Kittitas County WA

Woodyard, James A. – Obituary

J. A. Woodyard Is Laid To Rest A Minister and Servant of God Has Been Called to His Reward Elder J. A. Woodyard died at the home of his son-in-law in North Kittitas precinct twelve miles north of this city, Friday morning at 12:30, June 7, 1912. The remains were brought to this city and placed in charge of Ross & Inman who prepared for the same burial. The funeral took place from the Christian church, Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The remains were followed to their last resting place by a considerable number of his old time friends and … Read more

Sorenson, John O. – Obituary

John O. Sorenson, 57, prominent Kittitas Valley farmer, died this morning at his home in the Denmark District. In poor health for some time, he had been seriously ill the past month. Sorenson was a native son of the valley. A son of the late Soren Sorenson, a valley pioneer who came here from Aarhus, Denmark and Nielsine Pedersen Sorenson, he was born here May 13, 1893. He had lived all his life in the valley. An active community worker throughout his adult life, Sorenson had been identified with scores of agricultural and civic enterprises. He was active in the … Read more

Biography of Thomas Johnson

THOMAS JOHNSON. – The gentleman whose name appears above belongs to three towns on the east slope of the Cascades, – Goldendale, Ellensburgh and Cle-Elum; and it may almost be said that in the course of their development these three towns belong to him. At least, he has been a leading and constructive spirit in them. He is a native of Canada, where he was born in 1839, and came to this coast in search of the golden fleece at Caribou in 1862. The Province, however, detained him but a year; and he came down to Rockland opposite The Dalles, … Read more

Schnebly, Frederick Cooke – Obituary

Fred C. Schnebly, 74, who was born in the Kittitas Valley of a pioneer family, was a director, board president and outstanding leader in the creation and operation of the Kittitas Reclamation District, and for more than 50 years was one of the best known cattlemen of the Pacific Northwest, died at the Valley General Hosptial Tuesday evening [April 12, 1955]. Death followed an illness from a kidney infection started last September. His father and all his brothers were likewise leaders in the cattle industry of the Northwest, as his son is today. His father was the late P. H. … Read more

Dixon, Mary A. Unzicker – Obituary

Mrs. Dixon dies after lingering illness. Mrs. Mary A. Dixon, wife of James S. Dixon of 210 B Street, passed away this morning after a lingering illness of several months December 5, 1918. Mrs. Dixon was born in McClean County, Ill., about 54 years ago and later moved to Nebraska with her parents, where she was married to Mr. Twyman. Shortly afterwards she moved West and has lived in Ellensburg or the vicinity for many years. In 1895 she was married a second time to James Dixon, by whom she is survived In addition to her husband she is survived … Read more

Wheeler, Charles – Obituary

Charles Wheeler, a young man who was raised in the valley, but who has lately been living at Toppenish, died on Thursday [August 12, 1909] at the home of Phil Olmstead. He was about 23 years old and was a son of G. W. Wheeler. Charles was born January 16, 1884 in Ellensburg. His parents were George Washington Wheeler and Anna Montgomery. He was single. Charles was interred at the IOOF Cemetery. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

McGranahan, Anna Friel – Obituary

Mrs. T. McGranahan, a resident of Ellensburg for 26 years, died here on Wednesday [March 2, 1927] of pneumonia, which developed following a relapse suffered by the deceased after a short illness with influenza. Coming here in 1901 from St. Anthony, Idaho, Mrs. McGranahan has been numbered among the pioneers of the valley. Besides her husband, and her son, C. C. McGranahan, assistant cashier of the Farmers Bank, she is survived by three brothers and two sisters in the East. Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock. Friday from the family home, 109 W. Ninth Street, with the Rev. … Read more

Prater, Felix – Obituary

An illness of three weeks with heart disease brought death early this morning [August 5, 1937] to Felix G. Prater, 58-year-old, well-known farmer, at his home on the West Side. Mr. Prater was born on October 23, 1878, on the West Side, on a farm near that on which he lived for most of his adult life and resided there and in Ellensburg throughout his life. For a short time he operated an automobile agency in Ellensburg. He was married to Miss Alice Harrell on August 10, 1904. He is survived by his widow; a son, Dorsey Prater of Ellensburg; … Read more

Uebelacker,Geneva Bronson – Obituary

Geneva Bronson, 97, of Yakima, passed away on Sunday, January 4, 1998 in Crescent Convalescent Center. She was born on June 17, 1900 to Frank and Anna (Michels) Uebelacker in Ellensburg, WA where she was raised and educated. She and her husband resided in San Jose, California, where Mrs. Bronson was a first grade teacher at Willow Glen Elementary School for many years. She has resided in Yakima for the past fifteen years. She is survived by two nephews, Don Uebelacker and wife Anna of Yakima and Bill Uebelacker and wife Jean of Milwaukee, Oregon; numerous great nieces and nephews, … Read more

Johnson, Dora Evans Crawford – Obituary

Mrs. Dora Evans Crawford Johnson, better known as Mrs. George Crawford, passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Pete Sorenson, this morning following a lengthy illness. Mrs. Johnson was born in Todd County, Minnesota 54 years ago and has been a resident of this community since she was 14 years of age. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Spanish American War Veterans and for her 40 years residence here has been a worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Besides her widower, Joseph R. Johnson, one son, Stephen E. Crawford of Ellensburg and three daughters, … Read more

Thomas, Edith Ferguson – Obituary

Edith M. Thomas, 77, died Monday, July 11, 1994 at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. She was born on March 17, 1917 in Ellensburg, the youngest of three children born to Benjamin Franklin and Nora Estella (Wyatt) Ferguson. By horseback she attended Dysart, or No. 5 school. After her education, she helped her family on the ranch, breaking, and riding young horses, caught from the herd of wild horses that they owned. In 1920, Mrs. Thomas assisted in establishing the first rodeo held in the Kittitas Valley at the Ferguson Ranch. Also the Ferguson’s supplied some of the bucking stock for … Read more

Cooke, Rufus – Obituary

Death this morning [March 7, 1922] claimed one of the earliest and best known residents of the Kittitas valley when Rufus Cooke passed away. Mr. Cooke died this morning at the home of his sister, Mrs. P. H. Schnebly where he has been ill for the past two weeks. The Kittitas Valley had been his home since 1870 when he came here from Yakima with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Schnebly. Both are now deceased Mr. Cooke was born in Yakima on Sept. 12, 1867, the family removing to Ellensburg three years later, where they took up a … Read more

Rader, Benjamin Franklin – Obituary

Funeral services will be held at the Evenson Chapel Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 2 p.m. for Ben F. Rader, native Reeecer Creek rancher who died Thursday [September 12, 1963] at the Ellensburg General Hospital. Rev. Paul G. Nance will officiate and interment will be in the IOOF Cemetery. The family suggests that anyone wishing to make a memorial in Mr. Rader’s name, send it to the First Christian Church Memorial Fund. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Peffers, Sina Ellen Grissom – Obituary

Mrs. Sina Peffers, of East Kittitas, died very suddenly at her home Monday morning at 4 o’clock [February 10, 1902]. The funeral took place Wednesday. She leaves a heart broken husband and nine children and two brothers, William and Henry Grissom, to mourn her departure. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Dixon, Melinda Banister – Obituary

Mrs. Melinda B. Dixon, pioneer of Kittitas Valley, died at Bernath’s Nursing Home early today at the age of 91 years January 13, 1964. Melinda Banister, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Samuel L. Banister, was born Feb. 6, 1872 in Clark County, Washington and came to Ellensburg with her parents in 1870. Because of the Indian disturbance in the valley they moved to Walla Walla, returning here in 1884, making the trip in a covered wagon. She was married to Elwood J. Dixon, Dec. 18, 1890 in Ellensburg. He died here in 1937. She was also preceded in … Read more

Grimm, Mable Claire – Obituary

Mable C. Grimm, 88, of Puyallup, died August 14, 1990. Graveside services will be Monday, August 20, 1 p.m., Woodbine Cemetery. Arrangements by Hill Funeral Home, Puyallup. [Mable was the daughter of May Briody and Elmer E. Stickney. She was born in Kittitas Co., WA. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Michels, Martin – Obituary

Martin Michels, Sr., aged 80 years and a pioneer citizen of Ellensburg, died yesterday [February 14, 1917] at his home north of the city after an illness of several years. Pending the arrival of a son, J. J. Michels, from the east, funeral arrangements will not be announced until Friday. Mr. Michels was born May 2, 1837, in Germany, and came to the United States in 1855. He was married at Aurora, Ill, September, 1859, to Miss Margaret Lenhartz, and later with his family removed to St. James, Minnesota, in 1871. In 1882 Mr. Michels came to the Kittitas Valley, … Read more

Pedersen, Maren Mikkelsen – Obituary

Mrs. Peder Pedersen, 70, widely known and respected Denmark District pioneer, died at her home Sunday afternoon [October 9, 1938]. Born Maren Mikkelsen near Aarhus, Denmark, November 23, 1867, Mrs. Pedersen has resided in the Denmark District 48 years. She came to America in June, 1888, and lived in Ohio until January, 1890, when she came to Ellensburg. She was married to Peder Pedersen here February 8, 1891, and had made her home in the Denmark District ever since. She is survived by her widower; eight children, Mrs. Clara Kay, Mrs. Anna Cleman and Arthur Pedersen of Ellensburg; Mrs. Ellenora … Read more

Alexander, Burl Lee – Obituary

Burl Alexander, 1445 Corona St. Husband of Pearl E. Alexander; father of Terry V. Colburn, Denver. Services, Friday 3:30 p.m., Little Stone Chapel, 17th and Clarkson. Services conclude at the chapel. Family prefers gifts to the Emphysema Anonymous Incorporated, P. O. Box 66, Fort Meyers, Fla., 33902. [Died February 14, 1978 with interment in Hampden Memorial Garden] Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Weaver, Clyde Carl – Obituary

Clyde Weaver, son of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Weaver, and a well-known young man died at his residence in West Kittitas, six miles west of this city, Friday, January 4th at 9:15 p.m., of heart failure. Mr. Weaver had been more or less indisposed for several days and had returned from a trip to Roslyn where he went on business. He retired rather early and shortly his wife noticed that he was restless and gasping. She arose and lit a lamp but he passed away before she could do anything for him or even give any alarm of his … Read more