Obituary: Shaver-Hibbard, Genevieve C.
With her father being Norwegian and her mother Swedish, her ancestry is totally Scandinavian.
This may account for her life-long gentle (if not somewhat stubborn) nature.
Other than her father, she never knew any of the Hopperstad family, and sadly her father died when Genevieve was eight years old so she really never knew him and has few memories of him.
She did remember her mother’s family, the Nelsons, aunts and uncles and especially Grandma and Grandpa Nelson.
Grandpa Nelson always had time to spend with Genevieve, and she remembers how he would peel an apple or carve a piece of wood for her.
So in spite of losing her father at an early age and growing up during the Great Depression, she had many fond memories of her childhood.
Some of you remember the difficult times during the 1930’s, when jobs and money were almost nonexistent.
Be that as it was, Genevieve’s mother was able to find enough work, usually two or three part-time jobs at a time, and able to keep Genevieve and her younger sister Marjorie well dressed, fed and in a nice home.
Being a widow raising two young girls by herself was indeed a challenging task but to her credit she did an admirable job.
Genevieve started at Central public elementary in September, 1933, just a few weeks before her 6th birthday.
Genevieve was always a quiet and reserved little girl with impeccable manners and above average intelligence.
She was an excellent student and graduated with honors from Coeur d’ Alene High School, which was then on 7th street.
After high school, she attended junior college while working full time at Gridley Investment Co.
In August 1947 she married Jack Shaver, also from Coeur d’ Alene and a graduate of CHS.
Jack was a Military Veteran who spent four years in the service during the war.
Genevieve and Jack had four children, three boys and one girl.
The two oldest boys, Jeff and Randy, were considerably older than the last two.
Randy being eight when Bob was born, so Jack and Genevieve had the task of raising teenagers while also raising babies and youngsters.
But they managed quite well until tragedy struck, and Jack was fatally injured in a logging accident in 1972.
Genevieve was now faced with the same responsibility her mother had.
The older boys were in college but she had a 12 and a 9 year old to raise by herself.
Good fortune did come her way through her employment as a legal secretary with attorney Scoot Reed.
She retired in 1997.
As her mother had done, she raised her children to be honorable and productive citizens.
Jeff Shaver graduated from the Air Force Academy and was head of a space program until it was taken over by NASA.
He is now a retired colonel and presently CEO of a pharmaceutical company in Wynnewood, PA. Randy graduated from the University of Idaho and had a career selling heavy mining, logging and road building equipment.
He is retired and living in Vancouver, WA.
Bob also graduated from UI, and is a credit underwriter for Umpqua Bank in Spokane.
Barbara (Harrison) graduated from the University of Montana, and is a physical therapist for Shriners Hospital in Spokane.
Collectively there are nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
Besides raising children, Genevieve enjoyed gardening, quilting and music.
In her school years she was a first chair violinist and also played in the bank.
After her children finished college she took some time for herself, and traveled frequently throughout Europe and the United States with her sister.
Her life was busy to be sure, and she will be remembered as a loving wife, mother and friend.
Genevieve is survived by her husband, Sam Hibbard, Post Falls; son, Jeff and daughter-in-law Peggy, Wynnewood, PA; son, Randy and daughter-in-law Jan, Vancouver, WA; son, Robert, Liberty Lake, WA; daughter, Barbara and son-in-law Ken Harrison, Spokane Valley; step-children, Nancy and Chuck Herboldsheimer, Hampstead, MD, Ron and Beth Hibbard, Annapolis, MD; 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, November 19th, at 10:00am at First Presbyterian Church, Coeur d’ Alene with Pastor Craig Sumey officiating.
The Inurnment will follow the service at Forrest Cemetery, Coeur d’ Alene.
A time of fellowship and refreshments will be held following the Inurnment at First Presbyterian Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to River City Hospice 3726 E. Mullan Ave, Post Falls, 83854