LaVoy Ebnet

LaVoy Gene Ebnet, 85, of New Richland, MN, passed away peacefully on Nov. 23, 2025. He was greeted with open arms by the love of his life, Mary, whom he missed dearly.

 

LaVoy was born on Oct. 29, 1940 to Victor Herman Ebnet and Edna Mae (Krueger) Ebnet on a farm in rural Waseca County, Minnesota. He began his education in Waseca and later transferred to, and graduated from, New Richland High School. At a dance in Mankato, LaVoy met the woman he would eventually marry and raise a family with. LaVoy married Mary Alice Wilder on Feb. 7, 1961 and moved to a farm near New Richland, MN.

 

Farming was more than a job for LaVoy; it was a calling. For decades, he worked hard planting, harvesting, baling hay, showing sheep, and milking dairy cows. After retiring, LaVoy couldn't stay away and continued to help his friends farm their land.

 

Some of LaVoy's favorite pastimes were fishing and camping. He and Mary would take the boat out to relax. Sometimes they even caught fish. They would haul their camper to dances, so they would have a place to stay when they exhausted themselves from spinning around the dance floor. LaVoy always kept a towel in his back pocket to wipe his brow! Dancing was LaVoy and Mary's passion and they met so many people who went on to become lifelong friends.

 

LaVoy is survived by his four children: Carmen (Kevin) O'Regan of Shakopee, MN; Vianna (James) Bohlen of Owatonna, MN; Rob (Linda) Ebnet of Waseca, MN; Michael Ebnet of Buffalo, MN; and foreign exchange daughter Susi Rothe (Gerwin) of Germany/Austria; grandchildren Christopher O'Regan, Ryan O'Regan, Anthony (Tiffany) Bohlen, Afton Breezer, Chris Steck (Miranda Kimbro), Michael Steck, Morgan Ebnet, Brady Ebnet, Anna (Declan) Thompson, Colby Ebnet, and foreign exchange granddaughter Annika (Marcel) Staats; great grandchildren Quinn Breezer, Lukas and Tate Bohlen and Jannis Staats. LaVoy is also survived by his siblings Bethel Bentley, Doris (John) Krause, Genelle (Bill) Hinchley, Bruce (Kaye) Ebnet, Gordon (Brenda) Ebnet, Gary (Jana) Ebnet, brother-in-law Jeff Wilder, sister-in-law Julie (Dan) Sonnek, sister-in-law Carol Wilder, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and good friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Alice (Wilder) Ebnet, parents, Victor & Edna Ebnet, sister Beverly (Ebnet) Hinchley, and brothers-in-law, Bob Bentley and Donald Wilder.

 

A visitation was held Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Richland, MN. A funeral service will take place at St. Peter Lutheran Church in New Richland, MN on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 at 11 a.m. with visitation one hour prior. Pastor Scott Williams will officiate. Interment will be at St. Peter Cemetery in New Richland, MN, following the service. A luncheon will follow.