Lovilla Sampson

Lovilla Jane (Whalen) Sampson was born September 30, 1949, on the McHenry/Pierce county line on the way to Rugby, ND to Richard and Elizabeth (Hall) Whalen.  She attended school in Towner, ND and went on to work as a cook and baker in the restaurant industry for the greater portion of her life.  She spent a number of years in Upham, ND where, in addition to raising her family, Lovilla served as a dedicated member of the Upham Volunteer Ambulance Squad.  In 1996, she left Upham to begin a new life in LeSueur, MN, and in 2016, moved one last time to Alexandria, MN to be closer to her daughter, Michelle, and her children.

Lovilla was a hard worker with a fun-loving nature, who enjoyed gardening and tending to her flowers in her free time.  She had a green thumb like no other, which was recognized in the local LeSueur newspaper when she and Mike were awarded Yard of the Week for their stunning floral and artistic display.  Lovilla especially loved being silly with her grandchildren and spending time with her family.  She had a loving heart, a gentle soul, and an infectious laugh that would earn her the nickname, “Gramma Gigglebox.”

Lovilla went to meet the Lord on Friday, January 1, 2021, at Edgewood Vista in Alexandria at the age of 71.  She is survived by her daughters, Lila Akan of Jordan, MN, and Michelle Latendresse of Alexandria; stepson, Brian Sampson of Ackworth, IA; 9 grandchildren; brothers, Fred, Frank, and Richard; and many nieces and nephews.  Lovilla is preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Ned Akan, Albert Latendresse and Michael Sampson; and brothers, Ronald, Jim, Harry and Dwight.

A memorial service will be held 11:00 AM on Friday, April 2, 2021, at the Kolden Funeral Home in LeSueur, MN.  Interment will take place at Oakland Cemetery in Hutchinson.  The service will be recorded and put on the Kolden Funeral Home website  www.koldenfuneralhome.com the week of April 5, 2021.

To protect the safety of all, masks, social distancing and building occupancies will be observed.