Lillian (Hicks) VonBank

Lillian (Bunny) VonBank was born May 13, 1936 to Lester and Marian Hicks at the family farm near Hickson, ND and passed away on March 18, 2024 at her farm near Buffalo, ND. The family moved from Hickson to Buffalo when Bunny was four years old. She attended District #81 Grade School and then Buffalo High School graduating in 1954. In High School she was active in Basketball and could hit a softball farther than most of the boys. She grew up on the family farm near Buffalo and began working in the fields and milking cows at a very early age. When her father died a truck/train accident she was 15, and she was forced to step up and keep her family together as the oldest child. In addition to doing the home chores, she worked at the nearby Alinder Farm from the time she was seventeen until she married Leon VonBank in 1965. Bunny was an excellent farmer and could operate all types of farm equipment. She cared a lot for the soil and always kept part of her farm in “summer fallow” when others farmed their soil to death. She was fiercely independent and had very strong opinions. She cared greatly about animals and loved to raise sheep. Bunny was also active in St. Thomas Catholic Church and delivered meals on wheels after her retirement from farming. She enjoyed playing card games as well as Bingo with the Buffalo Senior Citizens. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Leon, and three brothers, James, Robert, and Richard Hicks. She is survived by her son, William, daughter MaryAnne and her brother William (Betty) Hicks, two grandchildren, three nephews and a niece.

Visitation: Friday, March 22, 2024 from 6 to 7 PM with a prayer service at 7 PM at St. Thomas Catholic Church, Buffalo.

Funeral Mass: Saturday, March 23rd at 10:30 AM at St. Thomas Catholic Church, Buffalo with visitation one hour prior.

Burial: Buffalo Cemetery.

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

westfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lillian (Hicks) VonBank, please visit our floral store.