LaVern Elizabeth McFadden

LaVern Elizabeth McFadden

LaVern Elizabeth McFadden, 99, a retired nurse's aide, died of natural causes, Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, at a local care facility.

Visitation will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 201 44th St. S., Great Falls, Mont., on Friday, Jan. 6, 2012, at 6 p. m., with a vigil service to follow at 7 p. m.

Funeral liturgy will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at 10 a. m., with burial to follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

LaVern was born on Nov. 4, 1912, in St. Joseph, Minn., to Michael and Rose Meyer. The family moved to Inverness in 1913, where they homesteaded. She was educated at Inverness and graduated from Inverness High School. She then attended business college in St. Cloud, Minn. She returned to Inverness and worked for her dad, who operated the International Harvester Dealership. She married Ira McFadden on Sept. 6, 1932, in Hingham, Mont. They moved to Harlem for two years before moving to Great Falls in August 1942. LaVern stayed home and raised her family. She went to work for the Columbus Hospital and retired in 1976 after 20 years.

LaVern enjoyed painting, sewing, reading, gardening and sports, especially basketball. She was a member of the Holy Family Alter Society, Columbus Hospital Volunteers and Central Catholic Mother's Club, and an associate member of the Ursuline Sisters.

Survivors include her sons, Dean McFadden of Whitefish, Mont., and Duane (Mac) McFadden of Great Falls; daughters, Doreen Palmer of Great Falls, Donna (Dennis) Painter of Great Falls, Dixie McFadden of Boise, Idaho, and Deborah (Bud) Preston of New Orleans, La. ; a sister, Claudette Alex of Chester; 23 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ira McFadden in 1983; sisters, Alda Meyer and Eileen Han; a brother, Donald Meyer; and a great-grandson Nicklas Palmer.

Condolences may be left for the family at http://www.schniderfuneralhome.com.