Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 319
Gary Craig Lasater passed away in the early morning of January 5, 2026, at Providence Hospital in Walla Walla, Washington. He was born August 18, 1935, in Walla Walla to Redman Lasater and Claire Lycan Lasater Groth. Gary graduated from Walla Walla High School, Wa-Hi, in 1953 and served in the Air Reserve in the mid-1950s. Flying was an important part of Gary's life from an early age. His father and mother were both pilots, and Gary earned his private pilot's license when he was young. Over the...
Susan Ann Donegan, aged 73, died on 11 May 2026 in Central Oregon of complications from pancreatic cancer, surrounded by her family. She was born in Dayton, Ohio, on 27 August 1952, to Patricia Ann Freese and Donald Edgar Donegan. She grew up on Feldman Ave, in Dayton, the eldest of 11 cousins, all living and playing on that one street. Susan graduated from Fairmont East High School in Kettering, earned a B.S. in Foreign Language Education from Ohio State University, followed by an M.B.A. from P...
Eila Trudgeon Whelchel was born in Estacada, Oregon, on January 5, 1927, to Nelson Guy and Tiney Catherine (Carver) Trudgeon. Her early life was shaped by the Great Depression, which prompted the family's move to Jerome, Idaho, when Eila was four years old. During the 1930s, they lived in the Boise Valley, and the family grew to include sisters, Mary Viola and Joyce Ann. During this era, both her father and her grandfather worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The family later moved...
Virginia Rae Henze, 79, of Burbank, Washington, passed away on March 29, 2026, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She was surrounded by loved ones. Virginia was an amazing woman – daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend – and she will be missed immensely. Virginia (Ginger) was born on July 29, 1946, to Robert and Margaret Segraves in Walla Walla, Washington. She grew up in Waitsburg with her parents, brothers John and Gary, and sisters Roberta and Lola. She rem...
Barbara Gale Abbey passed away peacefully on April 13, 2026, at the age of 79, just weeks shy of her 80th birthday. Barbara was born on May 1, 1946, in Dayton, Washington, to Michael and Joyce Saxon. She began her education in Dayton before moving with her family to Waitsburg in 1955. She attended local schools and graduated from Waitsburg High School with the Class of 1964. On January 23, 1965, she married Robert William Abbey, and they welcomed their son, Donald Michael Abbey, in November...
Mary Jameson Mathews, 85, of Waitsburg, Washington. Passed away on February 9, 2026, in College Place, Wash, after a brief illness. Mary was born on April 22, 1940, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Charles Parker Eastman and Irene Bachman Eastman. When she was young, she moved with her family, including her older sister, to Fond Du Lac, Wis. Mary attended B.F. Goodrich High School and graduated in 1958. She then enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, joining Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and...
I am Somebody! I am Somebody! I may be poor, but I am Somebody! I may be young, but I am Somebody! I may be on welfare, but I am Somebody! I may be small, but I am Somebody! I may have made mistakes, but I am Somebody! My clothes are different, My face is different, My hair is different, But I am Somebody! I am Black, Brown, or White, I speak a different language, But I must be respected, protected, never rejected, I am God's child! I am Somebody! The version of "I Am Somebody" by Rev. William...
With great sadness, our family announces the passing of Betty Jean Johnson. Betty died at the age of 92 in the early morning hours of December 26, 2025, after having spent Christmas Day with her family at the home of Larry and Linda Conover in Waitsburg, Washington. It was a day filled with love and special moments. She loved her family and appreciated the time she spent with them. One of the last things she said on Christmas Day was that she wished her children were little again, and that she...
JoAnn Kay Gagnon, longtime Dayton and Waitsburg area resident, passed away Monday, January 19, 2026, of congestive heart failure at the Dayton General Hospital. She was 73. A graveside service will be held Monday, January 26th at 11:00 am at the Waitsburg Cemetery, followed by a memorial service at 1:00 pm at the Community Bible Church in Dayton. Pastor Dewayne Ramsey will officiate. JoAnn was the second of four children born to Donald and Barbara James Lenhard. She was born August 15, 1952, in...
David Leon Molesh passed away on January 10, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with ALS. He was born the first of four children on November 16, 1943, in Grand Rapids, Michigan to parents Dorothy and George Molesh. He and his sisters, Sherry and April, grew up in the nearby small town of Greenville, Michigan. He often spoke of an idyllic 40s and 50s childhood of neighborhood playmates and friends, Saturday matinees, sledding, snow forts, and snowball fights in winter, a paper route,...
Darlene Ann Norman, 86, of Esmond, North Dakota, passed away on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at The Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby, N.D. Darlene Ann Peck was born on July 22, 1939, in Bottineau, N.D., the daughter of Lyle and Louise (Lauckner) Peck. She graduated from Bottineau High School and obtained her teacher's certificate. On June 11, 1961, she was united in marriage to James Walter Norman in Bottineau, N.D. The couple resided in Walla Walla, Wash., for a year. In 1962, they moved...
Patricia Wilma Largent passed away at the age of 95 on January 12, 2026, at Eagle Springs Memory Care in College Place, Washington. A Memorial Service will be held on January 24, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., at the Waitsburg Christian Church. Arrangements are entrusted to Herring Funeral Home. www.herringgroseclose.com...
A memorial service for Mary Liebermann Phillips will be held on Friday, January 9, 2026. Family and friends are invited to St. Mark Catholic Church in Waitsburg at 10 a.m. for a memorial mass, followed by a graveside service at Dayton City Cemetery. After the services, all are invited to a luncheon at St. Mark Catholic, 405 W. Fifth Street, Waitsburg....
Robert Gary "Bob" Rickel, of Waitsburg, Washington, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at Kadlec Regional Medical Center on December 12, 2025. He was 92 years old. Bob was born February 20, 1933, in Omak, Washington, to parents Wilfred and Ida Mae (Howe) Rickel. He spent the first years of his life in a log cabin on his parents' homestead near Synarep, Tunk Valley, Washington. Following Ida Mae's early death, the family moved frequently during Bob's childhood. Bob completed four...
Ruth Peterson passed away peacefully on December 11, 2025, after a short illness. She died as she lived, with a tenacious, loving, and determined spirit, surrounded by her family. Ruth Ann, as she was known in her early years, was born in Tyler, Minnesota, as the third. daughter of Albert and Edna Schaffer. She spent her formative years in Elkton, South Dakota, where her family ran the local John Deere dealership, and where Ruth Ann was often found helping her dad with the shop books. After...
Michael Allen White, 79, of Waitsburg, Washington, passed away on November 24, 2025, at his residence. Michael was born on March 25, 1946, in Ontario, Oregon, to Jasper Arthur White and Wilma (Hickey) White. He was raised in the Northwest and graduated from Waitsburg High School in 1964. Michael went on to pursue higher education, earning his Bachelor's degree in Education from Eastern Oregon University and a Master's degree from Washington State University. On January 4, 1969, Michael married...
Mary Liebermann Phillips, nee Mary Margaret Liebermann, was born on February 5, 1940, and passed away on December 3, 2025, at the age of 85. Mary was born in Santa Paula, California, to John and Elizabeth Liebermann and moved to the Waitsburg-Dayton area in the late 1940s when her parents purchased land. Mary attended a two-room schoolhouse in Huntsville, Washington, from grades 2– 4 and then attended Waitsburg schools, graduating from Waitsburg High School in 1957. She attended Eastern Washington State College (now known as Eastern W...
Jack M. McCaw, age 98, was welcomed into the Heavenly Choir on November 15, 2025, joining his beloved “redhead,” Laurette. He was born on March 31, 1927, in Walla Walla, Washington, to Jay M. and Katherine Holling McCaw. (He always joked that his mother didn’t want him to be an “April Fool,” so made sure he was a day early.) He grew up on the family farm near Prescott, along with his sister, Kathleen. He was valedictorian of the Prescott High School class of 1945, but his mother had to accept...
William O. Samson II (Billy) passed away on October 7, 2025, after a long illness in Soldotna, Alaska. He is preceded in death by his father, William Samson, and his mother, Merrilee Samson of Waitsburg, Washington. Bill was born in Dayton, Washington, on December 5, 1958. He is survived by his long-time partner, Robin Hilton, of the home in Soldotna, Alaska. He is also survived by his children; Michael (Amber) McIntosh of Walla Walla, Wash., Mary (Mike) Armijo of Walla Walla, Wash., William...
October 22, 1939 – October 10, 2025 After a sudden illness, Anne Marie Picone Zenk passed away on October 10, 2025, in Richland, Washington, just shy of her 86th birthday. Born on October 22, 1939, in San Francisco, California, Anne Marie (who preferred to be called "Marie") was the eldest daughter of Santo Bartholomew Picone and Leonida Dorothy Dericco. Marie married David E. Zenk, on September 26, 1965, recently they reached their 60th anniversary. Together, they built a home in Novato, C...
With heavy hearts, we share the passing of Rene Lynn Goth Brown, who left this world peacefully on Monday, surrounded by love. She was born on October 5, 1976, to Perry Michael Goth Sr. and Vivian Bell Goth in Ventura, California. Her older brother Perry Michael Goth Jr was born in 1973. Rene graduated from Buena High School in Ventura, California, in 1994. She participated in all athletics, especially volleyball. She later attended California State University, Northridge, on a full volleyball...
Joyce Lyseng (nee McQuary) passed away peacefully on August 28, 2025, at the Irene Thomas Hospice in Delta, BC. Joyce was born in Dayton, Washington, on November 14, 1941, to Vyrl and Eileen McQuary. She lived and grew up in Dayton, attending Dayton High School and going on to earn a degree from Eastern Washington University. She accepted her first job as a Speech Therapist in a new clinic being opened in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (a bold move for a young lady from southeastern Washington)....
Sebastian Louis Giannini, a devout Christian, an Engineer of great knowledge, and a cherished Veteran of the Army, hath passed from this mortal coil on the 11th of September in the year of our Lord 2025. Born on the 20th of April in 1945 in the verdant valleys of San Jose, California, Sebastian's soul took flight from the earthly confines of Walla Walla, Washington, after a valiant struggle with end-stage COPD. We commend our beloved Sebastian to the Almighty, trusting that in His presence,...
Pearl (Stedman) Bickelhaupt passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at home, at the age of 91, with the gentle calm that always followed her. She was the anchor of her family, shaping memories that will never fade: childhood birthdays, long summer days on the farm, pool parties, kitchen-table chats, harvest nights, and a house that always had room for everyone. Her love was practical and constant: birthday cards always remembered, pen-pal notes to the kids, quick snacks for the road...
Terry Dean Linville Hoon, 75, of Dayton, Washington, passed away peacefully at home on August 23, 2025, surrounded by his family, due to complications from pulmonary fibrosis. He was born on August 25, 1949, in Walla Walla, Washington, to Bill and Phyllis (McFalls) Linville and spent most of his life in his beloved hometown of Dayton. Phyllis later married Roy Hoon, who became a second father to Terry. Terry completed his early education in Dayton, graduating from Dayton High School in 1968. He...
