Dear Classes of 1958, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1976, & 1979:

This is a Deacon Alert to inform you of the passing of Lavetta (Ringuette) Syverson ('66) on Sunday, Aug. 10th.

Lavetta was a member of the Class of 1966, and the sister of Barbara (Ringuette) Miller ('58), Gene Ringuette ('64), Dana Ringuette ('72), Tom Ringuette ('76), and the late Renee (Ringuette) Bearden ('79), Scott Ringuette ('63), Kenneth Ringuette ('68), Leo Ringuette, and John Ringuette ('74).

Obituary:

Lavetta Rose Syverson (née Ringuette), 77, of Grand Forks, ND died  Sunday,August 10, 2025  in Grand Forks.

Vetta was born in Fargo on March 11, 1948, to Duane and Barbara Ringuette. She grew up in Fargo in a large but tight-knit family with two sisters and seven brothers. Given the times, she was not able to play high school sports as she wanted, but she did play piano at 7 a.m. Mass. After graduating from Shanley High School in 1966 (serving as Homecoming Queen in 1965), Vetta continued her studies at Moorhead State University. At MSU, she appeared in a production of West Side Story, received a Bachelor’s degree in speech pathology, and met Ryland Syverson, her husband of 55 years. They married shortly before their graduation in March 1970 and moved to the Twin Cities to take jobs with the Anoka-Hennepin School District.

Vetta and Ryle started their family in the Cities with the births of Chad in 1972 and Kiersten in 1976. They then moved back to Fargo, where Jennifer was born in 1978. Vetta’s primary occupation in Fargo was being household CEO and loving mom to her three children (and only allowing lime Kool-Aid in the house so when the kids inevitably spilled it, the green carpet would hide any stain). She also worked several years as religious education director for Nativity Catholic Church. The family moved to Grand Forks in 1987. Adding to her parenting duties there, Vetta managed multiple retail stores in Columbia Mall until eventually joining Ryle in 1993 as a husband-and-wife financial planning team. They worked together until retirement.

Vetta believed deeply in equality for women. She walked this walk both as a parent and in her professional life. Among her many parenting activities, she fought for equal practice time and facilities for girls’ sports in the Grand Forks School District, and she made sure her son could cook, clean, and do laundry. Professionally, impelled in part by the experiences of her own mother and mother-in-law, she had a special passion for ensuring her female clients would be financially secure should their spouse pass away. Throughout all, she was an active and fervent member of the American Association of University Women, including serving as president of the Grand Forks chapter and officer at the state level for several years.

Retirement opened up time for Vetta to enjoy travel with Ryle; her hobbies of yoga, tennis, music, and shopping; and especially being with friends and family, including her 12 grandchildren. She was known to occasionally (only days ending in “y”) indulge in Starbucks coffee, chocolate, and croissants. She continued these activities even several years after being afflicted by Alzheimer’s Disease, until it overwhelmed her. But even that cruel illness could not fully banish her instincts to advocate for herself and her family.

Vetta was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Renee Ringuette Bearden; brothers, Scott Ringuette, Kenneth Ringuette, Leo Ringuette, and John Ringuette; and brother-in-law, Don Miller.

She is survived by aunt, Sister Paula Ringuette; sister, Barbara Miller; brothers, Gene (Janeen) Ringuette, Dana (Renee) Ringuette, and Tom (Deb) Ringuette; sister-in-law, Maggie Ringuette; husband, Ryle Syverson of Grand Forks; children, Chad (Genaya) Syverson of Chicago, Kiersten (Eric) Brutger of Grand Forks, and Jennifer (Hunter) Reinke of Fargo; grandchildren, Claire Syverson, Adam Syverson, Victoria Syverson, Gabrielle Syverson, Braden Panzer, Evan Panzer, Kasen Panzer, Adeline Brutger, Charlie Brutger, Colton Reinke, Sierra Reinke, and Ridge Reinke; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Vetta’s family offers a special thank you to the staff of Hearthstone at Valley Senior Living.

In lieu of flowers, Vetta’s family suggests a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or the American Association of University Women.

Memorial Liturgy and Celebration of Vetta’s Life: 2:00 p.m. Thursday, August 14, 2025, in the Historic Norman Funeral Home Chapel.
Family Greeting: One hour prior to the liturgy in the funeral home on Thursday.
Interment:  At a later date, at Holy Cross Cemetery in Fargo, ND.