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Ocie Laverne Peterson, 79

Our Mother, Ocie “Laverne” Peterson, passed peacefully on July 21, 2017, at Kootenai Health.

Laverne was born March 12, 1938, to Joseph Benjamin “Buck” Wilson and Bessie Ocie Bell Murfin-Wilson in Socorro, N.M.

The family moved to Walla Walla, Wash., where she spent her formative years, and attended grade school, and Walla Walla High School. Her father was a cattleman and mother a homemaker.

Mother spent her summers as a young child picking strawberries, and various other fruit. She took pleasure being in the fruit fields, and having her own play cash for school clothes and fun.

She enjoyed long summer days in Walla Walla with her siblings, Joseph Buck Wilson Jr. and Cassie Wilson Carroll. Cassie has preceded her in death, as well as her parents.

In 1955, she married Dale Westlake. They moved to Spokane, Wash., where Laverne continued her schooling and graduated from Lewis Clark in Spokane.

In 1956, they welcomed their first child, Debra Westlake (Robinson), followed by James Westlake in 1957, and Christie Westlake (Wood) in 1961.

In 1961, she became a single mother, and worked hard to support three children. She was adamant to never take state assistance, and did it on her own because she felt others needed it more than her. She paid her own mortgage, and lovingly took care of her kids.

Mother was known for cooking large, wonderful meals for her family and friends. She had developed her cooking skills in her youth working at the Top Hat Drive Inn.

She met the love of her life, Allan Jasper Peterson, in 1962. They married, and he became an additional father to her three children. They welcomed Joseph Allan Peterson in 1964. Our family made our home in the Spokane Valley. Mother became a homemaker and Dad worked for the railroad.

In 1972, the family moved to property at Hauser, Idaho (Three Forks) and Mother enjoyed 41 years of living in the beautiful woods. She took up cooking again after the kids left home, and spent a few years running the kitchen at the Rainbow Inn. Many years later she became the head cook at the Coeur d’Alene Senior Center.

Mother was preceded in death by her husband, Allan, in 2000. In 2014, she moved to Post Falls and began a new journey of living in town. She loved spending time with her many girlfriends and playing cards. She enjoyed casino days, and swimming at the Kroc Center. She loved her home and her pretty gardens, and she continued to cook large, wonderful meals for her family.

Mother fought hard in her battle with leukemia for all of us so we could have more time with her. She was so brave. Our family wants to thank Dr. Kevin Kim and Dr. Blair Lindblad for her care, and all of the compassionate staff at Kootenai Heath especially the wonderful nurses in 1 North.

She is survived by her brother, Joe Wilson (MyOwn); children Debbie Robinson (Steve Dawson), Jim Westake (Cathy), Christie Wood (David) and Joe Peterson (Beth); nephews and nieces; grandchildren Erik Robinson, Dana Robinson, Joey Peterson, Bryan Pryse, Ashley Unterberg, Sean Peterson, Marty Westlake and Nikki Westlake; and seven great-grandchildren with two more on the way.

The family has held a private service. Bell Tower Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to New Beginnings for Veterans of North Idaho who kindly provided mother with medical equipment.

We love you mother, and are so blessed you chose us to be your family.