Kittitas County WA

Dixon, Florence Richards – Obituary

Mrs. Florence E. Dixon, 24, wife of Archie Dixon, died at 10:30 o’clock this morning at the family residence in the Sunnyside addition. She had not been ill long In addition to her husband, Mrs. Dixon leaves three small children, Wesley, William and Rachael. The oldest is five years old and the youngest six months. Her mother, Mrs. Sylvia Richards, resides in Cle Elum Funeral announcements will be made later Florence was born in January 1899 in Washington and died in Ellensburg on September 27, 1922. She was the daughter of David Richards and Sylvia Bridge. Florence is buried in … Read more

Phelps, Mary Smith – Obituary

Mrs. Mary Phelps, a resident of Ellensburg from 1884 to 1945, died recently [January 16, 1951] in Everett, where she has lived for the past five years. She was born in Pike County, Missouri, in 1867. Surviving are three sons, Gilbert of Everett, Tracy of Chelan, and Odie Phelps of Seattle; a sister, Mrs. Ella Wilson of Everett, and a brother, Sherman Smith, of Ellensburg. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday at the Honeycutt-Evenson Chapel, with Rev. Dan Rueb officiating. Interment will follow at the IOOF cemetery here. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Zelten, Bessie Pedersen – Obituary

Mrs. Walter Zelten, 77, of 1001 E. 32nd St., died Wednesday [February 4, 1981]. Mrs. Zelten was born in Ellensburg and moved to Tacoma in 1942. Survivors include a son, Walter, Jr. of Tacoma; a daughter, Mrs. Irene Aylett of Tacoma; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Henry of Tigard, Ore., and Mrs. Louise Durland of Portland; four grandchildren and a great grandchild. Buckley-King at Brookside is in charge. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Hodgson, Lola Evelyn Harris – Obituary

Lola Hodgson, 64, died in Seattle Hospital, Saturday August 26, 1972. Born June 29, 1908 in Ellensburg, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Giles P. Harris; she married Art Pedersen in 1927. They farmed in Badger Pocket for 30 years prior to his death in 1960. She married George Hodgson in 1961. She has been employed as secretary at the CWSC physical plant for 14 years prior to retirement last year. They made their home at Millpond Manor; member of Presbyterian Church and Moose Auxiliary. Survived by her husband, two daughters Katherine Pedersen and Mrs. Karoline Torrey, both … Read more

Benz, Gladys McEwen – Obituary

Gladys Benz, 81, of 521 N. Date St., Toppenish, died Tuesday in Central Memorial Hospital. She was born Oct. 19, 1901, in Ellensburg to Oscar and Ella McEwen. Mrs. Benz was raised by Lou and Martha Evans and lived in the Toppenish area 72 years. She married Paul Benz in Seattle April 4, 1923, and they recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Mrs. Benz had been a manager for Wheeler Electric Co. for 30 years. Survivors include her husband, Paul Benz of Toppenish; a daughter, Patricia Ann Aaker of Boulder, Colo; two sons, Paul Benz Jr. of Yakima and Lou … Read more

Wright, Della Daisy Litch – Obituary

Mrs. Della D. Wright, 62, widow of the late Al Wright, died yesterday afternoon [February 26, 1943] at her home at 1005 North Water Street. She had been ill a year. Mrs. Wright was born September 17, 1880 in Missouri. She was married to Mr. Wright 35 years ago. A son born to them died when five years old [James Cuttrell Wright]. She was a member of the Christian Church. Survivors include three sisters, Mrs. Laura Schooler, Bixby, Okla.; Mrs. Mollie Barnett, Mendota, Mo., and Mrs. Margaret Gum, Green City, Mo.; and seven stepchildren, Mrs. Doris Zastron, Mrs. Roy Maryatt, … Read more

Sorenson, Soren Albert – Obituary

Death Takes Al Sorenson, Civic Leader, Veteran Member Of County Board Succumbs Sunday May 8, 1955 Death comes to Soren Albert (Al) Sorenson, 60-year-old member of the Board of Kittitas County Commissioners and one of the county’s most prominent citizens, Sunday afternoon in Sorensen Memorial Hospital here. He had suffered a heart attack Wednesday afternoon. A Kittitas Valley native, active in farm and community affairs throughout his adult life Sorenson was widely known throughout the state and Northwest. Mourned by friends and associates he was eulogized by them as having “always given his best efforts to the interests of Kittitas … Read more

Blair, Sophia Mrs. – Obituary

Kittitas Woman Dies Here This Morning Mrs. Sophia Blair of Kittitas passed away this morning at the Youngberg hospital at the age of 67 years of pneumonia. Mrs. Blair was born at Buckingham, Canada, and came to Ellensburg in 1900, shw was the wife of Lewis Blair, who died here in 1910. They are survived by their children, Mrs. Ira Stillwell, Mrs. Jens Jensen, Mrs. G. R. Johnston, Mrs C. T. Hayes, Lewis Blair all of Ellensburg and Kittitas and Mrs. Joseph Larson of Montlaurier, Canada. The funeral will take place tomorrow from the Bridgham Undertaking parlors at 2:30. The … Read more

Fray, Myrtle Mildred Minielly – Obituary

Myrtle M. Fray, 87, a Colorado Springs hat maker and musician, died Friday November 28, 1986 at a local hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Evergreen Funeral Home Chapel at the intersection of Fountain and Union boulevards. The Rev. Curtis Blair of Grace Baptist Church will officiate. Burial will follow in Ellensburg, Wash. IOOF Cemetery. Mrs. Fray was born Oct. 13, 1899, in Ellensburg, and moved to Colorado Springs in 1965. She was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary and belonged to 8/40 La Boutique Des Huit Chapeaux et Quarante Femmes. She is survived … Read more

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

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

Bailes, Andrew Jackson – Obituary

Death came here early this morning September 18, 1943 to an early and widely known Kittitas Valley pioneer, Andrew Jackson Bailes, 83. Born in Springfield, Mo., November 4, 1859, he came to the valley in 1878 and resided in the Fairview District most of his life. At the time of his death, he resided at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Clarence Houser, in Ellensburg. He was a charter member of the Ellensburg Christian Church. Besides Mrs. Houser, he is survived by three other daughters, Mrs. E. R. Edwards and Mrs. Ray Ayers of Ellensburg, and Mrs. H. M. Shephard … Read more

Ferguson, Marie A. Wright – Obituary

Marie A. Ferguson, 94, of Ellensburg, died Friday [June 2, 1989] at Gold Leaf Care Center. She was born in Miller, Mo., Nov. 30, 1894, a daughter of William and Myrtle Wright. She attended school in Missouri and came to Ellensburg with her family in 1909. she and German Gage were married Feb. 21, 1912. Later she and George H. Ferguson were married in Ellensburg July 11, 1936. Mrs. Ferguson was a member of the Eagles Auxiliary, the Kittitas Rebekah Lodge and the Progressive Club. She had lived at her present home, which was part of the family farm, since … Read more

Ferguson, Nora Wyat – Obituary

Nora E. Ferguson, 78, well-known pioneer resident of Kittitas Valley, died Tuesday [January 23, 1968] at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. Born Feb. 3, 1889, in Shelton, she came to the Valley as a small child with her parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Felix G. Wyatt. In 1912 (November 4) in Ellensburg, she was married to Ben F. Ferguson, who survives her. The couple farmed on the old Ferguson ranch on Ferguson Road, east of Ellensburg. In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Budd Ferguson, Ellensburg; two daughters, Mrs. Robert Cooke and Mrs. James Thomas, both … 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

Morrison, Thomas Edward – Obituary

Ed Morrison, 54, a native Kittitas County farmer, 54, died Sunday [July 2, 1978] at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. He was born May 15, 1924 at Kittitas. He has farmed in the Kittitas Valley since he was 14-years-old, more recently in the Denmark and Badger Pocket districts. He attended Kittitas schools and was married Juanita Borgman May 27, 1944 at Kittitas. He was active as a volunteer in the Denmark area rural fire department. He is survived by his wife at the farm, Rt. 2, his mother, Mrs. Rose Morrison of Ellensburg; one son, Tom Morrison of Enumclaw; a daughter, … Read more

Rader, Margaret Chance – Obituary

On Sunday Oct. 26th the gentle spirit of Margaret Rader passed to the land where pain is not, neither sorrow nor death, age 73. She was the mother of ten children, seven of whom are still living, two sons in the Methow Valley, one of whom had just been down to see her, one daughter in California. Her husband died about two years ago and from that day on never saw a well day. After his death, she made her home with Mrs. Rose Huss, but when able she visited around a week or two with each of her children … Read more

Hayes, James Thomas – Obituary

James T. Hayes, Kittitas Valley pioneer, passed away at his home Friday, May 24 [1935], at the age of 79 years and one day. He was born in Iowa, May 23, 1856, and came to this valley 52 years ago and has remained here since that time. Besides his widow to whom he was married 59 years ago he is survived by seven children, three brothers, and one sister. The children include John, George, Abe, Clarence, Harry, Mrs. Louis Bender and Mrs. Dora Willis, all of this city. The brothers are Sam and William of Ellensburg and Milo of Idaho … Read more

Covey, Rosa Mae Zumbrunnen – Obituary

Rosa Mae Covey, 84, of Cle Elum died Thursday [died April 30, 1998]. Mrs. Covey was born in Ellensburg and was raised in the Nanum area. She worked at various locations in the Kittitas Valley as a domestic, cared for sick people and was retired from KCAC Survivors include a son, Joseph O. Covey of Kent; a daughter, Bertha Mae Covey of Ellensburg; a sister, Bertha Morrison of Ellensburg; a brother, Fred Zumbrunnen of Ellensburg; five grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Cascade Funeral Home, Cle Elum Contributed by: Sheli … Read more

Harrell, Alice Edna Poskey – Obituary

Mrs. Alice Edna Harrel, 64, died at her home on the Thorp highway at 10:30 a.m. today January 19, 1952 following a long illness. She was born in the state of Kansas and came to Kittitas Valley from Seattle in 1915. She was married in Ellensburg to Tom A. Harrel, September 4, 1925. She was a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Harrel farmed in the Badger Pocket area prior to moving to their West Side ranch six years ago. She is survived by her husband and by a stepdaughter, Mrs. Louise Fleming of Seattle, two sisters, Mrs. … Read more