Obituary of Terese Laverne LaFrance

Terese (Terry) LaFrance, 73, passed away peacefully on August 30th, 2024 at St. Mary’s Medical Center surrounded by loved ones after a brief battle with an aggressive cancer. She was born on March 30th, 1951 in Duluth, MN. 

Terry attended St John’s Catholic School and Homecroft Elementary. When her parents moved to the Pike Lake area, she attended Proctor Jr & Sr High Schools, graduating with honors in 1969. Terry enjoyed performing in high school plays and was also in the homecoming court. She continued her education at the College of St. Scholastica and the University of Minnesota, Duluth earning her bachelors in business.  

Her gift working with numbers led her to a job working at 1st National Bank rising to the title of Assistant Controller. She was persuaded to join the family business in 1981 as its CFO. She was invaluable to the team and retired from Better Brands Inc. (the Buerke Bunch) in 2007. Her accounting background found her doing more than one IRS tax filing as she graciously helped several family members as well.  

Terry first met Hector ‘Own’ LaFrance at the tear down of the Pike Lake house after a destructive fire. He was on the scene with his brother Morry helping the crew with the heavy equipment and demolition. The area gang frequently went to the LeGrand Supper Club for drinks and dancing. Many a night you would see a five-foot-tall Terry reaching up to put her arms around her future six-foot four-inch husband as they danced the night away. Their first home was in the Caribou Lake area. From there they moved to Grand Lake with their growing family. Many days were enjoyed on their sandy beach or just visiting on the patio overlooking one of many of Terry’s immaculate gardens. Terry’s greatest passion was always her family and was deeply involved in all aspects of their upbringing. She attended numerous soccer games, concerts and events for her children. She was a fierce protector, a source of wisdom and a place of nurture. She loved the holidays, especially Christmas. Her husband’s famous egg rolls always stole the show, second to the gifts! Terry’s late husband, Own, owned and operated Dusty Star Trucking and she would travel with him to various auctions looking for equipment and such. She loved these trips and always came back with a treasure for herself too! Terry would join her sisters and friends tubing down the Namekagon River or down the Great River Road to see the beautiful scenery and art festivals. Terry’s husband did not like to fly but that would not stop the family from taking road trips down south to visit her parents with many stops on the way at national parks and amusement parks.  

After retirement she focused on returning to some of her favorite hobbies. Terry was a skilled seamstress creating extraordinary outfits for her children, grandchildren, and the nieces and nephews. She won several blue ribbons in local fairs for her sewing entries. She could cultivate breathtaking gardens where you could catch her just about any day of the week weeding one of her many gardens. She passed her gardening bug to her sisters as well. They would frequently exchange plants, notes, and ideas for next year's gardens. They would frequent local garden tours together as well.  

Terry could always lose herself in a great book, especially non-fiction and autobiography selections. You could never interest her in an e-book, as she always wanted the paper copy in her hands. She loved reading the daily Duluth News Tribune and always completing the entire daily puzzle sections.  

Terry was united in marriage to Hector ‘Own’ LaFrance Jr in 1978, a loving marriage of 36 years. Terry is survived by her daughters Lissa (Henry) Maki of Saginaw, MN, and Annie of Cloquet, MN. Sons; Hector III (Chelsea Clarke) of Cloquet, MN, Lee (Amanda) of Proctor MN, and Jon Luke (Liz) of Saginaw MN. Grandchildren; Rosemarie, Jeannette (Tyler), Anita, Levi and Ryker. Great Grandchild, Lawrence. Terry was the eldest of the 8 siblings survived by her sisters; Liana Salima of Sarasota, FL, Cheryl (Steve) Lehto of Esko, MN, Donna (Jeffery) Stolpe of Fredenburg, MN. Brothers; Doug (Jody) Buerke of Danbury, WI, Dean Buerke of Concord, CA, Randy Buerke of Duluth, MN.  Sister-In-Laws Linda (David) Sullivan of Twig, MN and Kathy Rouleau of Twig, MN along with many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. Terry was preceded in death by her husband, Hector, in 2015, parents Anita in 2005 and George in 2006, and also her beloved sister Roseanne in 1969.  

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, September 20th, 2024 at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, Duluth. Located at 4100 Grand Avenue, Duluth, MN 55807. 

Visitation is from 2-3pm followed by the service at 3pm. The event will be followed by a gathering at the Cast Iron Grill located at 5906 Old Miller Trunk Hwy, Duluth, MN at 5pm.