Lavinia Magstadt, age 93, of O'Neill Nebraska, formerly of Mitchell, died Friday, November 28, 2008 the Golden Living Center in O'Neill, NE.   Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Monday December 1, at the First  Congregational UCC Church in Mitchell with burial at Graceland Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 6 to 8 PM Sunday at Will Funeral Chapel.

Lavinia D. Sayler, daughter of Johannes and Fredricka (Brose) Sayler, was born February 18, 1915 in Underwood, ND. She graduated from Underwood High School in 1932 and then attended Yankton College for two years from 1932 to 1933.

Lavinia was united in marriage with Elden E. Magstadt on June 3, 1934 in Scotland, SD. The couple made their home in Scotland where they owned and operated the Gamble Agency Store. They moved to Mitchell in the early 1940's where Lavinia was employed at Kresge's in Mitchell. In 1948 the couple became co-owners of the North Main Motel. She continued to operate the motel until her retirement in 1985. Lavinia remained in Mitchell until 2004 when she moved to O'Neill, NE. In O'Neill she made her home at her son's home before entering the Golden Living Center.

Lavinia was a member of First Congregational UCC Church in Mitchell. At the church she was involved in Women's Fellowship and served on the memorial committee. Lavinia enjoyed needlework, reading, flower gardening, playing cards and fishing.

Grateful for having shared her life are her son, John Magstadt and his wife, Judy, O'Neill, NE; two grandchildren, Richard Magstadt and his wife, Dawn, Mitchell, SD, Craig Magstadt, Lincoln, NE; three great grandchildren, Hunter, Zoie and Katherine Magstadt, all of Mitchell, SD; four nieces, Lavinia Ann (Sayler) Vicich, Bellevue, NE, Laverna Logan, Lacey, WA, Barbara Tobin and her husband, Tom, Muskogee, OK, Virginia (Sayler) Parker, Healdsburg, CA; a nephew, Eugene Sayler, Thornton, CO; a sister-in-law, Ruth (Magstadt) Weisz, Kaylor, SD; brother-n-law, James Retzer, Kenner, LA.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elden E. Magstadt in 1971; her parents; five brothers; four sisters; four sister-in-laws; and four brother-in-laws.