Obituaries

Charles Benton Howard, 85, of Des Moines, passed away on Tuesday, November 29, 2005, at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, in Missoula, Montana, of natural causes. His wife, Junise N. Howard, originally from Missoula, and his daughter, Linda, were with him at the time of death.

Chuck was born on December 31, 1919, in Nampa, Idaho to Charles E. and Marion B. Howard. He went to public school in Nampa and moved to Des Moines in 1933 with his parents, two sisters, Edith and Margaret, and his grandparents, who lived next door. He graduated from Highline High School in 1938.

Harold A. Maas, age 67, passed peacefully on Dec. 1, 2005, in Burien.

Harold is survived by his wife of 47 years, Katherine; a daughter, Kimberly Hoskins; sons Michael Maas (Susan) and Tony Maas; 10 grandchildren; two sisters, Dixie Morrison and Kathleen Vogel; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, Dec. 17, at 11 a.m. at Westwood Christian Assembly Church, 9252 16th Avenue S.W., Seattle. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Purrfect Pals, 230 McRae Road N.E., Arlington, WA 98223.

Elvin Herbert Tussing died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2005. He was 93.

Mr. Tussing was born Sept. 17, 1912, in Fruitland, Idaho. He had lived in Seattle for the past 65 years. He was an electronics and numerical control technician at the Boeing Company for 35 years. He loved working with electronics and was a HAM radio operator.

He raised in a Christian family and was married to Marie L. Tussing of Burien for 57 years. (She died in 1998.)

Survivors include his son, David, and daughter, Bonnie.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec.

Andy D'Andrea was born May 21,1955, in Ellwood City, Pa. He died Dec. 7, 2005.

Andy is survived by his parents, Andrew and Dolly D'Andrea of Van Nuys, Calif., his siblings, Tisha and Jim York, Mary Jo Nardone, Rose McCabe and Tiffany Hart, Julie and Carl Hassler, and Christina D'Andrea, six nieces and four nephews, and two great-nephews.

Andy was the owner of D'Andrea's Restaurant in Des Moines for over 10 years, the remainder of his career was in Hollywood as a personal chef.

He spent life doing kind works for those in need.

Robert E. Erickson, [a/k/a as “Trygger”], 60, the son of Einar and Clara Erickson of Ballard, passed away in his home on Thanksgiving Day. Bob was born and raised in Ballard and attended Adams Elementary School, James Munro Jr. High, Ballard High and graduated from the School of Business at the University of Washington. Bob was an articulate man with a gentle spirit who was highly thought of by all who knew him. He is survived by his brother, Lawrence A.

January 29, 1930 - November 20, 2005

Parents were Ruby Frances Bradshaw and Earl Frank Ecklund. Grandparents were Minnie Willis and William Bradshaw, and Anna C. Olson and Frank Emil Ecklund. The Bradshaws derive from England via Pennsylvania in 1723. The Ecklunds came from Finland and Sweden to Seattle in 1899.

The Ecklund family lived in the Broadview area from 1927, moving to California in 1937, returning to Leschi in 1938, and settling in Sunset Hill in 1946.

Ralph joined Boy Scout troops 123 and 57. He was confirmed at Plymouth Congregational Church.

Dante Evans was born Thanksgiving Day, 1915, in Lehi, Utah. He died Nov. 25, 2005, in Seattle the day after his 90th birthday.

Dante briefly attended Brigham Young University. He retired from Boeing in 1983 after 43 years as a machinist. There he designed and built the first mouse watering device for the early space program. Other jobs included concrete puddler, laborer, and guide on Hoover Dam, as well as a short stint as a cowboy.

Dante married Florence Peterson on Dec. 14, 1944.

Lisa Marie Vagar (Simpson), born Feb. 1, 1965, left us for a peaceful reunion with her grandmother on Nov. 18, 2005.

Her two-year battle with cancer showed she had an amazing courageous strength.

Ruby passed away peacefully at the Knight Adult Family Home on Nov. 13, 2005. She was 85 years old.

Ruby was born in Epping, North Dakota, on July 18, 1920, to Jens and Ragnhilde Hovland. After high school graduation she left home to work for the Erickson family in Williston, N.D. She married Ernest Richard Dehnert on June 30, 1946. in Epping and shortly thereafter moved to West Seattle. Ruby and Ernie made their home in Burien, and were married for 59 years.

Ruby loved spending time with her family.

Edward C. Fordham, 96 years of age, was born in 1909 and passed away Nov. 22, 2005, at Wesley Homes Health Center in Des Moines.

Edward is survived by his wife Annabell, two sons, Eugene E. Fordham of Renton, and LeRoy McDowell of Kalispell, Montana, and two daughters, Delores Jaber of SeaTac and Judith Mellem of Coos Bay, Oregon. Edward has several grandchildren and great-grandsons and daughters.

Edward will be buried at Fairview Cemetery in Flathead County, Montana.