LaVerne Pittmann, lifelong Oakesdale farmer, passed peacefully into the loving arms of Jesus while being surrounded by his family and his Pastor at his home in Colfax on Thursday, March 16, 2017. LaVerne was 96 years old. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, March 25th at 11:00 a.m. at the Oakesdale Community Presbyterian Church followed by burial in the Oakesdale Cemetery and reception at the Oakesdale Fire Station. Viewing will be Thursday and Friday from 9 to 5 at Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax. LaVerne was the baby in a family of 9 children born to George and Anna Marie Gregor Pittmann. He was born in the parlor of the family homestead farm near Fairbanks on March 11, 1921. LaVerne attended school at Fairbanks through the eighth grade and then went to school nearly eight miles away in Oakesdale. As a young boy, he would often help his mother with the farming chores as the older kids were leaving the nest. He met Ruth Eleanor Davis, a beautiful young lady who lived at the top of the hill. The story goes that LaVerne lived at the bottom of the hill and the two would meet in the middle. They married in Spokane on July 3, 1943. LaVerne and Ruth farmed the Pittmann homestead together for 50 years. They raised their kids on the farm and enjoyed country living. LaVerne was a hard worker and would work from morning until night raising hogs, chickens, cows and of course the wheat and barley as well. He liked to collect horseshoes and he used them to decorate benches that he would build out of old wagon wheels. Many in the family have a bench or two that LaVerne built for them. He was also a fantastic wood worker and spent countless hours in his shop building lawn ornaments and decorations which Ruth then dutifully painted. He loved it so much Ruth had a hard time keeping up with him on the painting. LaVerne liked to give his creations to the kids in the neighborhood and to friends and family. He was a talented musician and had taught himself to play the accordion and harmonica by ear. He had a small organ in his home that was worn out by the time he sold it because of all the old hymns he learned to play on it. He was an active member of the Oakesdale Community Presbyterian Church, a lifetime member of the Oakesdale Grange, the Oakesdale Grain Growers, and the Inland Power and Light Co-Op. LaVerne and Ruth celebrated their 50th anniversary by retiring and moving into Oakesdale. They lived across the street from the church for the next 22 years before moving into the Courtyard in Colfax nearly two years ago. He loved kids and always had a stick of gum in his pocket to give to them when he saw them. He liked to spruce up old farm machinery like rakes or plows and made them look nice. LaVerne will be missed by all and is survived by his wife of 73 years, Ruth, at home in Colfax; his daughter Doris and her husband Royce Johnson of Farmington; son Dennis and wife Carol Pittmann of Oakesdale; 6 grandchildren, LaVon (Eli Walser) Erickson, Diana (Brian) Oliver, Terry (Steve) Noyes, Cheryl (Josey) Booth, Brad (Eva) Pittmann, and Kelli (Toby) Meserve, 17 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. LaVerne was preceded in death by his 5 sisters and 3 brothers. The family suggests memorial gifts be made to the Oakesdale Community Presbyterian Church or the Oakesdale Volunteer Fire Department.