LAVON SATHER obituary

Lavon A. (Wilson) Sather, 78, died Monday, April 30, 2007, at the Peace Hospice Center in Great Falls.

Memorial services will be 1 p. m. Saturday, May 5, 2007, at the First Lutheran Church. Burial of ashes will follow at the Highland Cemetery. Lavon was born Nov. 17, 1928, in Havre. She was the eldest of five daughters born to Charles Thomas Wilson and Alice Lydia Gustafson. Lavon grew up on the family farm north of Inverness and received her early education at the Grassy Butte Country School. She finished her secondary education in Rudyard where she graduated from Rudyard High School in 1945. She spent the next two years at Northern Montana College in Havre. Lavon married Orville O. (“Tubby”) Sather on March 14, 1948 in Havre. They made their home in Rudyard for 15 years where Tubby worked at Sanvik's and Rudyard schools. In 1963 the Sather's moved to Havre. In addition to working as a homemaker and mother of five, Lavon took a job as an insurance clerk in the business office at the old Deaconess Hospital. In later years she was employed by a cable company in Havre. The Sathers retired in 1984. They moved to Whitefish in 1986 to enjoy their retirement years. In addition they traveled to St. George, Utah in the winter months of 1990-2004. After 56 years of marriage, Lavon's husband (Orville) died of cancer on Nov. 8, 2004. Soon after, Lavon moved from the Flathead Valley to Great Falls, where she resided at the Cambridge Place. Her health remained good until November of 2006, when she was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer. She transferred to the Peace Hospice Center on March 14 and remained there until her death. Lavon was baptized and confirmed at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Rudyard. She maintained a strong Christian faith throughout her life. She attended First Lutheran in Havre, Christ Lutheran in Whitefish, Trinity Lutheran in St. George and Faith Lutheran in Great Falls. She kept good spiritual, emotional and p h y s i c a l h e a l t h ; a l w a y s exhibiting a strong faith, a good positive attitude and exceptional personal care. She was a “ c l a s s y lady,” who a l w a y s dressed well and looked good. Lavon enjoyed cooking, bowling and golfing. In her quiet time at home she loved to read. After her eyesight failed she continued to enjoy “books on tape.” She was a past member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary and a loyal member of the Republican party. She cherished her family and the many friendships she made during her life. Lavon was always kind and gentle with a pleasing personality, so she was easy to like. The residents at Cambridge Place were very fond of her and she enjoyed her time there. The caring staff at Peace Hospice also loved her and offered a special “Bell Memorial Service” following her death. She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, son, Gaylord in 1974 and a son-in-law, Rich Fisher in 1986. Her survivors include two daughters, Sharman Sather of Denver, and Jill (Don) Leo of Havre; two sons, Vance Sather of Fairfield, Calif., and Grant (Carol) Sather of Bremerton, Wash.; four sisters, June Toner of Rudyard, Naomi Jacobson of Great Falls, Darlene Ditmar of Rudyard and Myrla Dahlke of Inverness; six grandchildren, one great-grandson and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials can be given to Peace Hospital (Great Falls) or donor's choice. Funeral arrangements are by Rockman Funeral Chapel of Chester.