Lavene Harold Hardung

Lavene Hardung Lavene H. Hardung died peacefully in his sleep on February 17, 2010 at his home in Mesquite, Nevada. He was born on the family ranch near Odessa, Washington on March 9, 1923 to David and Mary (Hoff) Hardung. Lavene was the third of five children.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, brothers Joe (Daisy) and Herb (Tana), sisters Lucille (Lars) Gustafson and Marcine (Bob) Deife. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Vera, daughters, Rebecca (Mike) Botsford and Lisa Hardung, and son Kurt (Lori) Hardung. He is, also, survived by two grandchildren, Katie and Alex Hardung and many nieces and nephews. In addition to immediate family, Lavene is survived by his "other son" Kelvin (Chloe) Lee and family, Kelsha, Kizzie, Blue, Brittany and grandchildren. Lavene ranched wheat, barley and cattle with his father and two brothers as Hardung and Sons. ln 1958, he earned the Conservation Farmer ofthe Year award for the Ritzville area Adams County, Washington. He, also, sold farm and ranch real estate with his cousin, Lloyd Harding, of Big Bend Land and Cattle Co. in eastern Washington and Idaho. For recreation, Lavene shot trap with his trophies including Handicap Washington state runner-up 1958. Running cattle in the Arizona strip country was something he truly enjoyed. The people of Mesquite and small town life were extremely important to him.