Lavar K Thornton was born October 10, 1932, in Nampa, Idaho, and passed away at home April 8, 2023. The oldest son of Lavar Ira Thornton and Alzina Kloepfer, he grew up on a farm west of Kuna with two sisters and five younger brothers. He and his siblings learned to work hard by milking cows and working in the fields. For his first eight years of schooling, Lavar attended the local four-room Happy Valley School. After starting high school in Nampa, he transferred to Kuna High School before his junior year and graduated in 1950. He played sports at Kuna, nurturing a love for sports that would continue throughout his life. As a senior, Lavar participated in Vo-Ag/FFA for its inaugural year in Kuna. He remained an advocate and supporter of the Kuna FFA his whole life. In 1953, Lavar was drafted into the U.S. Army. He completed basic training at Fort Ord and was accepted into leadership school. While stationed in Salzburg, Austria, he explored Europe during furloughs and returned home in 1955. The summer after high school, he started dating a high school classmate, Wilma Stroebel, and they were married July 21, 1956, in Kuna. Children soon followed: Bradley in 1957, Anne in 1960, Layne in 1961 and Connie in 1962. Their family was sealed in the Ogden Utah Temple in 1977. They had been married for 66 years when Wilma passed in December. Lavar started farming with his father after high school. He never considered another profession and continued to drive the combine and other farm equipment until he was 88. Lavar and Wilma began their married life farming and milking cows west of Kuna. In 1961 they purchased the farm where Wilma grew up, then in 1962 started expanding the farm south of Kuna. This was a new adventure for Lavar and his dad -- clearing the sagebrush, drilling irrigation wells and watering with sprinklers. He continued to expand the farm and eventually began farming with his son Layne and grandsons. He was proud of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved to watch them participate in activities and reach milestones in church, sports, and education. Lavar was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He held callings in young mens' and high priest groups and coached church basketball teams. In the community, Lavar served on the Ada County Planning and Zoning Commission, the USDA Farm Service Agency Board, and the Idaho State Alfalfa Seed Commission. For the past 10 years, Lavar and Wilma volunteered on the steering committee to bring a Boys and Girls Club to Kuna. He was looking forward to the groundbreaking for the Kuna building on June 30. In later years, Lavar and Wilma traveled the world on many cruises and excursions. Lavar was fascinated to see how people lived around the world. He would often say, "Wherever you go, someone calls it home." After all his travels he still thought the most beautiful view was looking over the valley from Kuna Butte during sunrise. Lavar never met a stranger -- a new person was an opportunity to learn something. He was curious about everything and was well-read. With a sharp memory and quick wit, he had personal running jokes with many friends and family members. He never let his children see his fortune cookie message, which somehow always read, "You are a sweet and lovable guy." He is survived by children Brad (Julie) Thornton, Anne Thornton, Layne (Lori) Thornton, and Connie (Troy) Roberts; siblings Darl (Linda) Thornton, Joel (Karen) Thornton, Arland (Shirley) Thornton, Del Thornton, Ralene (Courtney) Patten, and Royce Thornton; 13 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, sister Alzina Mae Egbert, daughter-in-law Lisa Thornton, and grandson Matthew Roberts. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kuna Boys and Girls Club-Capital Campaign. Send c/o B&G Club of Ada County, 610 E 42nd St, Garden City, ID 83714. Funeral services will be held Monday, April 17, at 11 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 224 E. Avalon, in Kuna. A viewing will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 16, and once again, prior to the services, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the church.
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