Blackmer Funeral Home

Gaye Aini Persinger, 94, of Grangeville, passed away

Gaye was born in Raahe, Finland on April 10, 1915, a daughter of Pauli and Helmi Heinonen.  She came to the United States through Ellis Island with her mother in 1923. She landed in New York and then went on to Rocklin, California where she completed school and married Burt Dunton.  She had two daughters, Faye and Jackie.  She and Burt divorced.  In 1940 she moved to Alaska.  There she met the love of her life, Glen Barnard Persinger, and they married on June 24, 1967.  Glen retired from the bakery in 1974 and they moved to Grants Pass, Oregon.  There they began to move between Oregon and Washington until they settled in Grangeville in 2005. 

Gaye is survived by her husband, Glen; her daughters, Jacqueline Mitchell of Virginia, and Faye Panichello (Joseph) of Alaska; her brothers, Frank (Loretta) of California, and Matti (Marjia) of Finland.  She has four step children, Faye Pitchford of Grangeville, Jack Chapman (Glenda) of Lewiston, Lynne Lefler of Grangeville, and Glen (Chip) Persinger, Jr. of Seattle. She has 17 grandchildren, including Greg and Kathy Johnson, whom she and Glen have lived with since March of 2008.  She also had numerous great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. 

The family would like to thank the caregivers, Rebecca Hagenbuch, Sherry Jolliff, and Shawna McKinney (great granddaughter) for the love and care they gave Grandma in her final days.  We would also like to thank Mark Imus for his support, care, and attention to her medical needs, all the Hospice workers, and Askers Pharmacy and Irwin Drug for all the care and support. 

Funeral service will be held Saturday, April 18, 2009, at 11:00 a.m., at the Mount Idaho Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Prairie View Cemetery. A pot luck dinner will follow the burial back at the church.   

May she rest in peace with the Lord.   

Arrangements are under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville.