Olivia was born on April 23, 1991 – a spring day on the prairies of eastern Montana. She was our first baby – beautiful and perfect with big, brown
eyes – and we proudly took her home to the farm near Lambert. As a baby,
her little upturned nose caused neighbor Joanne Oakland to warn, “Don’t
take her out in the rain or she’ll drown!”. She was spoiled by her grandparents who loved her with all their hearts. Gram and Grandpa Kvaalen got to
see her almost every day and she spent many overnights with them.
Grandma Carol and Grandpa Pat didn’t get to see her as often, but always
came to Lambert for her birthday and special events. Grandpa Pat nicknamed
her OJ, and Ole.
Olivia’s best toddler friends were of course the kids that lived close
to our farm and in Lambert which is close, Jen, Ross, Jade and Callie. Olivia
and her friends enjoyed talking on the telephone, reading names out of the
phone book to each other when they didn’t have anything else to say. Soon
they graduated to the internet and messaging where Olivia made 100’s of
friends from near and far. These friends of Olivia have left wonderful goodbye messages to Olivia on her Myspace.
In September 1993 we endured grief and sorrow when Olivia’s
brother, Ostein, died at birth. In 1996, while her brother Lars was being born
Paula and Mandy Robert declared Olivia Day to keep her occupied, Olivia
Day turned into a tradition and an excuse for Paula, Mandy and Olivia to go
shopping and out to lunch. Our little family was complete. We sat together
on the steps to wait for the school bus on her first day of kindergarten. She
joined the Lambert class of 2009. The class quickly gained a reputation for
being too smart for their own good. Olivia crushed on all the boys through
grade school and mothered (or bossed) them in high school. She helped manage the boy’s varsity basketball for four years, keeping the coach on schedule during practice and shared the joys and sorrows of small town sports. She
played volleyball and golf, just recently realizing that she was tall enough to
use her Dad’s driver to get some extra distance off the tee.
Olivia had a
pretty sweet life. Her heartaches were few. She got to travel with her family
around Montana, Idaho, Washington, California, Canada, Alaska and without them to Missouri, Texas, California and last month to Rome with her
classmates. She was lucky enough to have experienced love between herself
and Casey Buxbaum.
Olivia was killed in a single vehicle crash from which she was
ejected on April 27,2008.
We will miss Olivia’s beautiful, beautiful smile. We will miss her
shuffling upstairs in her PJs and slippers to have a bowl of cereal late on
weekend mornings. We will miss Liv and Lars laughing over their Amy’s
computer problems and Jon’s guitar playing. We will miss her and remember
her always. And while our lives will never be the same, they will go on because we know that Liv would want that.
We, her parents, Jon and Amy, and our son Lars will miss her along
with her Grandma Carol and Grandpa Pat Young of Boise, ID; her Gram
Ruth Kvaalen of Lambert; Aunt Libby and Uncle Rob Knotts and cousin
Bobby of Lambert; Uncle Greg and Aunt Cristie Young and cousins Chase,
Chandler, Cort and Caden of Boise, ID; Uncle David and Aunt Valerie
Young and cousins Morgan and Fisher of Poulsbo, WA; her schoolmates;
and all her many, many friends.
Olivia has joined her little brother Ostein, and her Grandpa Oscar
Kvaalen.
In Loving Memory Of
Olivia Kvaalen
I am from the beaches of Norway,
to the endless plains of Montana
I am from two loving parents
and one very annoying, yet lovable, brother
I am from early mornings helping my dad,
to late nights making him worry and mad
I am from a short temper and a loud mouth,
to being there for friends when
they need it the most
I am from magazines and makeup,
to books and photography
I am from video games, TVs and mp3s
I am from the kids on Gulla Gulla Island
and Allegra’s Window,
to the ones living in Tree Hill and South Park
I am from burnt pizza and too sour lemonade,
to the perfect macaroni and cheese
and chocolate milk
I am from sports and giving it all I have,
to having those days where you just don’t care
I am from memories,
good and bad,
and that’s what makes me who I am
by Olivia Jane Kvaalen
Olivia Jane Kvaalen
April 23, 1991 — April 27, 2008
Funeral Service
10:00 A.M., Thursday, May 1, 2008
Lambert High School Gym
Lambert, Montana
Officiating
Pastor George Karres
Pastor Josh Magyar
Music
Chantelle Verschoot Judy Thiessen
Casketbearers
Gregory Rauschendorfer
Michael Vaira
Tanner Irigoin
Benjamin Diede
Matt Mullin
Ross Thornton
MaKenzie Johnson
Jasmine Murray
Honorary Casketbearers
All who loved Olivia
Ushers
Ian Kunesh
Taylor Sheehan
Jennifer Evenson
Janelle Rosaaen
Danielle Irigoin
Laken Mullin
Dominique Irigoin
Dustin Rauschendorfer
Haley Mindt
Interment
Lambert Cemetery
Lambert, MT
Lunch will be served at the Lambert Old
School Gym following graveside services
You may share your remembrances and condolences with
the family at the Fulkerson Funeral Home website
www.fulkersons.com