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LuRae Laferriere (Stipe), 81
LuRae Laferriere (Stipe), known by most as Gram, went to be with our heavenly father the night of Dec 7, 2017, following complications after surgery. Gram was born May 2, 1936, in Colville, Wash., to John Stipe and Fern Benton. She grew up moving around the Colville, Springdale area and graduated high school from Notre Dame Academy.
She met her husband, Lucien (Lucky) Laferriere, when she was 18 years old at a dance in Lewiston, Idaho. They were married shortly after on Aug. 29, 1954, and settled in Twin Falls, Idaho, where they had four children, Lucia, Leon, Paul and John, before his death in August of 1968. She then married Roger Bolton, having another child, Regina, before they divorced. She spent the majority of the rest of her adult life in Clarkston, Wash., and Moscow, Idaho, before moving to Post Falls, Idaho, in 2003 to be closer to family.
Gram was kind, joyous and, above all, loving. She threw herself into taking care of her family and children in every way she could. There were no strangers to Gram, for all who visited were met with a hug. No matter where she lived, her home was home for all of her children. Her warmth radiating through her houseful of all the pictures and memories made it impossible not to feel at peace. She played in a way that most grandparents don’t; she loved to be silly and on her grandchildren’s level whether that meant playing ball in the yard or making crazy batches of slime in the kitchen.
When the weather was nice she could often be found in her yard working on her gardens. She loved her plants and had an incredible affinity for landscaping, often insisting she do the manual labor herself. Gram was self-sufficient to a fault, never wanting to bother anyone for help and continuing to work on her own gutters at 80 years old when they were leaking.
Gram left a note for all who knew and loved her that completely sums up her selfless love and humble heart: “I have loved all of you always, not the best, not what all of you deserved, but to the very most depth of my ability. I thank you for all you have given to me and shared with me.”
She was met in Heaven by her husband, Lucky; her parents; her sister, Sonia Stipe Olds; her brother, David Joseph Benton; her daughter, Regina Rae Dinning; six grandbabies and one great-grandbaby who preceded her in death. It is comforting to know that Gram has reunited with her beloved daughter, Regina, who passed earlier this year, and is surrounded by love and living a pain-free life like she always deserved.
She is survived by her sister, Tamara; daughter, Lucia Laferriere; her sons, Leon, Paul and John Laferriere; 18 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, with another on the way.
Gram believed closure and the chance to say goodbye were very important in times of grief; to honor this there will be a viewing at noon on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, at English Funeral Chapel in Post Falls Idaho, with a service to follow at 1 p.m. All are welcome and encouraged to attend to say this final goodbye until we see her again. All flowers, cards, and condolences to the family may be sent to English Funeral Chapel in Post Falls.