Pete and Wilma Stone were a hard working couple who were instrumental in getting Loon Lake's library up and running. They both served as officers on the library board and gave hundreds of hours of their time to the library.
The tribute consists of a relief art sculpture on the Colville Road wall of the library and an informational plaque in front, by the sidewalk. Artist David Govedare was commissioned to do the sculpture.
Harry "Pete" Stone married Wilma Bauermeister in 1952. They settled in their home town of Connell and became two halves of a whole. When they retired, they moved to Deer Lake and became active and essential members of the comm-unity. It didn't take long after the formation of the Library of the Lakes Association in 1991 for Wilma to become involved in this club library.
Skills from her career as a librarian were a very welcome addition and she worked hard to get a good card catalog system up and running. Pete spent many hours transporting boxes of books that had been donated, building shelves and anything else that was needed. Both Pete and Wilma donated countless hours to the little library.
Wilma served many years as secretary and Pete was the treasurer. Fundraisers were common and Pete and Wilma would always be there helping, rolling up their sleeves and doing whatever was needed.
When the law changed and the Library of the Lakes Association attempted to start a partial county library, the Stones were very active and became members of the Friends of the County Library (FOCL). After a county-wide library district was approved by the voters in 1996, Wilma worked on the "Up and Running Grant" to provide funds until the tax dollars started coming in.
Wilma was one of the first Library District Trustees and was instrumental in getting the new district to purchase the building located on the corner of Colville Road and Cedar Street in Loon Lake. The Library of the Lakes Association, of course with Pete and Wilma's help and other com-munity groups, had raised more than half of the funds needed for this purchase. When it was approved, the first county library was able to open with volunteer help from Wilma and others. Pete made the beautiful stained glass pieces in the library separating the office from the collection area.
When Wilma passed away in 2005, the community felt it was fitting to honor her with a sculpture by David Govedare. A few members talked with David, giving him an essence of who Wilma was ... and also how important Pete was to Wilma and this community.
David was able to capture this perfectly by putting Pete and Wilma's profiles into the artwork, always present but not always seen. The two lakes represent Loon Lake and Deer Lake, both dear to the hearts of Pete and Wilma. The rugged trees represent the wisdom of the forest. The books at the bottom show how libraries were such an important part of their lives.
This fitting tribute will always represent the wonderful spirit of these two special people.
Pete passed away in 2009.