Lavina Goering

Lavina Mae Goering was born January 30, 1928 on a farm near Moundridge, McPherson County, Kansas, the youngest of nine children born to Henry H. and Marie Schmidt Ediger. She attended Lake Shore Grade School near Inman, Kansas. She was baptized upon the confession of her faith into membership in the Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church on May 29, 1944. She graduated from Buhler High School in 1946. She was married to Emil L. Goering on September 1, 1948.
She was very supportive and helpful in furthering her husband's attainment of a M.D. degree in 1956. After finishing his internship, they moved with their four children to Mountain Lake, Minnesota where her husband began his medical practice. They purchased an old home in Mountain Lake and Lavina performed her magic on this home, decorating it with great charm. She reluctantly moved from Mountain Lake to Pretty Prairie, Kansas. Here again they purchased a large home and she again redecorated the home. She was very active in the Pretty Prairie Mennonite Church and in the community. She was very active in her study club. She took courses in hat making and in interior decorating. She loved nothing better than entertaining. Several times each year, she would invite 3 to 4 couples over for dinner, where she excelled with her cooking and entertaining skills.
Circumstances again dictated a move, this time to Hutchinson, Kansas in 1963. Here again she was very active in the Hutchinson Mennonite Church and in community affairs. She was very active in the Reno County Medical Society Auxiliary. She gave birth to a fifth child in August 1966. She was very happy in their country home, which was adjacent to a golf course. She took up the game of golf and became quite good at it.
In 1970 she again had to give up her home, church and friends when they moved to Topeka, Kansas to further his medical career. Here she immediately became active in the Southern Hills Mennonite Church where she served as president of the Friendship Circle for at least one year. She was a master quilter and she made a number of quilts at home and helped the Friendship Circle with their annual quilt for the Kansas MCC Sale for many years. In 1983 she was instrumental in organizing the Olive Branch, a combination thrift store and gift shop, which operated as an outreach of Southern Hills Church. Lavina was co-manager of the store for several years.
Lavina became diabetic in 1966 and required insulin on a daily basis until her death. In summer of 2004 she became ill with a pancreatic cancer which eventually caused her death on May 4, 2005.
She is survived by her husband, Emil Goering, her five children and their spouses: Beth and Allan Tanner, Wichita; Michael and Lyn Goering, Topeka; Les and Linda Goering, Topeka; Tom and Deb Goering, Garner, NC; and Jonas and Sherry Goering, Topeka; and nine grandchildren: Bradley Smith and Naomi Tanner Smith, Federal Way, WA; Trish Goering, Topeka; Megan Goering, Grinnell, IA; Katrina Goering, Ben Goering, Kevin Goering and Jacob Goering, all of Topeka; Henry Goering, Garner, NC; and Joel Goering, Topeka.
A memorial service will be at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, May 8, 2005 at Southern Hills Mennonite Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Midland Hospice House 200 SW Frazier Cir. Topeka, KS 66606.Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel is in charge of arrangements. To leave a special message for the family online, please visit www.penwellgabel.com.