Kittitas County WA

Kinkade, Mabel A. Olson – Obituary

Mabel Kinkade, 86, a long-time resident of Kittitas County, died Tuesday November 10, 1981 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Born May 1, 1895, in Bottineau, ND, she came to the Kittitas Valley at the age of five with her parents. Her father, Ben Olson, managed the old Tjossem Flouring Mill, where the Millpond Mobile Manor now stands. She married Dallas Kinkade in 1917. He preceded her in death in 1951, as did two brothers and two sisters. She had lived off the Kittitas Highway all her married life and moved to Idaho six years ago. Mrs. Kinkade was along-time member of … Read more

Hall, Zumbrunnen Bertha Annen – Obituary

Bertha Zumbrunnen Hall, 91, of Rt. 5, a long-time Kittitas Valley resident, died Monday at Royal Vista Care Center. Mrs. Hall, who was born in Switzerland on Nov. 15, 1892, came to the United States in 1912. On March 16 in that year, she and Victor Zumbrunnen were married on the ranch north of Ellensburg where she spent most of her life. Mr. Zumbrunnen died in January of 1935. In 1942, she married Evert Hall in Yuma, Ariz. They lived for a time in California, Friday Harbor and Aberdeen before returning to the original family ranch north of Ellensburg to … Read more

Hayes, Harry Klondike – Obituary

Harry K. Hayes, 79, died Monday [May 2, 1977] at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. He was born June 16, 1897 in Ellensburg. He farmed in the Denmark District until retirement in 1962. He continued to live on the farm until he moved to Ellensburg in 1972. He and his wife Ruby then made their home at 700 S. Whitman St Survivors in addition to his wife include four sons, Homer Hayes of Oak Harbor, bill Hayes of Oak Harbor, bill Hayes of Prosser, Jerry Hayes of Yakima, and Joel Hayes of Renton; four daughters, Mrs. Juanita Dusbabek of Seattle, Mrs. … Read more

Fortney, Levi J. – Obituary

Levi J. Fortney Called By Death. Retired Farmer Had Been Resident Of County For 41 Years. Levi Jackson Fortney, aged 66, died last evening at his residence on East Eleventh Street. He was born in Decatur, Iowa, he came to Kittitas County 41 years ago, and had resided in Ellensburg for the past 26 years. He was a retired farmer. Mr. Fortney is survived by his wife, four daughters, Mrs. H. S. Floyd of Toppenish, Mrs. W. A. Horn of Myrtle Point, Ore., Mrs. L. B. Horn of Selah and Mrs. J. D. Shelton of Ellensburg; also a son, Jefferson … Read more

Seaton, James A. – Obituary

James A. Seaton, 73, well-known native Fairview District farmer, passed away Sunday [January 7, 1968] at his home. Born Nov. 12, 1893, near the head of Wilson Creek in Kittitas County, he was married to Ruth Z. Wallace, July 3, 1924 at Tacoma. His wife preceded him in death, passing away June 2, 1952. A member of the Kittitas County Farm Bureau, Mr. Seaton also operated a hay baling business from 1923 to 1927. He is survived by one son, James A. Seaton, Jr., Ellensburg; one daughter, Mrs. Robert (Margaret) Paul, Ellensburg; nine grandchildren; one brother, Ralph Seaton, Ellensburg; two … Read more

Springer, Laura Harrell – Obituary

Mrs. Laura M. Springer, 68, died at the Ellensburg General Hospital Sunday [May 7, 1961]of a heart attack. Laura Harrell was born Nov. 2, 1892 in Hawkins County, Tenn. and came here with her parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Harrell in 1909. She was married to Frank Springer in Ellensburg shortly after. They farmed on the West Side until 1936 and for the past 25 years. Mrs. Springer has lived at 301 South Sprague Street. Mr. Springer preceded her in death in February 1948. She was a member of the First Christian Church and the Women’s Welcome … Read more

Swearingen, Vernise Augustus – Obituary

Vernise A. Swearingen, 43, former Ellensburg resident, died Friday in a Tacoma Hospital from injuries received earlier last week in an accident at the Seattle-Tacoma shipyards where he was employed as a rigger. Plant officials reported that he was crushed while unloading steel plates when he slacked off on a safety line too soon and the plates tipped over on him. A veteran of World War I, Swearingen had enlisted for service in this war WWII, but was discharged because of a physical disability. He was awarded the Silver Star, Order of the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, and … Read more

Charlton, George Carmi – Obituary

George Charlton, one of the pioneers of Kittitas Valley, died yesterday morning [April 14, 1919] at 7 o’clock at the family residence on a farm northeast of Ellensburg. Mr. Charlton had been suffering for the past seven years with heart trouble, which yesterday caused his death. Mr. Charlton was born in Jacksonville, Oregon, November 4th, 1858, and came to the Kittitas Valley in 1881, where he has made his home ever since. Mr. Charlton was married October 23rd, 1890, to Miss Maude Filer, who still survives him. To this marriage, seven children were born, three girls, Madge, Fern and Mr. … Read more

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

Gore, Wilfred A. – Obituary

Wilfred A. Gore Dies After Brief Illness Wilfred A. Gore, of 320 ½ North Main Street, died at his home early this morning after a ten days’ illness with appendicitis, which later developed into peritonitis. Mr. Gore who was born in Harrisburg, Ore., in 1874, came to Washington with his father in September, 1889. On Christmas day, 1898, he was married to Ella McEwen Lee. Beside his wife he leaves a daughter, Mrs. Hazel Waldusky, of Ellensburg. His father and stepmother, Mr. And Mrs. H. A. Gore, live in Los Angeles, Cal., Mr. Gore having come north during the illness … Read more

Cooke, Winifred Joyce Churchill – Obituary

Winifred Cooke, 83, died Monday [January 13, 1975] at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. She was born March 13, 1891 in Capac, Mich., and after marrying Chester A. Cooke in 1910 moved to the Edgemont-Thrall area where they farmed. He proceeded her in death in 1950. Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Dorothy Ohlander, Mrs. Frances Bryant and Mrs. Ruth Treischel, all of Seattle, two sons, Bruce of Milton and Bob of Chelan, 12 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. At her wishes there will be cremation and no services. [Interment in IOOF Cemetery] Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

McEwen, Sarah Agnes Banister – Obituary

Following a long illness, Mrs. Sarah Agnes McEwen, age 91, died early Saturday morning, Jan. 27, 1962, in the Ellensburg General Hospital. Mrs. McEwen was born March 28, 1870 in Clark County near Vancouver, Wash., the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel N. Banister [mother was Martha Dixon]. When she was a small child, the Banister family first came to the Kittitas Valley. They spent one winter here, then moved to Walla Walla because of the Indiana scare. In the fall of 1884 they returned here to make a permanent home. Sarah Banister was married Jan. 3, 1884 to James … Read more

Peffers, Henry Elmer – Obituary

Elmer Peffers, 47, died here this morning [June 14, 1935] after a short illness. Born here and for most of his life a resident of the valley. Mr. Peffers is survived by two sisters, Emma Waters and Mary McEwen; and four brothers, John, Leavenworth; William and Burton, Ellensburg; and Albert, Sunnyside. Funeral arrangements have not been made. [Interment in IOOF Cemetery] Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Godbey, Bertha Looney Brown – Obituary

Bertha M. Godbey, 95, a longtime Ellensburg resident, died Friday [September 19, 1986] evening at Gold Leaf Convalescent Home. She was born in Hawkins, Tenn., on Dec. 15, 1890, a daughter of John P. and Phoebe (Derrick) Looney. She and Bert Godbey were married in Yakima on Aug. 22, 1936. The family home was at 504 S. Pearl St. for more than 50 years. Her husband preceded her in death in 1968. Survivors include a niece, Mrs. Jim Wallace, of Wenatchee. Funeral will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at the IOOF Cemetery. Friends who wish to attend may meet at the … Read more

Morrison, Rose Dorothy Davis – Obituary

Rose Morrison, 86, longtime Ellensburg resident, died Wednesday August 28, 1985 at Royal Vista Care Center. She was born in Missoula, Mont., on Aug. 16, 1899, and moved to the Ellensburg area at age 8 with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Quincy A. Davis. She attended local schools and started to work for the Ellensburg Telephone Co. when she was 15. She was a telephone operator during World War I and handled the emergency created by the flu epidemic then. Her telephone-operating career was interrupted by her marriage in 1919 to Abraham B. Morrison. They settled in the Badger Pocket … Read more

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

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

Pedersen, Peder – Obituary

Peder Pedersen Dies In Seattle. Pioneer Kittitas Valley Farmer Succumbs Last Night. Peder Pedersen, 76, a Kittitas Valley pioneer, died in the Swedish Hospital in Seattle last night [May 25, 1941] after an illness of about a week. He came to the Kittitas Valley in 1889 and farmed in the Denmark District for many years. He was born in Denmark in 1865. He lived in the valley from the time he arrived here in 1889, but during the last few years frequently visited his children in Portland. Surviving him are two sons, Arthur of Ellensburg and Elmer of Seattle, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John M. Newman

JOHN M. NEWMAN. – The gentleman whom we here introduce to the reader, and a view of whose residence is placed in this history, is a native of Sullivan County, Missouri, and was born August 10,1851. While but a lad of thirteen he came to eastern Oregon, and, after a sojourn of a year upon the sage-brush plains, continued the march to the Willamette valley. Some years were there spent in Marion and Benton counties, the most interesting period of his life there being his marriage to Miss Isabel Forgey, a noble woman who has borne him eight children. In … Read more

Sisk, Clarence Charles – Obituary

Clarence Charles “Irish” Sisk, 69, was killed in an automobile accident near Mesa, Arizona on Wednesday February 6, 1974. He was born Nov. 8, 1904 in Yakima County and had spent most of his adult life in the Ellensburg area. He was married to Gladys Morrison, Sept. 16, 1929 in Wenatchee. He was employed by F. A. Kern as a ranch foreman and truck driver from 1933 to 1943. Later, he operated a ranch on the Kittitas Highway and more recently ranched north of Kittitas on No. 81 Road. He had been spending the winter at Apache Junction, Arizona. Sisk … Read more