LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Benhart Andrew Kivilahti was born on Jan. 30, 1937. Better known as “Papa” to many, he passed away on April 24, 2014, in the comfort of his own home with many of his beloved family members at his side.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Hilma Kivilahti; sister, Helen Dresher; and grandson, Mark Kivilahti.

He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Nancy Kivilahti; as well as his four daughters, Jane Valk, Barbara (Dave) Harrell, Lori Kelleher, and Cathy (Jeff) Balich; his grandchildren, Gina Price, Jason Ferrario, Kevin (Anki) Mihovich, Patrick, Chris and Ashley Kelleher, Caitlyn and Kylie Balich; his great-grandchildren, Austin Kivilahti, Sophia and Charlotte Price, Sydney and Tyler Kelleher; his siblings, Wilbert Ranta and Thelma Heckila; and numerous nieces and nephews.  

He was a young man at heart, who was forever tinkering and keeping busy with his hobbies. He retired from Penske after 25 years of service as a skilled mechanic, and his love for cars never subsided.

Even after retirement he remained the mechanic for his family. They jokingly recount how he could easily diagnose a car problem with just a mimicked sound of the problem.

Originally from Biwabik, Minnesota, he spent 28 years in Spring Valley, Calif., in a home he built from the ground up with his family. Here he enjoyed his gardening, the daily “funny” paper, crosswords, westerns, and was a diehard San Francisco Forty Niners and Giants fan who never missed a game, and often watched them with his grandchildren and daughters.

While he was a man of few words, he was a genuine, caring, patient man who supported the many people in his life wholeheartedly. He was the handyman for his home, and that of his daughter Lori. Without request, he maintained both daily.

He was a huge support system in the lives of many, and was a strong father figure to his grandchildren who have many cherished memories of tree forts and toys he built, as well as the passing on of his many skills to them. They all lovingly refer to him as “Papa.”

Benhart “Papa” Kivilahti will be missed by many. You are welcome to join his family and friends at his memorial service at Jones & Lewis Clearlake Memorial Chapel at 16140 Main St., Lower Lake, on Saturday, May 17, at 2 p.m.

Please sign Benhart’s online guest book at www.jonesandlewis.com .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Thomas Clyde Blavet Sr. of Kelseyville died on Friday, May 2, following a long battle with cancer. He was 69 years old.

Tom was born on Dec. 23, 1944, in Duluth, Minn., to Frank Peter Blavet and Florence Mary (Prudhomme) Blavet, who together raised six children.

He attended Duluth Cathedral High School. While Tom was in high school, his father spent nearly a year working in construction in Greenland, leaving Tom and his mother to run two gas stations they owned in Duluth.

Tom graduated from high school in 1962 at age 17. At that time, his entire family relocated to Southern California.

While only 17 years old, Tom entered the military, serving in the US Army from 1962 to 1965, then completing his reserve obligation in 1968.

He served in Cuba during the Bay of Pigs and later went to Vietnam. Being a Green Beret and in Special sorces, Tom was somewhat daring and often volunteered for special missions, for which he received honors for sacrificial and valorous service.

During his service, he completed a military justice course. Following honorable discharge from the military, Tom worked as a motorcycle police officer in Los Angeles from 1967 to 1971. His work included covering major events from the East L.A. riots to the Malibu fires.

During this time, Tom attended college in Los Angeles, receiving an associate's degree in 1970 with a major in police science.

He also obtained his Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Peace Officer Standards Training (POST) certificates, took advanced training for sexual assault crimes investigation, and completed an advanced academy on child abuse. In addition, he was a SWAT team member.

After relocating to Northern California, from 1972 to 1975 Tom attended Humboldt State University. He moved to Sonoma County and obtained his bachelor of arts degree in business management in 1976. He completed 12 units in Sonoma State University's Master's Program in Public Administration.

Tom received a lifetime vocational teaching credential for the State of California as well as a community college lifetime teaching credential.

In Northern California he continued to work in law enforcement for approximately one year in Mendocino County and three years in Humboldt County as a deputy sheriff.

While he was a deputy sheriff in Humboldt County, Tom was a field training officer, range master and a member of the SWAT team. He also lectured at law enforcement classes.

In 1975, Tom moved to Sonoma County. He attended Sonoma State University, and worked various jobs due to the economy: including campus peace officer, a licensed milk pasteurizer and also as a truck driver. From 1977 to 2007, Tom worked as a real estate broker.

In 2005, while dating Suzanne Bettencourt-Crouch, he obtained employment with the County of Lake, originally as a code enforcement officer and then later as a building inspector and storm water/grading inspector.

In 2006, Tom sold his ranch in Sonoma County, moved to Lake County and purchased the old Gaddy Ranch. That same year, he and Suzanne were married.

Tom always put family and family activities first. Those who knew him best called him “Tom Terrific” for his sense of fun, his fearlessness and love of those around him.

His hobbies and interests included working on the ranch, riding his Harley, horseback riding, going to the movies, playing lots of jokes on lots of people, creative cooking, reading the newspaper and watching many sports events on TV.

Taking Suzanne dancing was another favorite activity. Tom had always loved to dance, and once when still a teenager in Southern California he managed to win the dance contest on one episode of “American Bandstand.”

He enjoyed attending St. Peter's Catholic Church and visiting with many friends each Sunday.

He was a member of the American Legion, Moose Lodge and the Lake County Passion Play.

Tom is preceded in death by parents Frank and Florence Blavet.

He is survived by wife, Suzanne Blavet; children, Michael ( Julie) Blavet of Santa Rosa, Denise (Todd) Wolmuth of Santa Rosa, David Whittier of Shasta Lake, Christina (DJ) Aragon of Bend, Ore., Daniel (Zoila) Crouch of Ukiah, Thomas Blavet Jr. of Happy Valley, Ore., and Frankie Blavet of Tracy; Uncle Bert and Aunt Maureen Prudhomme of Colorado Springs, Colo.; former spouses Virginia Meyer of Sebastopol and Margie Rudich of Portland, Ore.; and grandchildren, Britney, Jessica, Ashley, Hannah, Caryn, Cameron, Dylan and Skyller.

He also is survived by brothers and sisters, Barbara (John) Lunda of St. Paul, Minn.; Sr. Mary Florence of Kearney, Neb.; Michelle (Bill) Corbin of Los Alamitos; Mark (Catherine) Blavet of Tampa, Fla.; and Glen (Arlene) Blavet of San Marcos. Tom also leaves behind more than 50 nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

Father Oscar Diaz will officiate at a funeral Mass at noon on Friday, May 9, at St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, 801 N. Main St., in Lakeport. A viewing will take place before the Mass from 10 a.m. to noon.

Following the funeral service there will be a procession to St. Mary's Cemetery on Highway 175 for a graveside service, which will include a Military Honors service by the Lake County Military Funeral Honors Team.

A reception will follow at St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church's parish hall, located next to the church on N. Main Street.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Tom's name would be appreciated to the Lake County Passion Play, P.O. Box 386, Lakeport, CA 95453, telephone 707-279-0349; or to the American Legion Tredway Post No. 194, P.O. Box 411, Kelseyville, CA 95451.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Arlin Pischke, 75, passed away surrounded by love on Sunday, April 27, 2014.

Arlin is survived by his wife, Rose, sons, Arlin (Danielle) Pischke and Kevin (Dena) Pischke; daughters, Kathy (Dave) Schultz, Allyson (Scott) Quinlan, Karyn (Brad) Rasmussen and Susan (David) Wolf.  Arlin is also survived by his 16 grandchildren and sister, Bonnie Hintz.

Arlin was born Jan. 15, 1939 in Ripon, Wisc., to Richard and Sadie Pischke.  

He spent four years enlisted in the U.S. Navy and additional time in the US Army and Navy Reserves.   

In 1960 Arlin met and married the love of his life, Rose. They spent the next 52 years together raising their six children and enjoying their 16 grandchildren.

Arlin moved the family to Lakeport in 1978 where he worked in the title insurance and real estate business. He was an active member of the Kiwanis Club for the past 36 years.  

Arlin served on the Lakeport City Council from 1982 to 1990. During those terms he served as mayor of Lakeport twice.  

Arlin also was an active member of St. Mary's Parish.

He will be remembered for his love of the Lord, his wife, his family, his country and his community.  He spent his life in servitude of these things.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 3, at St. Mary's Church in Lakeport followed with a graveside service at St. Mary's Cemetery, Highway 175, Lakeport.

A celebration of Arlin's life will follow at St. Mary's Parish Hall.

For further information call Chapel of the Lakes (FD-1336) at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .

Ruth M. Scott
08/07/1927-02/14/2014

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Ruth Scott passed away peacefully at her home on February 14, 2014. She was 86.  

A Lake County resident for more than half a century, she was a longtime member of her Baptist Church, and was very involved in her community and several organizations.  

A true beauty inside and out, Ruth enjoyed life to its fullest. Ruth was an avid dancer who loved to make a fashion statement.

Born Ruth Bakker, she was the youngest of 11 children and leaves behind a large extended family and fiancé, Herbert Gladwell.

Please sign Ruth’s online guestbook at www.jonesandlewis.com . 

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Richard Charles Engle, better known as “Dick,” passed away unexpectedly on April 29, 2014.

Dick is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Helen; his sons, George (Annie), Brian (Kristen) and David (Troy); his daughter, Cheryl; and grandchildren, Marissa, Mathew and Kelsie; and his two “babies,” Scarlett and Pennie.

Many knew Dick as a Kelseyville fixture at “Dick’s Garage” the shop that he owned and operated with Helen in Kelseyville for some 39 plus years.

Dick was born December 23, 1932, in Illinois. His family moved west when he was a young child first to Vallejo and then settled in Lake County. He grew up in Lakeport and stayed there until he enlisted in the US Navy in 1951.

He proudly served in the Korean War on the USS Philippine Sea. He returned to civilian life and Lake County in 1959.

Back in Lake County, Dick drove lumber trucks for Pacific Lumber Co. and Kelseyville Lumber. He then went to work as a mechanic for Ford Motor Co.

In 1963 Dick met the love of his life, Helen, or “Sweetie Pie” as he lovingly referred to her. They ran the garage and raised their four children in Kelseyville.

Upon “retiring” Dick continued to work on vehicles and numerous projects on their property. Then came his other passion in life (besides Sweetie Pie and his two dogs), his 1956 Auto Car that he restored to show quality and as fate would have it; he died while working on it.

Dick was loved by family and friends and will be sadly missed but his memory will remain in our hearts … Keep on trucking Dude …

The Engle family also would like to send a special “thank you” to Dick's friends from the Kelseyville Fire Department for going above and beyond in their time of need.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary – FD1336, www.chapelofthelakes.com .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Anna Laura Burgoyne passed April 23, 2014, after a four-year courageous journey.

She continued to amaze all with her positive, F A, spiritual and magical ways.

She chose to travel this path with her husband, Richard; sons, Jeremy and Jesse; and grandsons, Zel and Seth.

Flowers are unnecessary; donations are appreciated.

Cremation arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary – FD1336.