Ellensburg Washington

Sorenson, Soren – Obituary

Soren Sorenson, prominent farmer of the Denmark District, died Tuesday afternoon [December 29, 1931] at the hospital from a heart ailment after an illness that confined him to his bed for little more than two weeks. The end came peaceably and while it was a great shock to relatives and friends was not unexpected. Soren Sorenson first entered the hospital on December 11 for the second serious illness of his entire life. He was taken there suffering from a heart ailment that terminated in a blood clot. After a bad two or three days during which time his life was … Read more

Sorenson, E. Peter – Obituary

E. Peter Sorenson, 65, pioneer Denmark District farmer, died suddenly Tuesday evening [October 12, 1937] of a heart attack. Mr. Sorenson was born near Aarhus, Denmark, on April 7, 1872, and came to Minnesota in 1888 where he joined his brother, the late Soren Sorenson. They came together to the Kittitas Valley in the fall of that year. Active in enterprises connected with the development of the valley, he worked and farmed near Ellensburg until 1892, when he obtained land in the Denmark District where he has resided ever since. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Ann Sorenson, a … Read more

Schnebly, Elizabeth May Barnhart – Obituary

Elizabeth Barnhart Schnebly, 95, of 502 E. Fifth, a life-time resident of the Kittitas Valley, died Saturday [May 21, 1983] at Haven House Nursing Home. She was born Oct. 15, 1887, in the Fairview District, a daughter of the late Frank C. and Matilda (Bailes) Barnhart and a granddaughter of the Rev. Keithley and Sarah (Marshall) Bailes and Thomas Henderson and Mary (Letterman) Barnhart, all pioneer settlers of the Kittitas Valley. Mrs. Schnebly was educated in local schools and attended one of the early classes at the then Ellensburg Normal School. She and Joseph Jay Schnebly were married on Oct. … Read more

Dixon, Frank M. – Obituary

Funeral services for Frank M. Dixon, 68, former Ellensburg resident who died at his home in Seattle last night, will be held at the Honeycutt Chapel here Monday morning at 11 o’clock. Rev. W. M. Martin will be in charge and burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery Born October 2, 1873, in Iowa, Dixon came to Ellensburg with his parents when he was nine years old. He farmed here for many years and operated a livery stable. He moved to Yakima 16 years ago and subsequently went to Seattle. He was married here to Miss Ollie O’Rear in 1903. … Read more

Barnhart, Albert – Obituary

Albert Barnhart, 79, native Ellensburg resident died at his home [September 6, 1971] at 712 E. Washington, Monday. Born August 18, 1892, he was married to Mildred Riegel in 1917. She preceded him in death in 1941 May 5, 1942. He was married to Sarah Belsaas Jaques in 1944. He farmed in Fairview District for a number of years and also worked for a number of other farmers. Member of Methodist Church. Survived by his wife, Sarah at the home, one son-Darrell of Yakima, a daughter-Mrs. Virginia Johnson, Oak Lawn, Ill., one stepson-Dale Jaques of Ellensburg, two stepdaughters-Mrs. Marcille Groenig, … Read more

Michels, Anna Olding – Obituary

Anna Michels, 69-year-old native daughter of the Kittitas Valley died at her home today [August 25, 1949] following an illness of several months. She was born in Ellensburg on May 23, 1880. She was married to Henry J. Michels on May 22, 1900. He preceded her in death on October 12, 1943. She was a member of the Kittitas County Fair Board for several years. Surviving are a son, Roy, of Ellensburg, and four sisters, Mrs. Eva Shaw of Ellensburg, Mrs. Lida McGuire, and Mrs. Nettie Galvin, both of Kirkland, and Mrs. J. A. Tesack of Seattle. Funeral services will … Read more

Montgomery, William Thomas – Obituary

Valley Pioneer, Tom Montgomery, Succumbs today. Death follows a three months Illness; funeral to be held her on Thursday. W. T. Montgomery, 74, Kittitas Valley pioneer, passed away at the home of his daughter Mrs. Leta Bates, 200 N. Sprague Street early this afternoon [December 22, 1931]. Mr. Montgomery’s death followed an ailment of three months duration, which confined him to bed. His passing marks the end of another pioneer life vividly reminiscent of long treks over the plains in covered wagons. His entry to the Kittitas Valley was from California in 1861 when he made the trip in a … Read more

Schnebly, Joseph Jay – Obituary

Joseph J. Schnebly, age 62, prominent Fairview District rancher and valley native son, was killed when a team he was driving to a hay rake on his farm bolted and threw him under the machine [June 27, 1947]. This was the second similar accident this week in the Kittitas Valley. Ira Johnson, driving a second team on a rake in the same field, was thrown from his machine and knocked unconscious when his team ran away after Schnebly’s horses bolted but he escaped serious injury. Schnebly was breaking in a young horse on the team on his rake. This horse … Read more

Hayes, Robert Lewis – Obituary

The body of Robert Lewis Hayes, 36, who was electrocuted north of Spokane Monday morning [November 30, 1964], will be returned here by the Evenson Funeral Home for services and burial. His home was at Kittitas. Arrangements are pending the arrival [IOOF Cemetery]. Mr. Hayes was born May 30, 1928 in Ellensburg, attended Kittitas High School and served with the US Navy during the Korean War. He married Mollie Mullen on Sept. 21, 1957 in Kittitas and they had made their home there since that time. He was a member of the Moose Lodge and the Electrical Workers Union NO. … Read more

Curtis, James H. – Obituary

James H. Curtis, one of the early pioneers of the valley, who came here in 1873, died suddenly last Saturday at Brewster, Wash., according to work received here. He was born July 1, 1849, in McCoon County, Mich. In 1875 he was married in The Dalles, Ore., to Miss Samantha Wheeler. Four of their six children are living Mrs. Tillie Hayes and Mrs. Etta Vaughn of Ellensburg, and Mrs. May Goldberg and Wesley Curtis of Brewster are surviving children. Mrs. Rose Carver of this city is a sister. There also are 28 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. His widow, Mrs. … Read more

Page, Jessie May Tinkham – Obituary

Mrs. Jessie May Page, 74, a resident of Ellensburg for the past eight years, died at a local hospital early today [May 17, 1947]. A native of Kansas, Mrs. Page [w/o Oliver] moved here from Davenport, Wash. She is survived by four sons, including Alfred of Ellensburg; Ira of Davenport; and Clarence and Raymond, both of Spokane; two daughters, Mrs. Bessie McFarlin, Yakima, and Mrs. Pearl Christian, Kirkland; four sisters, including Mrs. Ada Schroder of Ellensburg, Mrs. Nellie Hendrickson of Spokane, and Mrs. Lizzie Bachtell and Mrs. Belle Klink, both of Seattle; one brother, Guy Tinkham of Ellensburg; seven grandchildren … Read more

Peffers, Burton L. – Obituary

Burton L. Peffers, 63, 908 E. Fifth Avenue, a native of Ellensburg, died at Sorensen Memorial Hospital Wednesday afternoon [November 21, 1956]. He had been in ill health 2 ½ years and had been hospitalized the past week. Peffers was born here Feb. 2, 1893, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Moses Peffers, pioneer residents of the Fairview District. He married Zelma Hailey on Nov. 8, 1950, in Reno, NV. He was a veteran of World War I. He is survived by his wife; a stepson, Homer Seriven, of Stockton, Calif.; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Lela Stiger, of Miami, Fla.; three … Read more

Noble, Louis – Obituary

Louis Noble, 78, retired mail carrier of the Kittitas Valley, passed away early Wednesday morning [August 27, 1930] following a long illness. He was born June 5, 1852 in Cleveland, Ohio, and was marred to Miss Addie M. Huntley on December 5, 1880. The couple came to this valley in 1908. Mr. Noble was a rural mail carrier–seven years of which were on route one–for over ten years after which he retired to his small valley farm. His death is deeply grieved by the many farmers and friends to whom he delivered mail daily for a number of years. He … Read more

Hayes, Ruby Miles – Obituary

Ruby Hayes, 90, daughter of William and Rosa (Owens) Miles, died February 21 [1992] in Ellensburg. She was born in Surgoinsville, Tenn., on December 2, 1901. At the age of six, her family moved to Washington where she attended school in the Ellensburg area. She and her husband, Harry, farmed for more than 50 years in the Denmark area before moving into Ellensburg in 1972. Survivors include three sons, William Hayes of Prosser, Jerry Hayes of Yakima, and Joel Hayes of Renton; three daughters, Barbara Scenna of Oak Park, Mich., Kay McPherson and Sandra Johnson of Ellensburg, stepson Homer Hayes … Read more

Dewees, Almira Jane Swett – Obituary

Mrs. George DeWees, resident of Ellensburg and a native daughter of the Pacific Coast, died at the family residence, 306 South Sprague Street this morning [February 7, 1940], after an illness that has lasted nearly four years. No arrangements have been made for the funeral, pending the arrival of members of the family Mrs. Almira Swett DeWees was born in Clackamas County, Oregon and came to the Kittitas Valley as a girl in 1885, and was married here to George DeWees, pioneer milling and grain and feed man, who also served for several years on the city council and was … Read more

Dixon, Olive V. O’Rear – Obituary

Mrs. F. M. Dixon dies of Heart Failure, succumbs at North Yakima Wednesday at age of 32, Funeral Tomorrow here. Succumbing to an attack of heart failure, Mrs. Olive Dixon died at North Yakima Wednesday evening January 1, 1917. She was the wife of F. M. Dixon, whose brothers, Elwood and James, are residents of Ellensburg, as is also his father, John Dixon. Elwood Dixon is the mail carrier on R.F.D. No. 2. Both the deceased and her husband had been residents of Ellensburg for several years, he having been born in this city. Mrs. Dixon was Olive O’Rear before … Read more

Covey, Harry – Obituary

Harry George Covey, 88, died this morning at the Sorensen Memorial Hospital, where he has been receiving treatment for the past six years [died March 28, 1953]. Covey was born August 7, 1864, at Poplar Grove, Ill. He lived there until 1885, when he moved to Montana, and came to Washington following the death of his wife, Mrs. Bertha Covey, in 1907. Covey had lived in Kittitas County for more than 25 years, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ward Simons, in Ellensburg, and with his son, Harry O. Covey, in Cle Elum. Other survivors are three daughters, Mrs. … Read more

Cooke, Glen W. – Obituary

Glen W. Cooke, 66, a lifetime resident of Ellensburg, died Friday, September 11, 1992 at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Yakima, after a long illness. Mr. Cooke was the youngest child of Guy and Catherine (Shotwell) Cooke. He lived most of his life within a few miles of his birthplace, on Naneum Road. As a boy he was active in 4-H and FFA. He attended grade and middle school in Kittitas and graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1944. After graduation he served as a aviation cadet in the U. S. Air Force. He then returned home to ranch with … Read more

Hall, Margaret Olding – Obituary

Mrs. A. M. Hall Dies On Sunday. Was Born In Valley, Parents Being Pioneer Olding Family. Mrs. Margaret V. Hall, wife of a. M. Hall of the Fairview District and daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John G. Olding, pioneer residents of the valley, died here Sunday morning December 19, 1932 at 10 o’clock. She was born in this valley August 16, 1882. Her father and mother came here in 1871 and settled on the homestead, six miles north of Ellensburg where Mrs. Hall was born and died. Her parents came here by ox team, driving from Walla Walla. … Read more

Cooke, Irma Lucile Wilson – Obituary

Irma L. Cooke, 90, of Kittitas, died Sunday, Dec. 23, 1990, at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital in Ellensburg. She was born Aug. 26, 1900, in Wausau, Wis., the only child of Vernon E. and Caroline (Finup) Wilson. She earned her teaching degree at the University of Wisconsin at Grand Rapids and, following her graduation, she was a high school teacher teaching English, Spanish and piano. She came to the Ellensburg area in 1932. She was a member of the Kittitas Community Church, where she was organist and pianist. She and Norman L. Cooke were married in Ellensburg on March 29, … Read more