Rena June Johnson
Feb 21, 2017
Rena Johnson was born on June 4, 1927, on the Coppei Mountain, 30 miles East of Waitsburg. She was the youngest of six children to Albert and Margaret Hansen. She was an avid sports fan and played on the 1945 Waitsburg Cardinals Women’s All Star Basketball Team. After graduating from high school she attended St. Mary’s Nursing Training Program....
Santos Garcia
Feb 19, 2017
Santos Garcia, 69, of Walla Walla, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 19, 2017, at Chaplaincy Hospice in Kennewick. Born in Edinburg, Texas, to Reymundo and Anastacia Garcia. Santos is survived by his wife, Leticia Monica; and a very loving proud father to his two sons, Paul Garcia and Albert Garcia; and his grandson, Jamison Cruz Garcia. He is...
Donald Lynn Parsons
Feb 16, 2017
Don was born March 21, 1925, to Archie Parsons and Gertrude Spencer Parsons. He passed away February 16, 2017, at the age of 91. Don attended College Place Grade School and Walla Walla High School, graduating in 1943, shortly after which he went into the Air Force during WWII. He served as a B-24 nose gunner in the 456...
Benjamin Charles Phillips
Feb 15, 2017
Benjamin C. Phillips Jr., was born December 14, 1931, and died February 15, 2017. Ben graduated from WA-HI in 1950. He is survived by Karleen, his wife of 65 years; sons, Steve and Kevin; daughter, Tonia; and four grandchildren. Ben’s interment will be at Blue Mountain Memorial Garden Saturday, April 8, 2017, at 10 a.m. Reception to follow.
Marjorie Forest Dyer
Feb 13, 2017
Marjorie “Midge” Forest Dyer, 98, passed away February 13, 2017, at the Washington Odd Fellows Home in Walla Walla. She was born on September 24, 1918, to parents Selena and Edgar Forest in Pendleton. She attended school in Adams, and graduated from high school at St. Vincent’s Academy in Walla Walla in 1936. She married Robert C. Dyer on...
Wayne Albert Bachtold
Feb 8, 2017
Wayne Albert Bachtold, the only child of Albert Earnest Bachtold and Lucile Wilda Colwell Bachtold, born on February 1, 1929, in the “old” Walla Walla General Hospital. Wayne attended Walla Walla Public Schools and graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1947. He was particularly proud of his participation in Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps during his high school...
Rita Catherine Donnelly
Feb 8, 2017
Former Waitsburg resident Rita Donnelly slipped from this life February 8th at the Odd Fellows Home. She was born January 24, 1924 in Camden NJ to Polish immigrants Joseph and Margaret C. Smith. Her sister Bernice was born in December of 1924. Less than two years later, Margaret was widowed for the 2nd time, leaving her with two toddlers...
Ernest William Lafont
Feb 7, 2017
Ernest LaFont (Dad, Grampa, Gidu, Ernie, Reverend LaFont) passed away early in the morning On Tuesday February 7th. Honoring his life are his second wife Sue, his son Leland and his wife Lani, his grandchildren Suzie, Roger, Stewart, Eli and the family gained through his marriage to Sue Mize and: Sons George, Steve (who predeceased Ernest), Jon and daughter...
Ardys Arloie Fleming
Feb 3, 2017
Ardys Fleming (née Ardys A. Ault) of Seattle, WA, died February 3, 2017 at the age of 88. She was born to Annabelle and William Ault in Walla Walla, WA. She graduated from Dayton (WA) High School and took business courses in Spokane. Ardys married Don Merlin Fleming on March 12, 1950 in Spokane, and the couple settled in...
John Anthony Eier
Jan 31, 2017
John Anthony Biddiscombe Eier of Dayton WA, formerly Lewiston ID passed away on January 31st after a long illness. He was surrounded by family and friends and died peacefully. As in life, he died with everyone full of love and support around him. A celebration of life will be held sometime in the near future.
Helen Barbara Wyrick
Jan 31, 2017
Helen (Connie) Hofer Wyrick passed away January 31, 2017, in Walla Walla. She was born February 7, 1916, to Gene and Amelia (Rizzuti) Connery at home on a small farm in Walla Walla. She attended Braden School, St. Vincent’s Academy and graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1933. After a year of working, she enrolled in the Saint...
Bonnie Marie Schmaltz
Jan 27, 2017
Long-time Walla Walla resident Bonnie Marie Schmaltz, aged ninety years, died Friday, January 27, 2017, at the Odd Fellows Home. A celebration of life will be held Tuesday, January 31 at 10 a.m. at the Central Christian Church in Walla Walla. Born May 29, 1926 in Condon, Oregon to Elza and Ruby (Kenaston) Wallace, Bonnie married Robert C. Schmaltz...
Harold James Strampher
Jan 26, 2017
Harold James Strampher, born to William and Julia Strampher in Prosser, Wash. Moved to Walla Walla where he attended high school. He served as a Parachutist in World War II. He worked as a union carpenter most of his life, up until retirement. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Nancy A. Stramper; children, Linda Collins, Marie...
Gail Elaine Burkenbine
Jan 26, 2017
Gail Elaine Burkenbine, 77, passed away peacefully at her home in Walla Walla, on January 26, 2017, surrounded by her two loving daughters and beloved son-in-law. She was born May 19, 1939, in Hillsboro, Oregon, to Bosko Bugarsky and Dorothy (Matteson) Bugarsky. She soon moved to Pendleton where she lived until she graduated from Pendleton High School. She married...
Jerald Joseph Kelly
Jan 24, 2017
Jerald Joseph Davin Kelly died peacefully January 24th, 2017 in Lodi, CA. He was born in Prosser WA on September 6, 1927 to John and Bertha Davin Kelly, and raised in Walla Walla. He attended Walla Walla Catholic schools and Gonzaga University. He had a 30+ year career with the Walla Walla Corps of Engineers. He married Margaret (Marmie)...
Francis Charles Christiano
Jan 23, 2017
Francis Charles Christiano, was born to Tony and Mary (Locati) Christiano, October 4, 1927, in Walla Walla, at St. Mary Hospital. He met Nadine Mohrland while both worked at Reiker’s prune packing warehouse out on Stateline Road. They were married on May 27, 1945, at St. Francis Church in Walla Walla. They lived with his parents for two years...
Pearl Louise Funk
Jan 22, 2017
Masie “Pearl” Elizabeth Christina Louise Schultz was born to Gottlieb and Louise Schultz January 6th, 1920 in Sterling, Idaho. She married Ewald “Tony” Funk on March 31st, 1939 in Pocatello, Idaho. They moved from Idaho to Athena, Oregon in 1946 and opened “Funks of Athena”, a general mercantile store which they ran for 30 years, along with a children’s...
Leo J. Freouf
Jan 21, 2017
Leo Joseph Freouf, turned 87, Monday Jan. 16, passed away Saturday Jan. 21, surrounded by loving family. A longtime member of the Walla Walla community, Leo was most at home in the outdoors be it hunting, fishing, camping, or farming in his backyard. Leo served Our Lord at Eastgate Missionary Baptist Church for many years and was known for...
Mary Belle Davis
Jan 18, 2017
Mary Belle Davis, 92, of Walla Walla, passed away on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, at Washington Odd Fellows Home in Walla Walla. Mary was born in Brookings, S.D., on February 22, 1924. She graduated from Walla Walla High School. Mary was married to Ross Davis on November 30, 1951, they were married 44 years. Mary worked at the Bon...
Joanne Margaret Drumheller
Jan 18, 2017
Green Lake, ice skates, accordions, children, a fierce love of Seattle and Walla Walla’s Whitman College were all integral to Joanne Ross Drumheller, who died peacefully in her sleep, January 18, 2017. Joanne was born in Seattle, February 1930, to Jay and Jo Ross, childhood sweethearts who left Dillon, Montana, for the adventures of the city. Joanne had an...
