Cheers goes to Doreen Cavin

Doreen Cavin, daughter of Ivan and Darlene Ibsen, fondly recalls the wonderful experiences she had as a child in Whitefish, proclaiming “there is no better place to grow up.”

She loved school and remembers her teachers as being fantastic. Her family moved from Third Street to the lake when she was 5 years old, and she recounts the idyllic days of summer when she would pack a lunch in the morning and “head on down” for the lake where she would then spend the whole day in the water.

She remembers that “we had freedom to play” and explains that neither the kids nor their parents had reason to fear for their safety because the entire community watched out for their well-being.

The young friends all got together for games of kick the can, Annie-I-Over, jump rope, hide and seek, and other fun games. She still has a collection of aggies, cat eyes and steelies which she won playing marbles.

After graduation from the local school system, Doreen attended the University of Montana where she graduated with a degree in business administration. After a stint of teaching in Seely Lake, she went to the Bay Area in California for more teaching.

While there, she met and married Ben, an engineering graduate from Stanford University. In 2004 they “came home to Whitefish.”

They have three children, a daughter Lise, and two sons, Andrew and Aaron. Family friends will remember her brother, Rich Ibsen.

Doreen gives freely of her time and talent to such things as the Penguin Plunge (yes, she jumps) which raises funds for Special Olympics Montana, the Literacy Volunteers of Flathead County which promotes literacy, and Relay for Life which raises money for cancer research.

She also is active in her church and its community activities.

Central to Doreen’s volunteer work is the Whitefish Soroptomist Club. She is pleased to be a stalwart of “this wonderful volunteer group” which does so much for the community by providing clothes and merchandise at minimal cost at their Thrift Haus, then donating the proceeds to scholarships, grants and other community benefits.

She volunteers because she believes “there is nothing more satisfying than making someone’s life better, even in a small way.”

Doreen, your tireless efforts have touched the lives of countless people in all walks of life, making their lives better, and we thank you.

— Jake Heckathorn