The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Rode her sorrel pony Skookum bareback over the wheat fields her daddy farmed in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, skied those hills on pine planks with her beloved siblings Fritz and Margaret, learned to read and write in a one room schoolhouse on Coppei Creek, learned to dance as her aunt and uncles played at the community hall by the homestead on Jasper Mountain, graduated valedictorian of Waitsburg High School's class of 1940, went to Washington State University on a scholarship and earned a degree in English and a Phi Beta Kappa key and made her professors cry when she couldn't stay in 1945 to help teach all the returning GIs. Fulfilled the wishes of those professors 30 years later by getting a Master's in reading instruction from Loyola Marymount. Loved to sing. Sat on fence posts as a 4 year old and entertained the hired hands with her rendition of "Big Rock Candy Mountain," was enlisted in the WSU choir by a member who heard her singing in the dormitory shower, sang for 30 years in the choir at St. Lawrence Martyr and another 30 at St. John Fisher, sang barbershop in Sweet Adelines with LA South Towns and Verdugo Hills Chorus, and classical with Los Cancioneros of Torrance for decades. Met the love of her life, William Weaver, another scholarship student at WSU, who married her twice, once in 1944 and again in 2003, and who took her to Southern California where he founded a medical practice. Raised eight children with boundless love, infinite patience, sly humor, and humble wisdom. Weathered many a storm through her steadfast faith in God. Read voraciously, watched Days of Our Lives loyally, completed the Times crossword diligently, played Scrabble and Bridge formidably, and generally enjoyed golf except when she four-putted. Was, in short, a goddess who surprised us all by not being immortal. We feel so blessed to have known her. She was preceded in death by her parents Frederick and Anna A. ("Lena" Keve) Bachmann of Waitsburg, WA, husband William, son David, daughter Barbara and son-in-law Roger Batty, and brother Lt. Col. Frederick C. Bachmann. She is survived by her sons and daughters: Michael (Susan), Pleasant Hill, CA; Jim (Tamara), Bend, OR; John (Leslie), Lafayette, CA; Joanna (Brett) Cooper, Cayucos, CA; Liz (Will) Brady, Langlois, OR; Bill (Marina Reisinger), Bend, OR; daughter-in-law, Barbara Hagedorn (David), Spokane, WA; sister, Margaret Brown, Greeley, CO; 17 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren and many cousins, nieces and nephews, and dear friends from golfing, choir, church, and life. Funeral Services will be at St. John Fisher Catholic Church, 5448 Crest Rd, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, Saturday, February 17th at 11 AM. A reception will follow at the church auditorium. Donations can be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.