Lavelle Edith Haas

When LaVelle opened her eyes in heaven, there was surely a choir of angels to greet her and she probably started directing them! Music was always a major theme throughout her long life. She started learning piano (she was an excellent pianist) and trombone as a young child and could have had a career as a trombonist in a major symphony but she chose to marry a Naval Officer at the end of World War II and focus on being a faithful wife and mother and then grandmother and great grandmother. But let’s take it a step at a time.

LaVelle was the oldest of three daughters born to Louise and Leroy Blanchard. She grew up in St. Lawrence and Miller, South Dakota and worked for a year in a bank after high school before attending the University of South Dakota for one year and then marrying Rodney K Haas in 1945. No matter where she was as the family grew and moved around with the Navy, she was always very outgoing and involved in her church and community. Rod was working in a bank in Miller after WWII when he was called back into the Navy to train pilots at the beginning of the Korean War in 1952. That started the odyssey. He and LaVelle and their two daughters moved from Pensacola, FL to California (San Diego where a third daughter was added, then Ventura and then Fremont). In 1963 the family moved to Guam for two years and finally to Oak Harbor,Washington. Rod retired after that assignment and he and LaVelle returned to Fremont for 20 years before settling finally in Tigard, Oregon in 1991 to be near their youngest daughter Lorene and youngest grandchildren.

Wherever she lived, LaVelle would immediately get involved with the Navy Wives Club and her church and her neighbors (Thank you Good Life Girls and Janece and Jan for your long and faithful friendship). She loved singing and especially loved teaching music to children. There are people who have approached her after decades to sing a song she taught them that they still remembered. She led the Bell Choir at Sunset Church in Portland for several years. She loved a good party and especially enjoyed her 50th Wedding anniversary and 80th, 90th and 100th birthday celebrations! Rod died in 1999 and that prompted her to start playing her trombone again in more than one local community band and with the church orchestra.

In 2009, as her eyesight began failing, she moved to Laurel Parc, a brand new Senior Living community in Portland, where she enjoyed social activities and making friends and laughing a LOT. After a stroke in 2012, she slowed down but not much. She will be remembered by all as a commanding presence and a devoted child of God. She was dubbed the “Queen” of Laurel Parc! The family is grateful to the staff and particularly to the caregivers at her home of 16 years. Their compassion and professional service knew no bounds. Bristol Hospice was also invaluable during the last month of her life.

LaVelle was predeceased by her parents, her husband and her sisters Lorraine and Bonita. She is survived by her daughters Lynne (Jim) Hilderbrand, Lanette Haas, and Lorene (Doug) Girod and grandchildren Jinny Hilderbrand, Sue Hilderbrand, Edith Kithinji, Josh Moehling, Jeff Moehling, Jamie (Hans) Wintter, Eli Girod, Kara Girod and great-grandchildren Keith Kithinji, Prudence Kithinji, Beryl Kithinji, Matthew Moehling, Ella Moehling, Hans Wintter Jr, Sebastian Wintter, Jameson Wintter, Grayson Girod, Ethan Girod, Essaiah Shuster and Seraphina Shuster. All of us miss her. Her 101 ½ years were well-spent.

A memorial service is scheduled at Sunset Church in Portland on February 28 at 1:00 PM.