Obituary of Virginia Fay Packard

Virginia Fay Packard August 10, 1928 - January 6, 2014 Born in Helena, Montana, Virginia grew up in a time when life was pretty tough for her and her family. The depression years took their toll on a lot of families, but with that said, the resounding spirit of the Leffingwell’s pulled them through all that was thrown at them and they eventually settled in the Lewiston, Idaho area. One of six children, Virginia always had plenty of companions around her to focus on family, course of action and doing whatever it took to get the job done. This created a woman who was very strong willed, and independent from the start. Virginia always had an adventurous spirit in her as well, and this could be seen in the activities she would engage in the early years. To challenge her even more, she married Ivan Charles (Pete) Packard a rebel with a cause, in October of 1946. They raised two sons, Danny and Kelly, in the same adventurous and independent spirits they both grew up with, by showing them the world. Ivan took a job in the Agriculture industry in the late 50’s, and secured an overseas position which took him and his family to Karachi, Pakistan in October of 1959. Virginia never wavered for a moment, and packed up a container load of familiar supplies that would make her family feel comfortable in a strange land and strange environment. Virginia loved Christmas and with the lack of a proper Christmas tree that first year (the green kind), she made her own out of tin foil that was quite spectacular. Both Danny and Kelly still have fond memories of that little gem. Ivan’s position took the family all around the world, giving them an experience not many can say they have done. Traveling all through Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia, the family truly did get to see many wonders of the world, while experiencing travel from planes, trains, automobiles, camels, rickshaws, both peddled and motorized, to ocean liners that crossed the equator with much fanfare. For all the family, life was a series of adventures that were embraced, cataloged through pictures and talked about fondly as life went by. Moving back to the United States in 1963, Virginia resumed her duties of Mother and Wife with the same fever she did while on her overseas adventure. Raising her children was goal one, while making sure they had a solid morale and educational base to enter the world with all the vim and vigor she brought to the table. She and Ivan enjoyed watching their sons play football, track and baseball, while reacquainting with their friends and family in the City of Ritzville, Washington. In the mid 60’s, the family moved to Olympia, Washington, when Ivan took a job with the Washington State Department of Agriculture. In 1969, the first of her five grandchildren showed up just before her world was rocked, having to send her son Danny straight form Eastern Washington State College to Vietnam, to fight for the freedoms all individuals of this world deserve. Family kept Virginia strong throughout this ordeal and by the grace of god and the strong training Dan had in the military, he returned home safely to continue building his family. Virginia and Ivan sent Kelly off to Washington State University, and suddenly they enjoyed a freedom of being able to travel with each other more regularly on the many trips Ivan took with his position in the Washington Department of Agriculture. In the late 1970’s Ivan took a job as the Administrator of the Oregon Wheat Commission, and Virginia was tasked once again with moving her home, this time to Pendleton, Oregon. Not waving a bit, Virginia packed up the house once sold, found a new home in Pendleton, (her first yellow house as most had been white before that) and set up shop like it was nothing at all. Virginia kept herself busy by helping Ivan at the Oregon Wheat Commission, feeding Kelly and doing his laundry on the many visits he made back home from WSU, and by tending the big garden she had in her back yard. Her love of flowers and growing vegetables showed each of the family members just what a green thumb she truly had. In the early 1980’s, yet another decision was made to move the Oregon Wheat Commission office to Portland, Oregon, which meant another move for Virginia to the Westside of the mountains. Like the trooper she was, a home was secured and she and Ivan moved to Portland, Oregon, joining their two sons which already lived in the area. True to who Virginia was, her home was always an open invitation to family and friends for any occasion, as well as travelers from all around the world, to experience great company, good food and drink, and a garden and deck that was filled with flowers and shrubs of all shapes and sizes that exuded color and brightness that was Virginia. Passing on January 6, 2014, Virginia will always be remembered as a loving and giving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her life of 85 years was one that was filled with all the emotions and ups and downs one would expect of a life lived well. Her family will miss her, but as in life and in death, there were people there to make her journey a special one from this world to the next. Virginia is survived by her two sons Danny and Kelly, their wives, five grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. Well done mom. We all love you and will miss you with all of our hearts. Service Information