February 17, 1938 - January 14, 2025
Lavilla Kidwell was born on February 17, 1938 in French Camp, California and passed away peacefully in the arms of her children on January 14, 2025. Born Lavilla Leona Berendt, she was the first daughter of Henry and Magdalene Berendt who had emigrated from South Dakota during the depression. She grew up in Lodi graduating from Lodi High School in 1955. In high school she was a member of the Pepsters, Choir and Acapella Choir. Following High School she went to work for Pacific Telephone.
Lavilla met Dave Kidwell, and they were engaged in December of 1955 and then, married on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1956. In the early years of their marriage, they went out with good friends Carleen and Bud Johnson, often water skiing and playing cards. They established their home in Stockton and welcomed two children, Steve and Sandy. The family took frequent camping trips with neighbors and friends going up about twice monthly at least during the summer. During the camping trips, Sandy and Steve rode motorcycles with their dad, went fishing, got dirty, played with friends, took baths in a plastic garbage can, and helped with the clean up when they got back home. Lavilla made snickerdoodles or other goodies to bring up, fixed breakfasts with biscuits in the trailer oven and had Band-Aids on hand as needed. She always made sure there were plenty of good snacks. Lavilla also enjoyed helping her children with any crafts for school projects. She helped them design hats for the Easter parade, make their own kites, and helped with school field trips as well as classroom parties.
The five grandchildren fondly remember sleepovers with Grandpa Dave and their most special, sweetest Grandma ‘Nilla. On the way to her house, they always hoped that the cousins might be there too. Whatever was served for dinner there was often Jello involved. She liked to fix them breakfast but also had their favorite cereal available. She often sent the box of cereal home with them along with the candy buttons on a strip of paper the next morning. Allison still buys Cracklin’ Oat Bran. Grandma ‘Nilla loved to have ice cream after dinner, but you had to let it get a little soft before you ate it. For the kids that meant that you might even put it in the microwave, so it got soft faster. Of course, chocolate sauce was available for the top! In the morning before you went home, you might need to take a walk around the block with an apple for a healthy snack or take a ride in the pink Barbie car. Everyone remembers the pink Barbie car! She kept a dishful of M&Ms and a jar of Wheat Thins in the kitchen so you could grab a handful when you walked in and on your way home after a visit. At Christmas time she liked flocked Christmas trees when she could convince Grandpa to get one and wrapped gifts in such a way that each grandchild had the exact same number to open so that the rotation came out even. Every year until each grandchild turned ten, they received a stuffed Christmas toy with a tag on it noting the year. There were reindeer, gingerbread boys and girls, snowmen, penguins, Mickey and Minnie and so on. She kept track of what kind of stuffed toys she purchased so that each year was different. She continued this tradition with her great grandkids.
Lavilla focused much of her life being a homemaker after her children were born returning to work, after they were grown. She worked in the medical field for Optometrist, Dr. Player, and then Stockton Orthopedic as an insurance billing clerk, where she retired after 13 years in 2002. She organized and enjoyed monthly lunch dates with a group of girlfriends from High School. Lavilla always put the needs of her family first. She kept track of what her children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren were up to and was always available to help or give instructions if anyone needed something. Even during her last days, she was telling her children and grandchildren to be careful driving home as they left her. She was a cheerful, energetic and super organized person.
Lavilla, who was known as Dolly to her friends, moved into The Oaks at Inglewood in October of 2022. There she made new friends and enjoyed having her meals with them. She also loved all of the beautiful decorations they had, fun activities like Derby Day and Mom’s with Muffins, and playing Bingo. She attended church services there on Sundays.
Lavilla was preceded in death by her husband, Dave Kidwell; her parents, Henry and Magdalene Berendt, and her sister, Elaine Berendt Comporato. She is survived by her children, Steve (Sue) Kidwell and Sandy (Randy) Snider; her grandchildren, Brian (Katie) Kidwell, Sarah (Robert) Lapp, Brenna Snider, Allison (fiancé Anthony Madrid) Snider, and Kristopher (Katlin) Snider; and six great-grandchildren, Avery Kidwell, Peyton Kidwell, Mason Lapp, Owen Lapp, Kamden Snider, and Kyla Snider. She will be greatly missed by nephews, Craig (Sharon) Harrison, David Harrison, Mike Comporato and Jeff Comporato; as well as her dear friend of more than 65 years, Carleen Johnson.
Burial will be private.