John Raymond LaFrance

Published August 17, 2020 at 10:14 AM

John Raymond LaFrance, age 90, of Park Rapids, passed away on February 24, 2020 at the Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids, MN.

John was born on September 9, 1929, to Raymond and Beatrice (Carroll) LaFrance in Sibley Township, MN. After graduating from Minneapolis South High School in 1947, John attended the University of Minnesota and received an ALA Degree in 1950. On August 12, 1950, he married Joyce Lambert in Minneapolis. They made their home in Minneapolis for 13 years, Richfield, MN for 37 years and finally Park Rapids, MN where they have resided for the past 20 years.

John worked for the Bloomington School District for 10 years then worked 20 years for Fairview Southdale Hospital as an Operational Engineer in maintenance. He held many other miscellaneous jobs including school bus driver.

John was very community minded. He was a member of St. Nicholas Episcopal Church while in Richfield and a member of Trinity Church of Park Rapids where he was a vestry member. He was a troop leader for the Boy Scouts, delivered for Meals on Wheels, volunteered as a reading buddy for Kinship, volunteered for Living at Home and cleaned at his church. He was a Masonic member for more than 50 years. He was a Zurah Shriner and a member of the Minnehaha and Detroit Lakes Order of the Eastern Star.

John enjoyed camping. He was a handyman and enjoyed carpentry and tinkering.

John is survived by his wife of 69 years, Joyce; his children, Tom LaFrance, Terri (Christopher) Adams, Steve (Margaret) LaFrance; 8 grandchildren, Josh LaFrance, Katie LaFrance, Hayley LaFrance, Justin (Caren) AdamsLee, Nathan Adams, Shawn LaFrance, Brian LaFrance, Stacey LaFrance; 6 great grandchildren; and other nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Beatrice; his sisters, Earline Bjostad and Geraldine Lindsey; and his granddaughter, Belinda LaFrance.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 29, 2020 at Cease Family Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service.