On Tuesday, June 19, 2012 a beautiful heart stopped beating. Lavinia I. "Vinny" Belden, 77, of Altoona, died at home surrounded by her four loving children. She was born on March 20, 1935 in Eau Claire to Alfred and Dorothy (Johns) Holte. She was the youngest of 6 children. She graduated from Eau Claire High School in 1954. A year later she married Elmer Belden at First Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. Together they had 4 children. She worked for over 35 years at Luther Hospital in Eau Claire. Vinny retired in 1997, and shortly after moved to Eastridge Estates in Altoona, where she spent some of the happiest years of her life. She made many friends and enjoyed spending her time watching the Packers and Brewers, traveling, volunteering at Luther Hospital, working at Mega handing out samples and visiting with customers, watching her grandchildren's sports activities, and helping her friends and neighbors with anything they needed. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Bob; sisters, Margaret Durch and Beverly Campbell; and brothers-in-law, Pete Pedersen and Leonard Jones. She is survived by her children, Lisa (Greg) Cormican, Peter (Nancy), Jim (Cindy), and Tena Friedrich (Scott Koepl); grandchildren, Nadia(Bill) Johnson, Clayton Cormican, Cherry Jo Schultz, Jessica Belden, Paige Lee, Jan, Jeremy, Jordan and Pete Belden, James Schoettle, Brittany and Alisha Mateski, Christopher (Jenn) Storlie, Dustin and Stephanie Friedrich; great-grandchildren, Chloe, Carson, Brittany, Ethan, Jade, Joshua, Zachary, Kayla, Lillian, Isabella, and Zayden; sisters, Orlene Jones, and Audrey Pedersen; brothers-in-law, Donald Durch and James Campbell; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. She was adored by all who had the pleasure of knowing her and in her best days, embodied a youthful zest for life that was admired and defined by her abundance of friends and activities. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her. The family would like to thank Pastor Halvorson and St. Joseph's Hospice- especially John, R.N., for their care. Funeral Service will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 23, 2012 at First Lutheran Church, 1005 Oxford Ave., Eau Claire with Pastor Lowell Halvorson officiating. Visitation will start at 1 p.m. on Saturday at church. Burial will take place at Lakeview Cemetery, Eau Claire. Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home is serving the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to First Lutheran Church.

Service Information

Cemetery

Lakeview Cemetery 1500 Buffington Drive Eau Claire WI 54703