She resided at the family home in Glacier View. Lynne had lung cancer and put up a good battle for a year before the Lord took her home.
Lynne was born Nov. 20, 1932, in Toledo, Ohio, and lived there with her parents, Merton and Mary (Molly) Watson, until her graduation from Waite High School in 1950. She married Eugene A. Whitmill on June 24, 1950, and they resided in Temperance, Mich., until they moved north to Beaverton, Mich., in 1963. They had a farm for 10 years and moved north again to Alaska in 1973.
Lynne and Eugene built Long Rifle Lodge along the Glenn Highway and ran the business until 1993, when they sold and retired a mile down the road.
She always loved running the lodge and the people they would see from all over the world. There was always a hand for someone in need, whether it was gas, a meal or a room for the night. Lynne was involved with the community and kept very active before her health prevented her involvement. She started a local library at the lodge, was a notary, president of the community council and captain of the ambulance service when it first started in the area. She set up for EMT classes in the lodge so others could train as well. She was also a custodian at the Glacier View School for a few years. She enjoyed hunting and outdoor activities for as long as she could. She also loved working with stained glass at home and decorative painting with her friends.
Lynne is survived by Eugene, her husband of 60 years; daughter, Theresa (Kevin) Adams; son, Michael (Maria) Whitmill; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She also is survived by a sister, Jeanne Klein, who resides in Ohio.
She was predeceased by son, Lawrence, in 1953; father, Merton Watson in 1983; and mother, Mary (Molly) Watson in 1985. Her older sister, Mary Louise Volrath, passed away in 1973.
There will not be a service, which is what she wanted. She didn’t want to be a cause of sadness and would rather people celebrate life. She will be greatly missed. Following is a short version of a prayer that was her favorite to live by:
Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And the wisdom to know the difference.
Arrangements by the Valley Funeral Home & Crematory.
Source: Frontiersman, 18 October 2010
