LaVern Ivie Hopkinson Walker Obituary (1930

LaVern Ivie Hopkinson Walker was born in Lynndyl, Utah on August 19, 1930 to Milton Oran Ivie and Elna Fern Curtis. She was the 5* child of 6. Her father died when she was 5, so she couldn't remember too much about him. Her mother moved the family to Provo where she could work to provide for her family. Her little brother Virgil was born right after her father died, so she helped take care of him a lot and also her sister's boy David and cousin Mary Sue. LaVern always considered them part of her family. They lived and stayed with her for many summers. LaVern attended Timpanogos Elementary, Dixon Jr High which was just across the street from her home. She attended Provo High where she met Don Leon Hopkinson the summer before 11th grade. They were married on April 14, 1948. She finished school however and graduated. Don worked for his father in the garage at the Packard Agency. Don built their first home on an acre of ground in Edgemont. We were proud of that little house and had a lot of fun living there. Randy Don was born January 21, 1950 and Dennis Leon on March 14, 1952. Randy loved playing in the lucerne and would catch ladybugs in a jar. Their donkey Tillie would follow him everywhere. That's how she could keep track of him. Don's father Bill decided to sell the agency to Naylor Auto and moved to Las Vegas. They sold their house 6 months later and moved in the Turf Motel with them. That didn't work out for her with 2 little boys. Dennis kept running away. With the busy Freemont Street and a pool, really worried her. Don bought a new house in North Las Vegas in a quiet neighborhood. The boys grew up fast. They worked in the scouts, little league where Don was a coach and their team took first place. LaVern worked in the PTA for 6 years where she received an honorary life membership in the Nevada State PTA. They were always traveling and checking out ghost towns, the mountains, and fishing and boating on Lake Mead. Don worked at the Strip Liquor Store for 22 years. Everyone loved him and she said we never had to pay for anything when we went out. When both boys were in school, LaVern started working at The Golden Nugget. She was there till she had Dana on March 21, 1960. The boys were 8 and 10, so Dana always felt like he was raised alone. Later, LaVern went back to work and was at the Flamingo for 3 ½ years and Caesars' Palace for 5 years. She said she met many celebrities and working at the Casinos was an experience you couldn't believe. Don passed away on August 18, 1970. The boys took his death very hard. He had been a good husband and father and left many good memories with his family. LaVern stayed in Vegas for 1 year then moved back to Provo. Randy stayed in Las Vegas and married Georgette Wilkerson on December 31, 1971. They later had Ryan Don on January 18, 1975. Randy died from Cancer on May 31, 1979. LaVern met Russell Anderson. He was a big cowboy and they later married. They bought a home in Pleasant Grove so they could raise animals and plant a garden. They had lots of good times and fun together. Andy passed away later from a heart attack. LaVern decided to change her ways and started going to church and later went through the Temple and had Don and Randy sealed to her. She said that was a very beautiful and touching time of her life. Two years later, she decided it was time to turn to the Lord and ask him why he kept taking her loved ones. She prayed that if she was suppose to have a husband, he needed to deliver him to her. Then came Eldon Walker to the house while she was outside working. They began talking, dating and was married 4 months later in June 1981. She considered him a very generous and humble man and they thoroughly enjoyed their lives together! They traveled every chance they had and purchased a trailer in Quartzsite Arizona and stayed there every winter. He later passed away on March 8, 2010. During the course of her life, she worked in the Primary, Mutual, Relief Society, and did the Ward News Paper. She worked at ZCMI for 18 years in the Tiffin Room as a Hostess and Cashier. She made many friends there and loved being around people. LaVern traveled to the Caribbean Islands, Hawaii, Mississippi, Louisiana, Indiana, Florida, Kansas, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Missouri, Ohio, lowa, Canada, Alaska, Montana, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Old Mexico, Georgia, South Carolina, and Illinois. LaVern has been on a plane, train, luxury liner, bus, Amtrac, and she said anything else you can name, she probably did it. LaVern loved to get her hands dirty and had every kind of flower growing in her yard. She raised many beautiful flowers and always had a garden and canned fruits and vegetables. Her house was full of plants and she loved animals. She loved to knit, crochet, make quilts, do embroidery, sew, and plastic canvas and crafts. She was crazy once about elegant things and loved when she had a mink, diamonds, gold jewelry, Cadillac, Motor Home, boat, and cabin at Tabiona Mountain. She worked very hard to get everything she had and loved to share it with her children and friends. But in the end, she decided that nothing is as priceless as family! She said that at times she was selfish and a little sharpe with others. But most of the time she tried to do for others and make people happy. She hoped the Lord wouldn't be too hard on her and would let her be with her loved ones when she died. Dennis and Sherry has Dustin, Curtis and Aaron. Dustin and Krista has Devin, Logan, Kambri, Linkon and Kasidi. Aaron and Jill has Milo. Dana and Michelle has Jillian and Jennifer from his first marriage. Jennifer and Scott has Foss and Luke. Jillian and Vinny has Jullias and Lochlan. They enjoyed their children: Randy Dcd (Georgette) Hopkinson, Dennis (Sherry) Hopkinson, Dana (Michelle) Hopkinson, Steve (Lynn) Walker, Sherry (Russell) Hansen, Jeanne (Tom) Folkman LaVern was preceded in death by her parents, her son Randy, her three husbands: Don, Andy, Eldon and all of her siblings: Dale (Shirley) Ivie, Nida (Ernest) Hohrein, Virgil (Harriet) Ivie. She loved and welcomed into their home beloved nieces, nephews, and friends. But her favorites were all of the grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren that have been blended together! LaVern left this life peacefully on August 3, 2024 at 10:30 PM. She passed just 2 weeks before her 94*" birthday so she really didn't want a party. Graveside services for LaVern Ivie Hopkinson Walker will be held at 12:00 noon, Monday, August 12, 2024 at the Provo City Cemetery, 610 South State Street, Provo, Utah. The family will receive friends at the Berg Mortuary of Provo, 185 East Center Street, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. prior to services at the cemetery. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.bergmortuary.com.