LaVona I. (Foster) Skinner, 97, passed away Thursday, November 8, 2012, at Sturgis Regional Hospice. LaVona was born August 17, 1915, to Joseph Watson "Wattie" and Harriet Aurilla "Hattie" (Lee) Foster in Flora, Boone County, IL. She graduated from Rapid City High School in 1933. On Sept. 4th, 1938, she married George F. "Francis" Skinner in Custer. To this union were born Donald and Janet. She worked at the SD Dept. of Highways and West River Electric, each for 10 years and for Johnson Machine. She will be remembered as a volunteer piano player at many Rapid City nursing homes, the Kitchen Band and also at the Thrashing Bee. LaVona and Francis loved to dance, and could be seen whirling together at several area dances, especially at the Senior Center and the ELKS Club.LaVona was most proud of her membership in the VFW Auxiliary, Atonement Lutheran Church and Minneluzahan Senior Citizen Center. She is survived by a son, Donald (Florence) Skinner, a daughter, Janet (Butch) Peters, both of Rapid City, 8 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.her husband, George "Francis" Skinner, January 9, 2001, a granddaughter, Maria Ann Skinner, March 5, 1967, her parents, and her sister, Ruth Beardsley preceded her in death.