Mildred Lavena Gibbs, 93

Mildred Lavena Gibbs, 93, passed away at her home in Oldtown, Idaho, on Aug. 11, 2004, with her family at her side.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, 2004, at Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport, Wash. Burial will follow at the Newport Cemetery.

Mildred was born on March 19, 1911, in Minot, N.D., one of six children born to Varnon and Alma (Anderson) Payne. At age 1, her family moved to North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada. They lived in Canada until 1923, at which time they moved to Spokane, Wash.

On Nov. 5, 1937, she married Robert "Bob" Lincoln Gibbs in Sandpoint. He was a contractor so they traveled a bit until settling in Hope, Idaho, in 1941. They moved in 1950 to the Freeman Lake property outside Oldtown.

Mildred worked as a waitress, and during the early 1970s, she and her husband owned and operated McKuwan's Restaurant in Priest River, where the Village Kitchen is presently located.

In her spare time, she loved her Bible and serving her Lord. She also enjoyed farming, gardening and writing, including a self-published writing titled, "America God Bless Why."

She is survived by two daughters, Charlotte Demlow of Newport and Jacqueline Wells of Priest River; a son, Waukeen Gibbs of Spokane; eight grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Her husband, two brothers, three sisters and two grandchildren preceded her in death.

The family suggests memorial contributions in Mildred's name to Bonner County Hospice.