Lana Habben

On Wednesday May 25th Lana Marie Habben was called home to be with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. She was a treasure to those who knew her and she left us the greatest gift of all: The gift of having no doubt as to where she would call her eternal home. Her profession of faith gave her a hope that led her to live out the two most important commandments we are given as Christ followers; to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love others as ourselves (Mark 12:30). She departed with scripture written indelibly on the tablet of her heart as it was among the last words uttered from her lips, along with her love for family and the Lord. We are grateful to have been with her in life and at her passing.

A memorial service will be held Saturday June the 18th at 2pm at First Baptist church Meridian. There will be a luncheon before the service at 12:30pm hosted by the ladies of FBC Meridian.

Lana was born in Wichita, Kansas in 1946 and moved around frequently during her childhood, as her father Albert was an inspector with Boeing, until they settled in the Seattle area when she was a teenager. Her mother Marie, who was first and foremost a mother to Lana and her two brothers Albert and Dale, also worked at Boeing for a time.  Not long after graduation, Lana met and married Philip Deen, who was soon drafted into the Army, which ultimately gave Lana one more state, Alaska, to add to her list of moves.  She cherished  and recounted the memories of the beauty of this state the rest of her life.   Lana liked to tell people that she had lived in seven different states from one coast to another and had moved seventy-seven times, ultimately leading her to Texas.  Though those moves were difficult and had many challenges, they instilled within her a resiliency in life, an appreciation for traveling and seeing new things, and an ability to connect with people of differing backgrounds.  She truly loved people, and one of her greatest joys was in spending time with others.

Lana was predeceased by her parents Albert and Marie Kearns, and her second husband Harold Habben, to whom she was married for more than 30 years. He passed this year in February.

She leaves behind one daughter from her first marriage, Shonette, her husband Thomas Lolley, six grandchildren and four great-grandsons; Jessica and son Gavin; Rachel and husband Alexander Downing and their three sons; Ian, Gabriel, and Oliver; Arin Thomas, Alexandra, Olivia, and Kathrynn.  Lana also leaves behind the three daughters, two sons and seven grandchildren and one great grandchild that Harold brought into marriage; Maria and husband David Ayers, Carissa and husband Tim Wright, Chantelle and husband Matthew Baerney, two sons Clinton and Harold Jr. She had been overjoyed to expand her family when they married, feeling that the Lord had blessed her with each addition.

One of Lana's greatest joys was in spending time with others.  Any holiday, birthday, season change, or achievement was cause for her to throw a party and get everyone together, to unite people. She was generous with her time and her home, and was gifted at seeing the positive in others while praying for everything else.  Throughout her life, Lana showed an extraordinary ability to forgive.  She was always generous in forgiveness seeking God's help in doing so.  It was forgiveness that pointed to her faith the most as well as her commitment to being a Christ follower and in this pursuit she left us with a beautiful example of a heart after God.  She truly desired to leave people better than she found them.  She was bold in sharing her faith in God, His mighty work in her life, and praying for everyone who crossed her path.  Those prayers, her generous heart, her simple love of people will be missed beyond measure.