One of Kittitas County’s best beloved pioneers, Mrs. Rebecca N. Bull, passed away Saturday [April 4, 1936] at the Ellensburg General Hospital, following a short illness. She was 80 years of age and had been a resident of this community for almost 60 years, coming here shortly after the Indian uprising.
She was a great conversationalist and with her wonderful memory and charming personality entertained her friends with the recounting of many episodes of the early days and her own experiences of pioneer life in this valley.
Mrs. Bull was born in Norway, March 1, 1856, and came to America with her parents when she was 14 years old. She was educated in Nebraska and after graduating from the Normal School at Blair, taught in that city for a number of years.
Coming to Seattle by way of San Francisco, she taught near what is now Kent, for one year, before following the trails on horseback to reach the Kittitas Valley in 1879.
In 1881 she married B. W. Frisbee, one of the first teachers in the valley, who died in 1888. To them two children were born, a son, Leroy W. of Trenton, New Jersey, and daughter, Emma F. Fiermuller, of Rainy River, Ontario.
Later Mrs. Frisbee married Walter A. Bull, who died in 1897. To this union two sons were born, Dr. Leland L. Bull of Seattle, and J. Alva Bull of Ellensburg, with whom she resided in the Broadview District.
All the children were at the bedside of their mother during her illness. Mr. Frisbee came by plane from Trenton arriving here last Friday and Mrs. Fiermuller, accompanied by her husband, arrived Thursday.
Besides these children, eight grandchildren survive. These are Jack [John Alva], Walter and Leland Bull of Ellensburg; Richard Frisbee of Trenton, New Jersey; Wesley and Leona Fiermuller and Mrs. C. A. Gosselin of Rainy River and Mrs. J. M. Cummings of Vancouver, B. C.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at two o’clock at the Honeycutt Chapel. Rev. John T. Ledger will conduct the services and interment will in the IOOF Cemetery.
Ellensburg Evening Record, April 6, 1936
Contributed by: Shelli Steedman