Lavern "Ernie" Farnsworth Wiltse's Obituary
LaVern Farnsworth Wiltse, our beloved "Ernie," passed away peacefully on February 6, 2026, at the age of 72. Born in Boulder City, Nevada, on July 22, 1953, Ernie lived a life that was as historic as it was colorful. Throughout a series of recent health challenges, she never lost the qualities that defined her: her kindness, her grace, and her deep appreciation for the beauty in the world. She spent her final days expressing how lucky she felt for every experience and every person she loved along the way.
A Trailblazer in the Skies and on the Ground
Ernie’s adventurous spirit was evident early on. Raised in Utah, she attended Provo High School and Dixie College, where she made a name for herself as a competitive barrel racer. Her love for speed and precision eventually led her to the military.
Before starting her family, Ernie made history as the first female rotary-wing pilot in the U.S. Army Reserve, breaking barriers in the sky long before women were commonly seen in the cockpit. Her dedication to aviation was later recognized with her induction into the Women in Aviation Pioneer Hall of Fame.
While serving in the Army Reserve at Camp Williams, Utah, she met Joe McKamey. After they married, Ernie moved to the McKamey ranch in Montana. In Great Falls, she raised her four daughters with the same grit and heart she applied to everything else, fully embracing the rugged life under the Big Sky.
A Life of Hard Work and Deep Devotion
In 1993, Ernie returned to her Utah roots. There, she eventually reunited with her longtime friend, Harry Wiltse. They married in 2011, beginning a chapter of her life defined by profound companionship. Harry was her steadfast rock; his devotion and support through her later illnesses were a gift to Ernie and her entire family. To Harry, Ernie wasn’t just his wife—she was his absolute best friend for nearly 50 years.
Ernie was never afraid of hard work. Throughout her life, she wore many hats—serving as a TSA agent, security guard, bus aide, and juvenile detention officer among many other roles. She was also a proud business owner and rancher, proving time and again that there was nothing she couldn’t do.
Stories, Song, and Spirit
Ernie was more than the sum of her work. She was a master storyteller with a guitar in her hand and a song in her heart. A gifted artist, she captured the world’s beauty on canvas and through her many crafts, including a love for sewing and quilting.
An outdoorswoman through and through, Ernie was a legendary shot who was just as comfortable in a horse saddle as she was on the back of a motorcycle. She also possessed a "green thumb," maintaining a massive garden in Montana and surrounding her Utah home with flowers and berries. In her later years, she found simple joy in relaxing in her hot tub and spending time with her "fur babies."
Ernie didn’t just have a family; she built a community. Her heart was big enough to hold everyone—from her own children to the many foster kids, host kids, "chosen family," and even her nurses and roommates at the medical facilities where she spent time the last couple of years. If you were in Ernie’s circle, you were family. She will be remembered for her infectious laughter, her resilience, and her ability to find beauty in the simplest things.
Those Who Went Before
Ernie is enjoying a joyful reunion on the other side. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Thedora (Hendrickson) Farnsworth; her sister, Jana Rasmussen; her brother, Lance Farnsworth; her nephews, Jeramey Mellen and Allen Colby; and her step-daughter, Tina Wiltse.
Those Who Carry Her Legacy
She leaves behind a large, loving family that will miss her dearly, starting with her husband, Harry Wiltse.
Ernie's legacy lives on through her daughters and their families:
● Kori (McKamey) and Luke LaLiberty
● Kayla (McKamey) and Steven Kinder
● Kimberly (McKamey) and Van Oakes
● Karissa (McKamey) and John Sutton
She is also survived by her step-children, Zachary Wiltse and Jen Wiltse. Ernie was the proud grandmother of 19 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren, all of whom were the lights of her life.
She is further survived by her siblings and their families:
● Susan and Joe Mellen and family
● Stephen Farnsworth and family
● Bruce and Vivian Farnsworth and family
● The families of her late sister, Jana Rasmussen, and late brother, Lance Farnsworth.
Beyond her immediate family, she leaves behind many nieces, nephews, foster children, and dear friends.
Services and Remembrances
We will gather to honor Ernie’s incredible life and service with a military ceremony at the Utah Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
Cemetery Address: 17111 1700 W, Bluffdale, UT 84065
Date & Time: Monday, March 30 at 1 PM
A reception will follow at the Willow Park Stake Center in Lehi.
Reception Address: 1998 West 900 North, Lehi, Utah 84043
In lieu of flowers, Ernie would have loved for you to plant something beautiful in your own garden or hug a "fur baby" today. Her family wishes to express their deepest gratitude for the compassion and care shown to her during her final days. She passed just as she lived—with a grateful heart.
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