Alice Olene Luvaas Milholland

Alice Olene Luvaas Milholland, 92, died on Thursday, July 19, 2007, in her residence in East Wenatchee. She was born on Feb. 18, 1915, to the Reverend Peter J. Luvaas and Flossie B. Morris Luvaas in Saint Paul, Minn. Alice is known for her tenacious spirit, love of learning, and heart of gratitude. She is and will always be a beloved mother, grandmother, friend, and educator. She lived a full life and made a difference wherever she spent time. She passed from this life to the next gently with grace and knowing she was loved.

Alice grew up in Absarokee, Mont., Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and Eugene, Ore. She battled rheumatic fever from the time she was eight years old until she was twenty-two. Doctors told her that she could have no marriage, no children, no career, and that she had a very short life expectancy. She counted each day a blessing and each opportunity as a gift. She was married for 58 years, had four children, 10 grandchildren, 25 years as an educator, and a lifetime of public service.

She graduated from Eugene High School, and earned a Bachelor of Arts from University of Oregon in Eugene. She worked on her Special Education Endorsement at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich., working with the deaf and hard of hearing. She attended graduate school at University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. She earned a Master of Arts in English at the University of Washington in Seattle. She taught in Portland, Ore., Lakeview, Ore., and Moses Lake.

Alice married Delbert Martin Milholland on Aug. 5, 1945, in Coffeeville, Kan. He had just returned from serving in Africa during WWII. The end of the war was announced on their honeymoon. They moved to Greeley, Colo., where they both attended and worked at the University. Delbert was a teacher and principal in Akron, Colo. The family moved to Lakeview, Ore., in 1949. Delbert was the high school principal and in 1956, Alice became the high school librarian.

In 1960, the family moved to Moses Lake. Delbert was the high school principal. In 1962 Alice became the first English instructor at the newly founded Big Bend Community College. She established several programs that continue today. She taught there until 1981. Big Bend Community College awarded Alice with the first Instructor Emeritus in honor of her "efforts throughout her career on behalf of the college that were far beyond the expectations of her position."

Alice was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Moses Lake where she served as both deacon and elder. She was active in the Good Neighbor Council where she worked with other leaders to help Moses Lake become a town where all were welcome and the basic needs of all the residents were being met. Alice and Delbert raised their family modeling a focus on service and embracing people from many cultures. They hosted many foreign exchange students and visitors from around the world.

Alice joined Delbert in their business the Woodcrafter. They retired and traveled to visit family, friends, and countries around the world. In 1999, they moved to East Wenatchee, Wash., to be closer to their daughter and her family. They have had the pleasure of very dear friends.

Her husband Delbert Martin Milholland died in June of 2004. Her parents Peter J. Luvaas, Flossie B. Morris Luvaas, and beloved stepmother Agnes Mevig Luvaas; her brothers Paul Luvaas, Harold Luvaas, and Peter Luvaas; her sisters Lois Luvaas Medlar Christian and Ruth Luvaas preceded Alice in death.

Her children and their families survive her. Her son David Milholland, his children Lola Milholland and Zachary Margolis of Portland and dear friend Theresa Marquez of LaFarge, Wisc. Her son Douglas and wife Nancy Milholland, their children Danny and Amanda Milholland of Port Townsend; her son Philip and wife Cheney Milholland, their children Olen and Adelle Milholland of Boise, Idaho, her daughter Lois Milholland Davies and husband Paul Davies, and their sons Jon, Luke, and Eric Davies of Orondo, and daughter Jessica and husband Ben Watson of Seattle.

Alice is survived by a brother John Luvaas, Rancho Mirage, Calif., and her sisters Jeanette Thompson and husband Robert of Minneapolis, Minn.; Helen Fjerstad and husband Dale of Stockton, Calif.; and Leona, Campbell of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

Also surviving are her brother and sister-in-laws: Ivy Luvaas, Sharon Luvaas, Dee Luvaas Mazza, Larry Christian, Ell Dora Eyler, Dave and Dorothy Milholland, Phil and Isabel Milholland, and Ralph and Roberta Milholland. She has many loving nieces and nephews. We cherish her care providers as family, Sean and Allison Soth, Wendy Allen, Laura Sieben, and Joy Thompson.

A celebration of Alice's life will be held at 10 a.m., Aug. 4, in the Advanced Technology Education Center, ATEC Building 1800 at Big Bend Community College, 7611 Bolling St. N.E. in Moses Lake. A memorial gathering will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Orondo Community Church. A brief inurnment will follow at the Orondo Cemetery with a dinner to follow at Paul and Lois Davies' home.

Donations may be given to Orondo Dollars for Scholars or the Delbert Milholland Scholarship fund for Graduates of Big Bend Community Collage through the Moses Lake Rotary Club in care of Paul and Lois Davies, PO Box 96, Orondo, WA 98843. Arrangements are by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.