Laverne Harbrige

MISSOULA - Mary Laverne Harbrige (86) of Missoula peacefully passed away Wednesday, May 29, 2013
at Bee Hive Homes.
Laverne was born on September 17, 1926 in Rochester Mills, Pennsylvania, and was the second oldest of
seven children born to Francis Lowman and Jesse Peiffer. Living and being raised on a farm, as one of
the oldest she was the one that helped with the chores and worked with her father in the fields. She
always considered herself just a farm girl. I
Laverne married Robert John Harbrige on June 30, 1944 in Marion Center, Pennsylvania. In 1949 her
husband Bob had developed a lung condition and on doctors advice she and her husband and their two
children, son Chuck and daughter Betty LOU, came west on the train with all the1ir worldly possessions to
Klamath Falls, Oregon. In 1950 their second daughter JoAnne was born. In 1957 Laverne and her family
moved to Missoula, they lived in the Bunk's apartments on the corner of 3rd street and Reserve where
Wheat Montana now stands. In 1959 they bought their home on 7th Street. Laverne's husband Bob passed away in November 1990 and she lived on her own until she moved to Bee Hive Homes in 2009.
Her son Chuck died in 2007.
Laverne worked for 46 plus years in the Credit Union industry. After her children~ were all in school she
went to work for the University of Montana Federal Credit Union on the 3rd floor of Main Hall working four
hours a day, she was the first paid employee of that Credit Union. Throughout her career she worked in
several capacities starting as a receptionist, then loan officer, office manager, assistant manager and for
the last 15 plus years she was a compliance auditor for the Missoula Federal Credit Union.
One of Laverne's important career accomplishments was completing her certificate in Cuna Mutual
Financial Counseling at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. She was always furthering her education
whether attending adult education classes in Missoula or the many summers she spent traveling and
studying at the University of Wisconsin. She took pride serving as president and in other capacities of the
Montana Credit Union League. She served on various committees and traveled throughout the state for
many years.
Laverne always enjoyed the great outdoors and considered Montana her home. ?he and Bob spent much
time over the years at their cabin at Condon. Laverne always dreamed of driving the Alcan Highway to
Alaska and that became a reality for her in her mid 70's. She loved sewing and crafting, she had a garden
and loved canning. It was important to her to teach her children to be self sufficient. She taught all three
how to cook, clean, do laundry, iron, bake, garden and can, how to budget and most importantly to
accept others for who they are and to always look for the good in people. I
She is survived by her daughters Betty Lou Duffalo (Bruce) and JoAnne Booth (Tom), her six
grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and her 1 great great grandchild. Her surviving siblings are Dorese
McMahan, Ronald Peiffer, Patty Heeter and Beverly Elliott.
Laverne was preceded in death by her husband Bob, her son Chuck, her brother Fred Peiffer and her
sister Jean King.
Betty Lou and JoAnne would like to thank Laverne's friend Marlene Marshall for being a good friend to
their mom and always being there and Jonell Dean for being her Senior companl1on through the Missoula
Aging Services for the past 6 years. You both enriched her life. Also they want to thank the staff at the
Bee Hive for the loving care and sense of family they have provided Laverne and her family.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers,
memorials may be made to the Missoula Aging Services Senior Companion Program, Partners Hospice or
the Missoula Food Bank.

Condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.missoulafuneralhomes.com I


Read Laverne Harbrige's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.