Elton Earl Fenno

Elton Fenno was born November 27, 1919 on Thanksgiving Day at home to Cora Blachford Fenno & Elton Earl Fenno Sr. in Dickey, North Dakota. He grew up on the farm with his parents & his 8 siblings.

Growing up during the Great Depression of the 1930’s influenced his life in many ways. During Elton’s teenage years, work was scarce, as was money, so he & his brothers rode freight trains looking for work with pay. One of his freight train adventures landed him in Milton Freewater, where there was agricultural work for a willing young man.

Elton was the only member of his family to graduate from high school and attend college. He started college in 1937. Without money for the second year of college, when he was offered a job teaching school in Fredonia, North Dakota in a one-room school house, he accepted.

Elton was a member of the National Guard at the beginning of World War II but joined the Navy to avoid being inducted in the infantry. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Standing on the pier as the Japanese planes swooped in dropping bombs, Elton witnessed a life-changing and world-changing event. The twenty years he spent in the Navy were a source of pride and personal satisfaction for him.

While on leave in Milton Freewater in October of 1946, Elton met the love of his life, Mary Jane Durupt, at his sister’s home. Elton & Mary married on February 25, 1947 and enjoyed nearly 66 years of marriage. They raised 5 children settling in Walla Walla in 1964.

Elton retired from the Walla Walla School District where he was a teacher & administrator in 1980. Retirement for him did not mean a life of leisure. Committed to being of service to the community, Elton volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul, Blue Mountain Action Council, RSVP, the Senior Center and coordinated the Community Thanksgiving dinner at DeSales High School for over twenty years. His wife, Mary, was an active participant in many of those activities. Elton was an active member of Assumption Catholic Church. He loved gardening, traveling, reading & taking walks with his wife, Mary.

Elton is survived by his wife, Mary at the home; son, Nick Fenno; daughters, Vicki Huskey, Judi Fenno, Pam Brown and Susan Dewald (Tim); 13 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents & his 8 siblings.

The Rosary will be recited on Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 6:00 PM at the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA with Sister Helen Mason officiating. The Memorial Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, February 1, 2013 at 10:00 AM at Assumption Catholic Church with Father Tyler Smedley, Celebrant. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent de Paul through the funeral home.