LaVern M. Dinning
LaVern M. Dinning, 80, passed away Monday,
December 16, 2013, in Coeur d'Alene. A memorial
service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday,
January 4, at St. Pius Catholic Church, E625
Haycraft Avenue, Coeur d'Alene.Lavern was born September 7, 1933, in Rush, Colorado, to Mary Walker and Roland Dinning. He married Eunice Vandenberg on May 3, 1953, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, where they both were members.
He and his wife settled down in Bonners Ferry where he fathered his two daughters and his massive garden.
He retired in 1993 after working for the City of Bonners Ferry Water Department.
Vern loved the outdoors and often enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and feeding all manner of animals that visited his home. It was in the rivers and woods of Bonners Ferry that he taught his grandchildren to catch frogs and grasshoppers, fish with his home-raised earthworms and to enjoy nature to its fullest.
Quite the rascal, he was always quick with a joke or a goofy observation. He loved stealing noses and food off of plates when you weren’t looking. Driving in his truck he would honk and wave at strangers, cows and horses and even street signs to the delight of his young ones.
He had an exceptionally green thumb and a garden that produced preserves, pies and vegetables to no end (with the help of his wife). The pride of his garden was the hazelnut trees that gave him buckets of nuts every fall.
Lavern is survived by his wife Eunice and his two daughters, Connie Blacketer and LaDonna Dinning and son-in-law Victor Blacketer. He is also survived by his grandchildren Paul, Hayden and Cassie Blacketer, sister Mary Ula Schaller, brother Gifford Dinning and a large and much loved extended family.
Arrangements are entrusted to Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene.