Vern Riggert

Vern Riggert passed away suddenly Nov. 17, 2015, at Walla Walla General Hospital, he was 95.

Vern was born July 28, 1920, to Henry and Emma Riggert in Mitchell, S.D. At 17, Vern, four brothers, one sister and their parents moved to Medford, Ore. Soon after, Vern joined the Army, assigned to the 249th Battalion Company B Coast Artillery where he became a sergeant and gun commander at Fort Stevens, Ore., and Fort Canby, Wash., at the mouth of the Columbia River. At Fort Stevens, Vern received the Soldier’s Medal for heroism. During his 5½ years of service during World War II, he met Lois Fender from Seaview, Wash. They were married in 1943, and enjoyed 61 years.

In 1947, they moved to Walla Walla where Vern worked for Husky Oil Company for 36 years. Vern was commodore and lifetime member of the Walla Walla Yacht Club, Flying Farmers, Old Car Club, Elks and American Legion.

Vern also enjoyed snowmobiling, boating, fishing, RVing. Building their boat house, restoring a ‘56 TBird and ‘48 Jeep and repairing many other things. Vern like people, was generous, honest and helpful and could always find humor in everything.

Vern is survived by his brother, Bud Riggert of Medford, Ore.; son, Scott Riggert of Walla Walla; daughter, Sandi Rider of Des Moines, Wash.; two grandsons, Keith Olsen of Bellingham, Wash., and Brad Rider of Maple Valley, Wash; great-grandson, Brandon Hale of Tacoma, Wash.; nephew, Guy Meiners of Walla Walla; niece, Annette Lamon of Spokane; and many nieces and nephews in Oregon and California.

A celebration of life will be held at Park Plaza, Dec. 12, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to American Heart Association in care of Herring Groseclose Funeral Home.