Georgina LaRocque

Georgina had an older sister, Esther, and younger brother, George. Her father worked in the mines in the Kellogg and Wallace, Idaho, area and the family lived in Mullan, Idaho. Her mother passed away when Georgina was 3. The government closed the mines and her father was unable to care for the small children, so he brought Georgina and her brother to the Lewiston Children's Home. Her dad and older sister then went to Oregon so he could work in the lumber industry. Georgina never saw them again.

At age 6, Georgina was adopted by Curley and Vallie Wakefield. Her brother was adopted by a family in Moscow. He passed away at age 8 after being struck by a train.

She told of the fun times she had as a child growing up in North Lewiston, where her folks owned Curly's Grocery and Restaurant. Curley built her a play area under the counter in the bar, where she had her toys and dolls. Curley also built the old A&W Root Beer Barrel in North Lewiston.

While she was still in grade school, Curley built a home by Lewiston High School. Then he built a larger family home at the corner of Ninth Avenue and 11th Street next to the first one. This was her home until she moved to Royal Plaza. She graduated from Lewiston High School in 1943. She then attended the Normal School, now Lewis-Clark State College.

Georgina met her future husband, Barney, while he was playing poker with her dad and Fred Warren at the grocery store. Barney was home on leave from the U.S. Army, where he was serving with Gen. George Patton. They married Aug. 14, 1945, at Lewiston Christian Church and were together 39 and a half years before his passing in 1985.

She and Barney were very active in the Lewiston Lions Club and enjoyed many trips with other members. After Barney's passing, she became an honorary Lion. She bowled for many years, was a Pink Lady at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center for more than 30 years and was named volunteer of the year in 2005. She volunteered weekly at the Congregational-Presbyterian Church and worked on the Red Cross blood drives.

Georgina moved to Royal Plaza Care Center in 2008. She loved her apartment and the people who work there. She felt at home from the day she moved in and enjoyed all the activities they have. Bingo and any ice cream days were the best.

Though she had no children of her own, Georgina chose Darlene Kidder to be her daughter and it was a wonderful relationship.

Her survivors are her nieces, aka "the girls," Becky and Hip Stein of Osburn, Idaho, and Carol and Larry Peterson of Medical Lake, Wash.; and "the kids," Alan and Darlene Kidder of Lewiston.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Royal Plaza Retirement Center.

Memorial donations can be made to the Royal Plaza ice cream machine fund, 2870 Juniper Drive, Lewiston, ID 83501. This was a project dear to Georgina's heart.