LaVonne Marie (Bucher) Aikin, 79

A memorial service for LaVonne Aikin who died June 15, 2010, of lung cancer, at Providence Portland Medical Center, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, at Christ Church Episcopal in Kalispell, with refreshments following. LaVonne was born Sept. 8, 1930, in Butte, to Dr. Charles N. and Marie Bucher, joining her brother Charles W. Reed. She spent most of her growing-up years in Hamilton, graduating from Hamilton High School in 1947. She went to college in Bozeman and graduated in 1951 from the school of nursing as a registered nurse. She married Wilbur O. Aikin in January 1952, the couple having met via introduction from their grandmothers, who were close friends. Will died in 2001, just six months before they would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. After spending about five years moving around frequently due to Will s military service, they started their family in Butte with the birth of daughters Maria and Rebecca. Will s career as a geological engineer kept them on the move and the family spent three years in Port Arthur, Ontario, were back in Hamilton for five years, and then followed almost 40 years in Kalispell. In 2008 she moved to Milwaukie, Ore., (a Portland suburb) to enjoy the more temperate climate, particularly in the winter. Professionally, LaVonne spent most of her work years in nursing, with an occasional detour into teaching. Along with supporting and participating in the many and varied activities of family life, she and Will were deeply committed to their church work, were active in various Masonic orders, and both enjoyed home improvement activities, particularly gardening. She was an exceptional cook and loved to entertain and share the fruits of her kitchen and garden. LaVonne was preceded in death by her parents, C.N. and Marie Bucher; grandson, Jason; and husband, Will. She is survived by daughter, Maria, of Milwaukie, Ore.; daughter, Rebecca, and beloved granddaughter, Jessica, in Kalispell; brother, Charles Reed, and wife, Sue Johnson, of Hamilton; niece, Kathy Reed, and husband, Charlie Dustin, and their family of Portland; niece, Marge Reed, and husband, Doug Derryberry, of Philomath, Ore.; and nephew, Don Reed, and wife, Shana Greendlinger, and their family of Boston. Also surviving are numerous cousins and a lifetime of friends who were part of the family of her heart. Memorial contributions to Christ Church Episcopal or a favorite charity or organization of personal preference would be appreciated. One of the things LaVonne did best was to keep in touch with people, so sending a note or making a phone call just to say hello and let someone know you re thinking of them would be the perfect way to remember her. And please, if you re a smoker, try until you re successful, at stopping.