June 26, 1931 ~ Oct. 18, 2020
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Nita “Laverne” Balko, 89, of Olton, went to her heavenly home on October 18, 2020, after a fall sent her to the hospital where she died peacefully.
Laverne was born June 26, 1931, to Marvin and Vera (Hukill) Qualls, in Amherst, Texas. She graduated from Amherst High School and got a degree from Draughons Business college in Lubbock. She did secretarial and bookkeeping jobs through the years. She married Floyd West in 1949 and they had two sons, Rickey and Danny. After the death of Floyd, she married Rodney Balko in 1958 and they had daughter Kelly. Rodney’s job in auto sales took them to the cities of Sudan, Earth, and Hale Center. In 1971, they moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, where she worked in a high end gift shop and then owned her own store. She and Rodney eventually opened their own new and used car business where they worked until they retired. They moved to Olton in 2013 because of health reasons and Rodney preceded her in death in 2015.
Laverne was a devoted wife to Rodney, who kept their lives rich with new adventures and the unexpected. She loved her family and dedicated herself in the roll of Grandma in Las Cruces. She especially loved Christmas when she was surrounded by her family and lavished each person with expressions of her love. She was fiercely independent, had a spicey vocabulary, and loved pretty things. She could discuss national or local events, celebrity gossip, and looked forward to reading several news sources each day.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Rickey West; her daughter, Kelly Bong; and her brother, Gerald Qualls.
Survivors include her son, Danny West and his wife, Donna of Fieldton; daughter-in-law, Claudia West of Lubbock; stepson, Ken Balko and his wife, Hellis of Rochester, WA; stepdaughter, Janna Mengus and her husband, Mike of Levelland; and her sister-in-law, Leota Qualls of Statesboro, GA. She was blessed with six grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.
A private family memorial service will be held at a later date. Cremation arrangements were under the care of Ramage Funeral Directors.
Memorials may be made to the Olton Volunteer Ambulance Association, PO Box 1087, Olton, Texas 79064.