Verna Wanda Boller, 93, died Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, at Lewiston, of age-related causes.
Verna was the firstborn child of Ed and Alice Tinney on April 18, 1918, in the Kooskia area. She grew up on Harris Ridge, outside of Kooskia, with her five brothers and sisters. She met Cecil Boller while in high school, and Cecil decided Verna would be his bride! They were married in Asotin in 1936. The couple were married 71 years before Cecil's death in 2008. They raised three children while living several places including: Suttler Creek, Kooskia, Spokane, the Japanese Internment Camp at Apgar Creek, and for many years on Harris Ridge before moving to the place on the river and then back to Kooskia.
The years on Harris Ridge were full of activity and most often the house was full of fun, friends and family. Mom was a great cook and spent a lot of time cooking for company. She was especially well known for her chicken and noodles. Regardless of the place they lived, their house was usually a center of activity with lots of friends and family dropping in to visit.
There were a number of out of the home jobs Verna held as well, including helping run their campground on the Middle Fork of the Clearwater, helping at Potter's Store and cooking at the school.
Verna's biggest passion was gardening, especially flower gardening. She spent hours working in her flowers for as long as she was able. The result was many beautiful roses and other flowers.
It would be hard to find a kinder, gentler, more generous or welcoming soul than Verna. She always went out of her way to be friendly and warm to everyone. She was loved dearly by her grateful children, siblings, grandchildren and friends.
Verna was preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Alice Tinney; husband Cecil Boller; sister Velda Oswald; brothers Bud and Arnold Tinney; and son-in-law Rex Bunney. She is survived by daughters Alice Jacobson of Clarkston and Ellen Bunney of Lewiston; son Doug Boller and Kim of Kooskia; sisters Leona Breen and Jack of Kooskia and Beverly Fergason and Chet of Cottonwood; grandchildren Kerrie Moe and Brian of Lewiston, Jon Jacobson and Becky of Seattle, Eric Jacobson of Coos Bay, Ore., Denise West of Lewiston, Dale Bunney of Troy, Kurtis Boller and Miranda of Kooskia, Denise Brando of Kooskia, and Danny Sego and Sylvia of Alaska; great-grandchildren Kama, Kadi, Brady, Zane, Jack, Heather, Jacob, Kayla, Laura, Keyan, Emilyn, Ayla, Dylan, Drew, Lance and Mitch; and great-great-granddaughters Layla, Molly and Olivia.
A service is planned for a later date under the direction of Trenary Funeral Home in Kooskia. More information will be published before the service.
Verna's family would like to express our appreciation to all those caregivers at Kindred Transitional Care and Rehabilitation who went the extra mile to make her last years as comfortable as possible. There are many unsung heroes in that place and others like it. We thank you.
