Violet Marie Harris Van Bockern Chapman

Marie was born in Anaconda, MT to Deane and Ivy M. Harris, the first of four children. After graduating from Anaconda High School she worked for the Montana State Telephone Company as an operator. During this time, she met and married the Rev. George L. Van Bockern in 1954, the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. In 1959 they moved to Bismarck, ND where he was the Associate Pastor in the First Presbyterian Church, along with his close friend and head Pastor, Dr. William R. Lindsay in a team ministry. This association continued when they moved to the First Presbyterian Church in Spokane, WA. Rev. Van Bockern died in 1989. Marie later married Wayne H. Chapman, who died in 2001. 

Survivors include her two sons Deane Van Bockern (Judith) of Spokane Valley and Brian Van Bockern of Antioch, CA. Additionally, she has two grandchildren Tonya Karunaratne of Spokane and Brendan Van Bockern (Trina) of San Francisco, CA and five great-grandsons – Julian Morrow of San Francisco, and Lanny Jr, Brian, Lionel and Raynehil Karunaratne, of Spokane. Marie is also survived by younger brother Eugene (Sharon) Harris, and sister-in-law Dixie Harris, of Anaconda, MT, and many nieces and nephews. 

Services were held for Marie on Saturday, March 1, 2025 in Spokane, WA.