Avonelle Sargent, age 75, of Naytahwaush, MN, died Monday, August 6, 2012 at the Mahnomen Heath Center.

Avonelle Marie (Wadena) Sargent was born July 27, 1937 in White Earth, MN, the daughter of Mary (Peabody) and John Wadena. She was raised in the Naytahwaush area and attended school in Naytahwaush and Flandreau, SD. She married Melvin Sargent in 1964 and lived in the Minneapolis with her 11 children and moved back the Naytahwaush area. In 1979 she completed her Nursing Assistant Course and worked as a Home Health Aide for White Earth. She later worked for the Shooting Star Casino in the Surveillance Department. She spent her remaining time taking care of many grandchildren: Hoggie Jr., Tyson, Ian, Trenton and a special granddaughter, Neka Sargent.


She was a kind, caring, and loving person who would help anyone out in time of need whether it was a place to stay or something to eat. She gave whatever she had. She loved life to the fullest and didn't mind if she didn't have anything fancy, she always had her children and grandchildren, which she lived for. She was a good person to get information about the past; we used to call her the historian. She was loved by all her nieces & nephews and anyone that knew here. She loved to joke around and was funny lady without even trying to be. In the last years of her life she attended church weekly and prayed for her family and friends.

Avie is survived by her children: Darrell "Boone" (Kelly) Wadena, Naytahwaush, Kathy (Nick) Wadena, Mahnomen, Cheryl (Bill) Sargent, Mahnomen, and Brenda, Eleanor, Melanie, Jamie, and John Sargent all of Naytahwaush; one brother, Darrell "Chip" Wadena; two sisters, Mavis Bush and Thelma (Ron) Coleman, both of Naytahwaush; 56 grandchildren, 102 great-grandchildren, and 11 great great grandchildren.

Avie was preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary Wadena; brothers: John "Jack" Wadena, and Clyde , Archie, Bob, and Delmar Sargent; sisters: Eldora Klicker, Margaret Baker, Clarine Broberg; one son, Brian Sargent; two daughters, Lois Brown and Janelle Sargent; and grandchildren: Noah and Devorie Sargent, James Goodwin, Haylee Londo, and Salem Wadena.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012 at Bill Brown's Church, Naytahwaush MN. A visitation was at the church on Thursday, August 9, 2012, beginning at 5:00 pm, with a prayer service at 7:00 and continued until the funeral on Friday. Interment was at the Free Gospel Alliance Cemetery, Naytahwaush, MN.