Avis Mahala Ambur (Face) was born on April 29, 1929, in Groton, South Dakota, to parents Elsie and Ray Face. She passed away on March 27, 2019, in Fresno, California, where her youngest daughter, Jody Nestell, lovingly cared for her for the past three years.

In 1935, after spending the first six years of her life in South Dakota, Avis and her family moved to Ruston, Washington, where she finished high school and then graduated from Central Washington College of Education with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught first grade for one year before meeting the love of her life, Donald Ambur, her brother’s wife’s brother, at a family gathering. They were married on August 14, 1952, while Don was stationed at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and had their first daughter there.

The couple moved to Beresford, South Dakota, to farm in 1953 and their next three daughters were born there. Loving memories of Avis during those years include homemade matching Easter dresses for all her girls each year and wonderful picnic birthdays at the park.

In 1961 Avis and her family moved to Yuma, Arizona, where her son was born. Busy raising five children, she also found time to be active in the Methodist Church, always involved with youth groups and Vacation Bible School. She created a home her children’s friends were happy to visit frequently and enjoyed helping with school activities, finding her way back to teaching as a substitute teacher when her children were a little older.

A move for her husband’s work then took her to Salinas, California, in 1974. There Avis began a very gratifying career as a hospital volunteer at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, culminating in her presidency of the organization for several years. She became an avid Bridge player during her years in Salinas, enjoying women’s groups and couples Bridge. She also started her tradition of making beautiful needlepoint Christmas stockings for each of her 11 grandchildren.

A great desire of her heart was accomplished with a move back to the Pacific Northwest, where she grew up, when she and Don retired to Portland, Oregon, in 1989. Being closer to her mother, siblings, children and grandchildren brightened her life there.

Avis was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her beautiful smile, constant words of encouragement and comfort and her unwavering example of devotion to family are a legacy her family will cherish forever.

Avis is survived by her children Melody Bowling, Dona Barker (Dale), Robin Bowman (Randy), Jody Nestell (Howard) and Todd Ambur; grandchildren Nicholas Bowling, Brianne Hall (Garett), Whitney Bowling, Kaitlin Barker Davis (Rob), Amy Broadsword (Andy), Leslie Allen (Matt), Sara Bowman, Hayley Philip (Nick), Blake Nestell, Davis Ambur and Camryn Ambur; great grandchildren Henry Hall, Eleanora Hall, Ada Broadsword, Eliza Broadsword, Juniper Barker Davis and Piper Bowman; and sister Anita Davis. She is proceeded in death by her parents, her husband Donald Ambur, brothers Albert, Glenn and Ned Face and her great grandson Lincoln Bowling.

A memorial service will be held at the Beresford Zion United Methodist Church in Beresford, South Dakota on Saturday, June 8^th at 11AM with interment to follow at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Canton, South Dakota.