Blooms From the Past

Last week, long after the other flowers in the subdivision were asleep for the winter, a bunch of yellow snap dragons came up along side the house. These were evidently left from two years ago when mom had flowers there because we didn't plant anything there this summer and I believe the year before that ground had been covered up with slabs so I'm guessing this bloom from the past must have been from seed at least three years ago just saying goodbye to mom.

Logs and Farms Past

In updating our WolverineFarm.com web page we needed  some more farm pictures so we are posting them at the address below.

picasaweb.google.com/larrydevilbiss/logsandfarms#

Great Photos of Mom's Progeny

In the process of sorting photos for mom's power point we had to finally stick to a rule that if mom wasn't in the photo it couldn't be used.  That was the only way to get them under 150 photos.

There were however, some very good photos of the grand kids and great grandkids that I thought merited their own album.  You can find them at: http://picasaweb.google.com/larrydevilbiss/GrandsAndGreats#

Journey Back in Time

In May of 2001 Cousin David Kerns  took mom and Aunt Francis across the Northern States on Interstate 10 to visit the places where they had accompanied their father Lloyd Peabody in church planting in the 1920, 30, and 40s.  After returning mom put these photos together and they were shared in her memorial service.

Copy this address into the address bar and when you get there click on the slideshow.  You can also progress at your own speed through the slides by clicking on them individually.

http://picasaweb.google.com/larrydevilbiss/AJourneyBackinTime#

Slides of Mom

To watch the slide show shown at the memorial service- copy the following address into the address bar and then click on the slide show.

picasaweb.google.com/larrydevilbiss/Mom?authkey=qWY_Fjo5FnA

A Sister's Tribute

The Service

It was amazing to see so many neighbors and friends in a church on a perfectly good work day.  At lease 150 signed the guest register and I'm sure there were a lot more that did not sign.

We had decided to go ahead and fill out the memorial book that was used at Dad's funeral and it turned out to not have enough pages so blank pieces of paper were added  and three or four of those were filled up.  We were awed at the community support and especially at the united witness to the Godly testimony of mom.  

During the sharing time a number of relatives testified to mom's good influence and Bruce Long made the observation that in the three generations since mom there had not been a single marriage outside the faith.  That is a rare thing to find in today's world.

The service began with a power point of mom's life with about 130 photos.  There were so many photos to choose from that I stuck with strictly photos that had mom in them.  We then had a second series that covered mom's mom and dad and her first 20 years planting churches across the northern US.  Later I hope to post these photos on this blog for all to share.  Would also like to share some photos that were great family shots but just didn't fit.  Family and friends were great a getting photos to me.

One of the highlights of the service was the special song by John and Margaret Loew- Finally Home.  Mom had specifically requested that.

The congregational singing of "I'll Fly Away", and "It is Well With My Soul" was really rousing.  It is rare in these days to get a group together that even knows these old songs let alone how to sing them with gusto and harmony but this was one of those times.  For a while I thought the piano was going to fly away!

In spite of the crowd, there was plenty of food after the service.  I think Billy was eating for a solid hour.

John Hammond made a video of the service.  It will include the power point photos also.  For those who want a DVD of the service, all you need to do is contact me.  There will be a nominal fee of $5.

The Birthday Party

On the 15th- mom's birthday- we met as scheduled at 3 PM at Ray and Darlene's house for that birthday party.  Judy (of Hospice) was there with the chocolate cake as promised along with all the relatives and Pastor Kenny and his wife.  Aunt Francis had found a recipe and I don't know if Judy needed it by then but it was an angel food cake worthy of memory.

We shared the power points that were to be used in the service on Monday and Ray shared a lot of the old slides from the beginnings of the homestead.  Towards the end Shayne and Trisha rolled in off the Alcan with their girls.  They hadn't even been home yet.  The will was available for all to see and a lot of Mom's things were available for relatives to take home.  It was a full and fun afternoon.  The only thing we forgot to do was sing happy birthday!

Memorial Service

 

In Loving Memory  

Maxine DeVilbiss 

 

February 15, 1924 

February 7, 2009 

 

Memorial Service 

 

Lazy Mountain Bible Church 

February 16, 2009 

1:00 p.m.

   Maxine DeVilbiss 

 

  On February 7, 2009,  pioneer, mother, and author, 

Maxine Dorothy DeVilbiss passed away in her home in 

Palmer after a struggle with cancer.  She died 8 days 

short of her 85th birthday having been born February 

15, 1924 in Foreston, Minnesota.  Maxine arrived in 

Palmer with her husband Ralph and  three children 

(Larry, Ray and Susan) to  initially work at Victory Bible 

Camp and then Lazy Mountain Children's Home and 

they finally settled on their own homestead on Wolver- 

ine Creek in 1956.  She mothered her own children and 

fostered about 40 other native children before she and 

Ralph adopted Brian and Billy from Korea.  

 

  Maxine was a quiet but active force and founding 

member of Lazy Mountain Bible Church.  For many 

years she managed the  prayer chain- first a phone bank 

and then an extensive e-mail chain.  For many years 

hers was the voice that answered the Crisis Pregnancy 

Center hot line.  She also recorded books for the blind 

from her living room. 

 

  The first book Maxine wrote was, "Billy's Story"- a 35 

year journey with autism.  Her second book was 

"Homesteading in Alaska"- the story of Wolverine 

Farm.  The final days of her journey to Glory can be 

found at maxinedevilbiss.blogspot.com. 

 

  Maxine was preceded in death by her husband Ralph, 

her older sister Grace Swanson, and her daughter Susan 

Herr. 

 

  Maxine is survived by her older sister Francis Kerns in 

Yakima, Washington; her sons, Larry, Ray, Brian, and 

Billy; eleven grand children; and sixteen great grand- 

children.  There will be a celebration of life at Lazy 

Mountain Bible Church on February 16 at 1 p.m.  It was 

Maxine's desire  that memorial gifts be made to your 

local church or favorite mission rather than flowers. 

 

  The photo of Maxine was a favorite of hers and taken 

recently by her 4 year old great granddaughter Talitha 

Hammond.

 Memorial Service 

Maxine DeVilbiss 

Monday, February 16, 2009 

 

Piano Prelude Evangeline Alexander 

 

Welcome and Prayer Pastor Dave Kenny  

  

Congregational Singing  I’ll Fly Away 

 Hymn #554  

  

Eulogy Goodbye Maxine - Hello Jesus 

 Larry DeVilbiss 

 

Tributes & Remembrances  Pastor Dave Kenny 

 

Special Music  Finally Home 

 John & Margaret Loew  

 

Finally Home 

 

When alarmed by the fury of the restless sea; 

Towering waves before you roll. 

At the end of doubt and peril is eternity, 

Tho fear and conflict seize your soul. 

 

When surrounded by the blackness of the darkest night 

O how lonely death can be 

At the end of this long tunnel is a shining light, 

For death is swallowed up in victory! 

 

Just think of stepping on shore and finding it heaven!  

Of touching a hand and finding it God's! 

Of breathing new air and finding it celestial! 

Of waking up in glory and finding it home! 

 

Scripture Reading Ray DeVilbiss 

 

Congregational Singing It Is Well with My Soul 

 Hymn #493   

 

Closing Thoughts Pastor David Dahms 

 

Benediction  

 

 Lazy Mountain Bible Church 

16005 E Shawn Dr;  Palmer, Alaska  99645 

Office:  745-2611  -  Fax:  745-1952 

www.lazymountainbiblechurch.org 

 e-mail:  office@lazymountainbiblechurch.org  

I'll Fly Away– Hymnal page #554 

 

Some glad morning when this life is oer, I'll fly away. 

To a home on God's celestial shore, I'll fly away. 

 

When the shadows of this life have gone, I'll fly away. 

Like a bird from prison bars has flown, I'll fly away. 

 

Just a few more weary days and then, I'll fly away. 

To a land where joys shall never end, I'll fly away. 

 

Chorus: 

 

I'll fly away, O glory, I'll fly away. 

When I die, hallelujah, by and by, I'll fly away. 

 

It is Well With My Soul - Hymnal page # 493 

 

When peace like a river attendeth my way 

When sorrows like sea billows roll 

What ever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, 

"It is well, it is well with my soul." 

 

Though Satan should buffet, tho' trials should come 

Let this blest assurance control, 

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, 

And hath shed His own blood for my soul. 

 

My sin- O, the bliss of this glorious thought,  

My sin- not in part but the whole, 

Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, 

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul! 

 

And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, 

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll, 

The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend, 

"Even so" it is well with my soul. 

 

Chorus:  

 

It is well...with my soul, 

It is well, it is well with my soul. 

Please join the family at a potluck reception to be held  

immediately following the service. 

Billy's Future

Several have asked about Billy.

For those who don't know, Billy is the most famous of mom's children.  He is the subject of mom's first book, "Billy's Story"- a 35 year journey with autism.

He has calmed down a lot since mom died.  The last two nights when we all knew she was struggling Billy sat in his room and "sang" like he does when upset.  He had been prepared by mom and seemed to accept everything.  He was one of the first to be called out to say goodbye to mom and he helped carry her out.  He has been calm since and seems to be handling a new lifestyle following me around pretty well.

In her will mom left in trust the house and car to Billy.  Ray and Brian and I will execute that trust to provide ongoing and hopefully sustainable care  for Billy.  I applied to the court yesterday to become Billy's legal guardian.  Yesterday Billy and I visited an attorney to set up his trust.  I am in the process of moving into the house to take care of  Billy.  Right now that is a joint venture between Heather and I.  We anticipate that the physical changes for Billy will be minimal.  He will be eating and sleeping in the same environment and a lot of his work on the farm will continue the same with me.  It remains to be seen how he will take to sitting through long board meetings!

What Then?

With mom gone, suddenly it gets hard to find words to say on a blog about Maxine's journey. It has ended.  But of course the effects of her life will go on forever.  That is becoming evident as tributes pour in from all over the world.  We received a touching one from Australia just a few minutes ago.  

Her obituary, pretty much as drafted on the blog, is now published in both the Frontiersman and the Anchorage Daily News.  You can access them both by going to frontiersman.com and the obituary@adn.com respectively.  Each of them have a memorial book registry that you can sign and we will include with the guest book at the memorial service.

The service will be Monday the 16th, 1 PM at Lazy Mt. Bible Church.  I will post the program tomorrow after it is finalized.   If any of you have written comments to share or photos that could be included in the power point we will be glad to incorporate them but Thursday night is pretty much the deadline for the photos.  John Hammond will be videoing  the service so CD's will be available later if you are interested.  Just let me know if you are interested.

The birthday party is still on but we decided to make it  a family thing at Ray's place on Sunday afternoon, the 15th.  By putting the birthday party and the memorial service back to back those flying in will be able to take in both events.  The only snag so far is that we can't find a recipe for a chocolate angel food cake.  Does anyone know what mom was talking about?  For now we've decided to just use a normal white angel food cake and add chocolate.  The cream cheese frosting is no problem.

Home at Last

At 8:40 Saturday  morning, Feb. 7, mom quietly breathed her last and slipped away with Jesus.

Draft Obituary

On February 7, 2009,  pioneer, mother, and author, Maxine Dorothy DeVilbiss passed away in her home in Palmer after a struggle with cancer.  She died 8 days short of her 85th birthday having been born February 15, 1924 in Foreston, Minnesota. Maxine arrived in Palmer with her husband Ralph and three children (Larry, Ray and Susan) to initially work at Victory Bible Camp and then Lazy Mountain Children's Home and they finally settled on their own homestead on Wolverine Creek in 1956.  She mothered her own children and fostered about 40 other native children before she and Ralph adopted Brian and Billy from Korea. 

Maxine was a a quiet but active force and founding member of Lazy Mountain Bible Church.  For many years she managed the  prayer chain- first a phone bank and then an extensive e mail chain.  For many years hers was the voice that answered the Crisis Pregnancy Center hot line.  She also recorded books for the blind from her living room.

The first book Maxine wrote was, "Billy's Story"- a 35 year journey with autism.  Her second book was "Homesteading in Alaska"- the story of Wolverine Farm.  The final days of her journey to Glory can be found at maxinedevilbiss.blogspot.com .

Maxine was preceded in death by her husband Ralph, her older sister Grace Swanson,  and her daughter Susan Herr.

Maxine is survived by her older sister Francis Kerns in Yakima, Washington; her sons, Larry, Ray, Brian, and Billy; eleven grand children; and sixteen great grandchildren.  There will be a celebration of life at Lazy Mountain Bible Church on February 16 at 1 PM.    It was Maxine's desire  that memorial gifts be made to your local church or favorite mission rather than flowers.

The photo of Maxine was a favorite of hers and taken recently by her 4 year old great grandaughter Talitha Hammond.

Arrangements by Cook Inlet Funeral Home

Now we see through a veil darkly...

How prophetic mom's words were when she said, "Bye Bye" at the prospect of going on liquid morphine.  She is slipping deeper and deeper behind the veil and I plan to prepare today and tomorrow for the end.  

Mom seems to be comfortable.  We have never exceeded the 2 ml per 2 hour maximum dosage on the prescription.  Applications with the eyedropper are always in 1/2 mil doses and often that is enough for two hours or more so we don't anticipate that the concentration will need to change as Hospice suggested might be necessary.

Right now I see things playing out like this.  Ray and I will consult and call the troopers for the death certificate.  Then mom and the "girls" had wanted time for family viewing in her favorite dress before the crematory takes her away.  That has to happen within twenty four hours.  Some time after that we will have the "birthday party" and/or memorial service.  All thoughts and contributions would be appreciated.

Later today I hope to post a draft obituary for family critique.  

Mile Post 10- Feb 5

Today is Feb 5- ten days from mom's 85th birthday so we will start a countdown.  Mom's Hospice coordinator promised she would make mom's favorite cake for her birthday- a chocolate  angel food cake with cream cheese frosting.  Heather and Kathy are planning the rest of the feast but we are going to have a birthday party whether it is mom's 85th on earth or her first in Heaven!

It certainly looks at this point like it will be the latter.  Mom is not eating or drinking or standing.  Hospice has ordered a catheter  so she can stay in her chair- she wanted that very much.  She seems to be comfortable but has not been much aware of what is going on.  Heather and Anna (a Hospice Volunteer) were able to get her cleaned and oiled her mouth this morning so it doesn't get too dry and sore from being open.  Fluid is building in her lungs.

Thanks for your prayers.

Another Milepost

Yesterday Jack Seaman and Mick Pettit came by.  Jack left Jane's book for mom to read, sign, and return.  Mom won't be able to read it but Heather an I are.  Signatures in the back include long time Lazy Mt neighbors like Ken and Nancy Rowland,  Mary Jane (Clark) Phelps, Jessie Devries, and Wayne Bowens.  It is actually the pages of Jane's diary of their first trip over the Alcan from North Dakota to Alaska in 1947.  Every time they would hit a post office she would tear out the pages and mail them to her folks who were taking care of Mick and Rick- their little boys.  It was a 20th century blog!

The Alcan was and is marked with mileposts so you could keep track of your progress.  Every day is a milepost for mom.  The only difference is that we don't know how many more there are.

We do know that she can't handle swallowing  pills any more so the pain control is now limited to the patch and the liquid morphine.  She is sleeping 90% of the time and lucid less.  The liquid dosages are much more temporary in their effectiveness so we will have to administer them every hour or two.  

From our episode this morning it is likely that she will not be able to  assist in standing for changing so that will precipitate either moving her to her bed or installing a catheter .  

Yesterday she said, "Why can't I just go home?"  All I could say was that that was up to the Lord.  Our task is to run with patience.  That is hard to do  with the finish line this close but the agony of that final sprint is a necessary part of preparing us for Glory.

She's still with us

Yesterday was another family day with visits from all the local relatives. (Shayne is travelling "outside" with Trisha and the girls.)

I checked with Hospice after we got the liquid morphine because we didn't know how it was to be coordinated with the other pain meds.  Gene told me that the liquid was to be treated only as needed as a "break through" backup with the other meds continued as normal.  The prescription called for 2 mm every 2 hours or "as needed".  So we agreed to start with .5 mm when she is awake with pain.  So far that has been on her regular pill schedule of 3.5 hours.  

At the 11:30 pill I thought I heard mom say to Heather, "He hasn't come to get me yet."  Heather said, "What did you say?"  Mom said, "Oh I guess I'm just talking goofy again."

I haven't decided which is worse, noisy, labored painful breathing or profoundly deep sleep that is very shallow and deathly quiet.  She seems to vacillate between one or the other extreme.  I've prayed that she will slip away with Jesus during one of those deep quiet sleeps but that is up the the Great Reaper.

New Options

One of yesterday's visitors was this moose that mom said was a familiar fixture in the neighborhood.  She probably spent a half hour in front of the window eating birch branch tips in the below zero environment.

Yesterday and last night were 90% in a state of dazed sleep for mom.  When awake she still communicates high levels of pain but she does seem to sleep fairly fitfully.   Her waking minutes are cogent for the most part.  Only once last night did she seem to be in a dream state and  tipped her power chair up and insisted on help to get up to get her to the bathroom (She hasn't been doing that for over a week).  Heather was finally able to convince her that it wasn't necessary and get her to recline and go back to sleep.

Alex and Kathy showed up in  the afternoon with a gourmet Peking Duck (from their own gaggle) complete with stuffing and salad and rolls and fudge.  After cooking we enjoyed it together over discussions that ranged from the super bowl to the historic precedence  for expecting converted shaman testimonies to be effective with unconverted shaman, to the latest technology for keeping animals in prescribed boundaries (otherwise known as fences).  We were also blessed  by others with enough cookies and sweets to keep us through the week.

Now, about the plan Hospice has put forward.  They plan today or tomorrow to put mom on liquid morpheme.  This evidently absorbs in the mouth so mom's tendency to nausea won't be an issue.  When mom heard this she immediately indicated she understood the implications.  She quipped, "Bye Bye."

Super Sunday Morning

Mom seemed to sleep better last night (at least we did!).  She continues in a high level of pain and is essentially unchanged from yesterday.

Bumping Ten

The pain today was as bad as the view was lovely from her chair with flowers in the foreground and fresh snow and Lazy Mountain in the background.  

One of mom's least favorite questions is, "On a scale of one to ten (with ten the most pain) how is your pain today?"  Today the answer to that question was, "Nine or ten" without hesitation.  That was after getting back on the previously highest dosage of pain medication this morning. 

The opinion of Hospice was that mom's back has given out at one of the points where the cancer metastasized.  They suggested the emergency room since the back pain is not directly related to the cancer for which Hospice is responsible.  Mom knows that wouldn't fix anything so we wait and pray.  We did get our dust masks today as Redoubt Volcano is still on orange alert.

One Night Closer

Last night was a long one with interruptions beyond the normal 4 hour pills that Heather keeps track of.  I sleep on the sofa, near her chair,  available in case mom calls or am needed for lifting her to change.  She was visibly uncomfortable and in increasing pain.  Ray had picked up her 50 mmg patch in the afternoon so at 5 am Heather installed it, putting her on the same regimen that seemed to keep her comfortable most of the week.  She seems to be getting a little more comfortable.  The pill that we think she needs that she is refusing to take is the water pill.  

A Tale of two Agencies

Shortly after mom's diagnosis in December, her GP Dr Beyeler; her bone doctor that put her ankle back together, Dr. Gardner; and her oncologist, Dr Lawson met and agreed to let Dr Lawson take the lead in her ongoing treatment and put her under the care of Hospice.  Hospice is under Medicare and is designed to provide additional services at the end of life that enhance the quality of life and provide support to family and caregivers.  Not the least of these services is handling the pain and symptom management medications.

Unfortunately, just days after setting this up there was a tragic house fire in Wasilla during a wind storm that took the life of the executive of Hospice.  That left Hospice without the Federally required master's level oversight.  That put mom under another program called Homecare which (though the same caregivers were involved) was much more limited in its ability to handle prescriptions.  In the last two weeks Hospice scrambled, interviewed and accepted another qualified Director.  She had to give notice to terminate her job in Anchorage and has now, once again, made Hospice a qualified agency.  Using his power of attorney this morning, Ray signed mom back over to Hospice and we all look forward to a centralized coordination and distribution of needed medications.  Up to this point it has been a three ringed circus involving two doctors and the pharmacy.  Because of the abuse of pain meds and their high street value the prescriptions can't be faxed to the pharmacy- they must be picked up in person from the Doctor.  Because of the higher than normal doses prescribed the pharmacy won't fill some of the prescriptions.  We're told that the role of Hospice will eliminate these conflicts and the need to hand carry prescriptions.  We'll see.

Mom says her pain levels are OK but she has only been about half here today.  We retire tonight under the eminent threat of  volcano Redoubt blowing up and advice to shut down computers so volcanic ash won't be sucked into the cooling systems.

Good Hair Day

Thursday or Friday have been mom's hair days for years.  Her one and only hairdresser is Noel Guinotte.   After mom got unable to go to the shop Noel has faithfully come to the house to do mom's hair.  Last week mom was not on oxygen yet and was not feeling good.  Noel came to do the wash and place the curlers and promised to be back at 1 PM.  That was the day mom felt like she was finishing her journey more than once and called Noel to come back to remove the curlers early because she didn't want to go to heaven in her curlers!  

Yesterday was a great day for mom and everything went as scheduled.  Heather even remembered to take a picture while I was out baling hay!  

Today, Friday, is a different story.  Mom is confused  and very weak.  Home Care is supposed to be able to move her account over to Hospice today so some of the prescriptions can be straightened out but there was about 4 inches of snow and Judy is running late.

Pain

Since her terminal diagnosis the primary program for mom has been pain control, nutrition, and basic hygene.  A matter has come up that requires prayer.  Somehow on her last pain prescription her dosage on the patches was doubled from twenty five to fifty grains.  She is about to run out and the Dr has said he won't prescribe that amount again unless she goes to see him.  That is a very traumatic option so mom has decided to get by with half dosage until Hospice takes over and can handle the prescriptions themselves.  She also takes pain pills that balance the patches but we don't know how this change is going to affect her.  You can pray about that.  Thanks

Rusty

                                                                                  

One of the sets of old photos that got mom excited was this series of Rusty.  He was a pomeranian that was her companion at the farm until she had to get knee surgery.  He hit it off with Aunt Francis when she visited.  One of Billies daily jobs was to shovel a path through the snow drifts so Rusty could get out to lift his leg without getting high centered!

The Family Gathers

Two weeks ago several family members happened to show up one evening.  Pictured are Diane Hammond and her children, Marilyn Vink, Carrie and Daryl Bakk with almost all their children.  A week later the Bakks returned  with the newest great grandchild (number 16) Susan Joelle.  Also in the picture are Billy, Heather, and Larry.

Not long after this picture Boone and Vera Herr appeared with the now second youngest  great grandchild (number 15) Caleb Richard.

So, the great grandchild list goes like this:

Ben

Elias

Reuben

Susan Joelle      Mother- Grandaughter Carrie Bakk

Aidan      Father- Grandson  Gerald DeVilbiss

Briana

Megan

Cassie

Kaylee        Father - Grandson Shayne Herr

Jacob

Talitha       Mother- Grandaughter Diane Hammond

Kaylyn

Evie

Adah       Mother- Grandaughter Kathy Davis

Jana

Caleb      Father- Grandson Boone Herr

Telling Billy

At Ray's suggestion mom took Billy aside and explained what was going to happen.  She remembers so well how he understood when dad died that he had gone to be with Jesus.  

We left them alone and mom asked Billy where dad was.  He said, "Jesus."  Mom said, "Well, I am not well and will soon go to be with Jesus and dad in heaven."  Billy was not happy with that but certainly understood.

Answered Prayers

Mom has mentioned several times the clarity with which she has become aware of answered prayer.  At least three times she felt she was absolutely finished and could not go on.  One of those was when the attorney had her will ready to sign.  She looked at that stack of papers and said,  "I don't think I can get through that."  The attorney smiled and said, "You'll manage alright."  He got a little alarmed when she then said,  "I'll be dead before I get those signed!"

At that time she felt a surge of enabling from the Lord and was able to finish the signatures which were then witnessed by the Lazenbies who had come from up the street.

Frontier Mom

In our digging through old papers we came across this old article that was published nationally in the Ruralite in April 1983.  It was a account of mom's homesteading  career and the  foster care given to 40 children at different times.

A New Years Surprise

Pictured are the dozen roses that appeared at the door after mom talked with her sister, Francis, last week.  She had pretty much given up making phone calls but after getting hooked up with oxygen she had a new lease on life.  She wants everyone to know that oxygen is a wonderful thing!  By the way, these roses really were fragrant.