card with friends. She was also a childcare provider to several children in the area in addition to her own. She enjoyed all aspects of motherhood, especially watching her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow. Family was her life, and they will miss her dearly.
She is survived by her husband Thomas “Pat” McCool of Byron; children Brian McCool (Richard Hutton) of Mantorville, Lisa (Mark) Finstuen of West Concord, Teresa (Jeremy) Knutson of West Concord, David (Sarah) McCool of West Concord, Kathy (Lorrie) Walker of Kenyon, Steven (Beth) McCool of Kasson, and Jeff McCool of West Concord; 12 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; younger sister Sandy (Dale) Mette of Vermillion, SD, and younger brother Bruse (Carol) Beyer of Marysville, WA. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Edmund and Frances Beyer; brothers Duane, Elmer, Allan, Wayne, twin brother Leon and sister-in-law Alicia.
Funeral will be at 11:00 AM on Monday, February 20, 2023, at St. Vincent DePaul Church in West Concord. Visitation will be from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM on Sunday, February 19th at Michaelson Funeral Home in West Concord and also one hour prior to the service at church. Interment will be in the St. Vincent De Paul Cemetery.