Lifelong Portlander, LaVern Amelia Baucke Kluth was born March 29th, 1932 to Louise LaVerne Winder Baucke and William Martin Arthur Baucke at the original Portland Adventist Hospital, the oldest of two daughters. Her father dug up the front yard of the hospital and planted the lawn to pay for her birthing and delivery. Dr. Arthur D. Pochert was the attending doctor. He later delivered both her daughters.
Growing up LaVern was a Journal Junior with the Oregon Journal and was a baton majorette. She attended Rigler Grade School and Grant High School. At Rigler she helped establish a student council.
In 1949 she met Fred E. Kluth Jr. when attending a Multnomah County Sheriff’s Reserve meeting, accompanying her father. LaVern graduated from Grant High School in 1950, and the weekend following graduation she married Fred at Mallory Christian Church in a ceremony performed by her Uncle Frances Winder. Prior to having children, LaVern worked at Oregon Claim Service as a claims secretary. Their first child, Revaleen Kay, was born in 1953. Their second daughter, Valerie Lynn, was born in 1958.
Fred and LaVern were active in the German Shepherd Club of Oregon and The German Shepherd Drill Team with their three dogs. During this time, she was also active in Eastern Star. She served as Worthy Matron in 1965-66 with her husband, Fred, as Worthy Patron. She and Fred then served as Bethel Guardians. She also served as an Oregon Grand Representative to Washington. She loved nature. For many years the family would go camping in a trailer on Mt. Hood and then at Rockaway Beach on her mother’s and husband’s property.
Later on LaVern became active in the Columbia Poodle Club as she began raising, showing, and obedience training Miniature and Standard Poodles. Over the years she achieved two confirmation champions and earned 13 obedience degrees. She transferred her knowledge to younger people through the 4-H program, serving as a leader in Dog Care and Training for ten years. She also groomed her own dogs, and develop her own grooming business both in Portland and in Rockaway Beach on the coast.
After her daughters graduated from college and were married, she welcomed into the family Scott Smith (Revaleen) and Daniel Miller (Valerie). LaVern helped care for her aging mother and step-father (Rynold Miller). After her grandchildren (Aaron, Michael, Breanne, and Kevin) were born, she helped take care of them when they were infants. With Fred’s retirement from Multnomah County Sheriff’s Department and then Regence Blue Cross, they spent time traveling with their motor home and attending their grandchildren’s school and sporting events.
Fred preceded her in death in 2004 after 53 years of marriage. LaVern spent her last years enjoying watching her grandchildren grow into adults. She welcomed Zachary Knudson (Breanne) into the family in 2012 and Young-In Soh Raine (Michael) in 2015. She also enjoyed tending her yard and spending time with her three cats, including the oldest (Peter) who she always said Fred left in charge.
LaVern developed an interest in genealogy until her macular degeneration progressed leaving her legally blind. She enjoyed finding out about her family’s connection to the Old Aurora Colony and Fred’s connection in Clark County as a member of the Clark County Genealogy Society.
LaVern passed away regretting the pandemic on Jan. 4, 2021, avoiding her husband’s and grandson’s birthdays. She leaves behind two great-grandchildren, Addison (Breanne) and PK (Michael). She is also survived by her sister, Diane Louise Baucke Danielson Fear and nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00pm, Thursday, July 15th in the Chapel of Advantage Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Oregon Humane Society or the Talking Book & Braille Library at the Oregon State Library.
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