Aune Harvey, 77, of Richland, passed away on March 9, 2003 at the Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice House in Kennewick.

Aune was the youngest of eight children born to Sam and Liisa Marttila who emigrated from Finland at the beginning of the 20th century. They lived on a homestead farm in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula UP near the small village of Rock, Michigan. Most of the other children were much older than Aune, except for Ellen, who was three years older and was therefore Aune’s constant companion and model for growing up.

In her early school years Aune attended a one- room schoolhouse located about a mile from her home. All elementary grades of students were in the same room. When new elementary and high schools were built in Rock, about six miles from the homestead farm, Aune went to school in Rock. She completed elementary and high school in Rock.

When she graduated from Rock high school in 1944, Aune went to Chicago where Ellen was working as a waitress in a restaurant in Chicago. Aune also worked in the same restaurant and she and Ellen lived with an older sister Ann and her husband. Ellen was dating Joe, an instructor at the Navy Radio Material School at Navy Pier in Chicago. Eventually Joe brought friend Roland Harvey, another Navy Instructor, along to accompany Aune on their dates. Joe Garbarino and Roland Harvey became brothers in law when they married these two pretty Finnish girls in 1945.

After Roland was discharged from the Navy, he and Aune went to Oregon where he completed college in Corvallis in 1950. Aune worked as a manicurist to help pay bills during part of the time at college. Then they moved to up sate New York while Roland worked for General Electric Company. The first son, Roland was born in 1949 in Corvallis.

They stayed in New York for three years before transferring to the General Electric Company at Hanford in 1953. The second son, Eric, was born in Syracuse, New York in 1952. They lived in Richland, Washington for the rest of her life. A daughter, Janice was born in Richland in 1953 and another daughter, Carol, was born in 1959.

She was active in the PTA while her children completed their elementary schooling in Richland. She was a member of the Richland Lutheran Church and attended the services regularly when that was possible. She participated in evangelism programs with her husband and was always faithful to God. She was an inspiration to her husband, the children and others close to her. Son Roland passed away in 1976 after a long illness.

After the children were out of school she went back to work in the fabric department of a local store where she worked for about 12 years. During that time she had many loyal customers whom took delight in helping with their sewing activities. Her co-workers at the store all thought highly of her and she had many nice things to say about them.

Later on she enjoyed trips with Roland to Arizona, Hawaii, and Mexico in the winter times. In the summer times there was camping on the Olympic Peninsula where they owned property. She became ill and later immobile from strokes, but she maintained her faith in God and was in good spirits until the end of her life.

Aune is survived by her husband Roland A. Harvey; son, Eric R. Harvey; daughter, Janice E. Griffin; daughter, Carol L. Yearout; grandchildren, Elijah Harvey, Shaune Dunlap, Jonathan Yearout and great granddaughter, Niisa Dunlap.

She is preceded in death by her son, Roland A. Harvey 1976.

A public graveside will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens on Thursday March 13th, at 1 PM and a memorial service will be held at the Richland Lutheran Church on Thursday March 13th, at 2 PM. There will be visitations held on, Wednesday March 12th, from 8 AM-6 PM, and Thursday March 13th, 8 AM- 12 PM.

Memorial contributions may be to the Richland Lutheran Senior Center, 625 Berkshire Pl., Richland, WA 99352 or Richland Lutheran Church, 901 Van Giesen, Richland, WA 99352 or the Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice House, 2108 W. Entait, Kennewick, WA 99336.