Frank Michels, 83, member of a Kittitas Valley pioneer family, died here this morning [March 27, 1951] about 6:30 a.m. at the Airway Nursing Home.
Michels was born at Shakopee, Minnesota., October 10, 1868 and came to the Ellensburg area at the age of 15, with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Michels in 1882.
In 1892 here he was married to Mary O’Brien. She died in 1924 and three years later Michels was married to Vera Johnson. The marriage took place at Ephrata, although both resided here.
During a 20 year period, until three years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Michels operated a ranch in Menastash Canyon. They then moved to a Lincoln Street residence in Ellensburg and lived there until 15 months ago when he entered the nursing home.
Michels was a member of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church. He is survived by his widow, at 411 E. Thirteenth Avenue here; two sons, Earl and Martin Michels, both of Portland, Ore., two stepdaughters, Mrs. Verna Nelson of Ellensburg and Mrs. Holly Anderson of Glendale, Calif., one stepson, Willard Johnson of Tacoma; two sisters, Mr. G. H. Beaver of Bellingham and Miss Lena Michels of Ellensburg; seven grandchildren, eight step-grandchildren, one great granddaughter and many nieces and nephews.
Services are to be announced by Honeycutt-Evenson Funeral Home.
Contributed by: Shelli Steedman