Rita "Peggy" Levine, our Mom, passed away peacefully in her home on July 18, 2021, at the age of 90. She was born December 18, 1930, the youngest of seven children, to Louis and Kathryn Unrecht on the family farm in Ferdinand, Idaho. After the death of Mom's dad in 1937, her mother maintained the farm until 1944. Upon moving to Spokane, Mom attended Rogers HS and Holy Names.

In 1951, she met our Dad, Larry Levine, stationed at Fairchild AFB. They were married in 1953, and lived in Cheney while Dad attended Eastern. As their family grew, they moved to the south hill in in 1959.

During the late 50s and early 60s, Mom balanced part-time secretarial work at a Cheney law office, and in 1968, with all four kids in school, she began her next 30+ years as the executive secretary for "Wampum," an annual fundraising auction for cultural arts.

Mom had the ability to balance and manage her kids on the go, packing school lunches, chores for us to complete before dinner, etc. Mom or Dad were dedicated chauffeurs and spectators, regularly carting kids to music lessons, school outings, Scouting and athletic functions. Summers meant time spent at swim lessons, picnics and camping trips to Lake Roosevelt (Haag's Cove or Porcupine Bay) and Coeur d'Alene Lake.

When we left the house for college, an empty nest afforded Mom and Dad more time to continue connections with friends and relatives throughout the Northwest. They made trips to Spain, and later to Sweden and Germany, where they connected with their cousins who rolled out the red carpet for their American family.

Mom was known for several special dishes and desserts, especially her apple pies, "raw" apple cakes, and her "Huckleberry Buckle," which she hesitated to share the recipe. Mom and Dad's annual trips up to Green Bluff for fruit and vegetables meant that she would devote another part of the summer months to canning dozens of quarts of peaches and pears. These became a staple of morning breakfasts throughout the year. Her dill pickles from a 100-year old recipe had such a unique taste, and her version of "almond roca" became a family tradition. Candy making and canning pickles will not be the same without her tacit approval at holiday time.

As a 70+ year resident of Spokane, Mom (and Dad, too), Spokane was truly home with many friends and family. There were high school friends, church and school folks from the years spent at St. Peter's parish, and neighbors with whom she had become good friends. It was quite common for Mom and Dad to share stories at parties, often over a game of cards, or just a glass of wine.

Dad passed away in 2008, just short of their 55th anniversary. Our brother Dave later passed suddenly in 2014. However, Mom was never alone, cherishing regular visits from her children, nieces, nephews, and especially her 18 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren the "grands."

In these later years, Mom faithfully corresponded with family and friends, and her days were particularly brightened by those who kept her mailbox busy! ( …you know who you are… :-) ). Those letters and cards filled baskets and covered the fridge and cabinets, often with accompanying photos and personalized pictures from the grands. Family and neighbor visits further proved to be a key source of joy for Mom.

We will all miss those times with her, the card games, and the many stories that Mom told, as she was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

She is survived by her three children: Carolyn Bauer; Dan (Stacy) Levine; and Pete (Sandy) Levine; her 18 grandchildren, and her 24 great-grandchildren (and four more greats on the way!). She is also survived by two first cousins living in Germany.

There will be a private memorial and celebration of life for the immediate family TBD later.