Fern Lavere Myhre

Our mother, Fern LaVere (Wicken) Myhre is our newest angel in heaven as of July 27, 2018,She fell asleep and did not wake up at her home in Great Falls, Montana at age 92 surrounded by loved ones. She died from complications of dementia and old age. She was ready to go and did so peacefully. She is now organizing scrapbooks and filing papers, playing cards and dancing with her husband. She had a wonderful, happy life. She loved everyone and was loved by all. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church located at 1009 18th Avenue SW in Great Falls. Burial will follow at Manchester Cemetery where Fern will be laid to rest next to her loving husband. Fern was born January 24, 1926, in Minnewauken, North Dakota to William Carl and Leora Grace (Knowlton) Wicken.She graduated from Minnewauken High School in 1944 and worked at the Benson County Press, the local newspaper from her hometown. She received a weekly copy every week for the rest of her life. She later joined the Nurse’s Army Corp, but she was not able to complete her nurse’s training due to eczema. Fern married Richard Maurice Myhre on November 11, 1945, and they lived in Minot, North Dakota.He asked if she could bake bread before he asked to marry him. Dad heard they were hiring in Great Falls, so they moved in early 1947. They had four children, Richard Lee “Dik” was born May 1947, Judyth LaVere “Jude” born April 1949, Rachelle Eloyce “Shelly” born in February 1954, and Laura Jean “Laurie” was born October 1955. Richard passed away June 22, 2002, but Fern lived in Great Falls the rest of her life. She missed him every minute of every day for over 16 years. She was a housewife and switchboard operator at the Rainbow Hotel (Daddy said she was his “call girl”). She also worked at Farmers Union Insurance and Century Insurance as an insurance adjuster, Boy Scouts as secretary, and Montana Deaconess Hospital admitting. She retired from Montana District Synod as secretary to Bishop Wick and Pastor Gene Nielson in 1985 (she begged them not to convert to computers until after she retired.) Fern and Richard played golf for years until they retired and started traveling – visiting all of the lower 48 and Hawaii. The only state they did not see together was Alaska, but Fern later made it to Alaska with her friend Joann Caddell. In 1964, Fern and Richard became lifelong members of Bethel Lutheran Church. They were also active members of Eagles, Elks and Moose Lodges and the Senior Citizens Center. They loved to dance and play cards and board games. They were always very active and did a lot of camping when we were younger. Fern and Richard gave all of us children a strong, moral, humorous, loving example to live by. Richard loved to tease everyone. They were the most wonderful, loving parents. We as children were very blessed. Fern’s hobbies and crafts included sewing, scrapbooking, yarn tying placemats and coasters, rug hooking, braided yarn hangers, nylon net dish scrapers, plastic canvas boxes and frames, and some embroidery. The four children gave Fern and Richard 32 grandchildren, 43 great- grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren, at last count. Richard Lee “Dik” married Charlotte (Keyser) and they have four daughters: “Kat” Kathleen (Ralph) Lataillade, Lacie (TC Ward), Terra (Eitan) Sichel, and Krista (Daniel) Cromwell. Judyth “Jude” LaVere has four children, Brenda (Nathan) Anderson, Jason Carroll (Kelly), Jeffrey Carroll, and Angela Carroll. Rachelle Eloyce “Shelly” (Leonard) Murphy has two children, Scott (Carrie O’Brien), and Jenifer “Jen” (Joe Traband). Laura “Laurie” Jean (Russell) Schade has six children, Katrine “Kati” (Chad) Guinn, Nichole Fern “Nici” (Robert Walton), Dionetta “Didi”, Russell (Talita Blackcrow), Katherine “Kat” (Brad Hovey), and Emily Schade. Fern is survived by her three daughters, Jude, Shelly(Leonard) and Laura (Russ); sisters “Tippy” Wilma (William) Tussey, “Marty” Marlys Allen; brothers Thomas “Tommy”, David “Dave”; in-laws Jane (Chase) Myhre, Elaine (Leake) Wicken, Nadyne Buekelman, and Don Gillam; and former son-in-laws Bob Hensleigh, Mark Piazzo, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Those waiting for Fern in heaven are her loving husband Richard Maurice Myhre; her parents William Carl and Leora (Knowlton) Wicken; In-laws Rachel (Kirkiede) Ole Myhre; her loving son Richard Lee “Dik” and daughters-in-law Charlotte Keyser Myhre and Kathy Baines Myhre; siblings Baby Gordon, Darryl (Louise), Larry, Kenneth (Millie), Eloyce (Diedrick) “Dick” Beukelman, Donna (Jack Nichols), Nelma “Midge” Gillam, Nancy Wicken (Dave’s spouse), Janie Wicken (Tommy’s wife), Kenneth (Evelyn) Myhre, Orrie Myhre, George Richard "Dick" Allen, Clarice “Sis” (Myhre)(Harold) Johnson; former son-in-law “Bob” Carroll; several nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents. Our family is grateful to Hospice Services, Great Falls Clinic Doctors and staff, and Dr. Susan Avery. A very special thank you to our loving care-giver Miss Ayda Johnson (we could not have cared for Mom without your help). Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.OConnorFuneralHome.com. Cremation was in care of O'Connor Funeral Home.