Obituary: Levno, Fern

LEVNO, Fern

February 12, 1932 -
June 6, 2012

On June 6, 2012, Fern Lucille Oxford Levno passed away after an extended illness.
The youngest of seven children, Fern was born on February 12, 1931, in Baker, Montana to Arthur and Lora Oxford.

The family resided in Ekalaka, Montana until her father’s death in 1947, at which time, her mother moved to Missouri leaving Fern to finish high school in Ekalaka.

Fern supported herself by working at the local pharmacy after school and weekends until she graduated from Carter County High School in 1949.
After graduation, Fern moved to LaGrande, Oregon where she lived with her sister, Ruth, until marrying.

She gave birth to three children, Dan, Sandi, and Rick who brightened her world and brought her great joy.
Life moved Fern and her family to Spokane, Washington where she worked at various jobs until, at age 52, Fern went back to school, earned a degree, and went to work for Spokane County doing payroll for the engineer’s department where she was much admired and respected.

After many years, Fern retired from the county.
In 2005, Fern was reunited with the love of her life, her high school sweetheart, Tom Waterland.

That first summer, she spent her days riding in a patrol car befriending the homeless while Tom patrolled Oregon parks until he retired.

The next few years, they traveled to wherever their whims took them until health issues prevented future travels.
Fern was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Lora Oxford; her brothers, George, Ben, and Dugie; her sisters, Edna and Helen, and her husband, Bob Levno.

She is survived by her sister, Ruth Benson, her children and their spouses, Dan and Candy Swanson, Chris and Sandi Collins, Rick and Karen Swanson, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, various nieces and nephews, and her true love, Tom Waterland.
Per her request, there was no funeral.