Obituaries

Ruth Porter passed away on April 4, 2018. Ruth was born in Seattle on May 27, 1926 then moved with her mother, Crescent Adams, to Butte, Montana as a young child. She spent her childhood in Butte as well as White Sulphur Springs, MT. During the Great Depression years Ruth, her mother and stepfather, Dave Adams, worked any job to survive, including capturing rattle snakes to sell. Ruth even played the piano in a family run saloon at 12 years old. She babysat a young child who turned out to be Evel Knievel the daredevil motorcyclist. She graduated from Butte High School. 

Rhea Davis was born in Portland, Oregon on July 27, 1916. She was the youngest of three children in a humble, working class family. Her father made a living as a carpenter.

Rhea grew up in the Mount Scott area of Portland until her father built the family home in Milwaukie. During the two year construction of that home, the family all lived in a loft room above the garage. Rhea graduated from Milwaukie High School in 1934.

Eleven days short of her 89th birthday longtime Ballard resident Marion Hafterson died, leaving her husband of 53 years James Hafterson, daughter Gretchen, grandchildren Camilla and Alarik, sister Cynthia of NH and nieces and nephew. She was predeceased in January by her eldest daughter, Kathrine. 

Eleven days short of her 89th birthday longtime Ballard resident Marion Hafterson died, leaving her husband of 53 years James Hafterson, daughter Gretchen, grandchildren Camillla and Alarik, sister Cynthia of NH and nieces and nephew. She was predeceased in January by her eldest daughter, Kathrine. 

Born in Baltimore, Maryland on January 14, 1947 to Melvin Paul Espy and Eleanor Olive Gaines, she was named Jeanne Eleanor Espy at birth. Jeanne was the youngest of three children; sister Irene who passed away in early 2017 and surviving brother Wayne Espy. Jeanne died of natural causes in Normandy Park, WA on February 18, 2018. 

Jeanne is survived by her daughters, Ronni Whitacre and husband Paul, and Jessie Schultz, her husband Rob and their son Lakelin Dyson-Schultz.

Karin E. McElevey peacefully passed away on the night of February 25, 2018 in West Seattle, WA surrounded by her family shortly after being diagnosed with Acute Lung Cancer. She leaves us all behind with fond memories of her love and laughter.

The second of three children, Karin was born in Nürnberg, Germany on February 14, 1934 to Ilse and Rudolf Boehland. She graduated from the Wilhelm Loehe Gymnasium (German Academic High School) of Nürnberg and the University of Munich with Majors in English Language and Physical Education in 1958.

Kenneth Finke, 78, of Burien, WA passed away from Multiple Myeloma Thursday, March 15, 2018 at home surrounded by his family.

He was born March 11, 1940 in Minot, ND, the son of Gordon and Esma “Ez” Finke. He moved to Spokane, WA with his parents where he graduated from Field High School in 1958. After high school, the family moved back to Minot, ND where he began his life profession at Smitty’s Repair. This is where he learned the transmission trade. He was one of few people that learned how to work on all makes of cars. 

Fay L. Burgett Chaplin passed away at the age of 102 at her home in Des Moines, WA, on March 3, 2018, after a brief time in hospice. She was born May 27, 1915, in Sioux City, IA, to Milbray Parker Burgett and Eva Anna Myers Burgett, the sixth of 10 children. In 1942, she married Glen Chaplin, and they celebrated 59 years together before his death in 2001. She was also preceded in death by her parents, all her siblings, and several nieces and nephews.

Harriette Anne Fredenburg passed away in her home on March 8, 2018.

Dick passed away March 10, 2018, in Des Moines Washington.  Dick was born on September 26, 1926 in Tacoma (Waller Road), the son of Esther and Carl Falk.  He served in the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Korean War and was awarded the Bronze Star and the Korean War Medal.    Early in his career he was an educator and taught school and was one of the founding administrators of Tacoma Community College.  He obtained three graduate degrees, including a Ph.D.  Later in his career he became a marriage and family therapist and was board certified.