Obituaries

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.

Warren Stanley Wahlborg, a life-long resident of West Seattle, passed away on Sunday, February 4, 2018 at the age of 64 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He graduated from Chief Sealth High School in 1972 and went on to earn a BA in History from the University of Washington in 1976. He worked in hardware sales at True Value and Tacoma Screw Products for many years. Warren enjoyed being outdoors and taking his children hiking, bike riding, and playing on the shores of the Puget Sound. He loved music and sang with the Seattle Men’s Chorus for several years.

Virginia passed away at 96 on her birthday. She was born and raised in Medfield, MA, the youngest of three children born to Earl and Jennie Johnson; the sister to Winthrop Johnson and Dorothy (Johnson) Kane.

She attended Roanoke College in Virginia, where she met John VanderPyl, her husband of 76 years. He was from Attleboro, MA where they resided until 1954, before moving to Burien, WA. She worked and retired at Boeing Aircraft in Seattle. In April 2004, they moved to Judson Park Retirement Center in Des Moines, WA.

Joyce Carfrae, 83, of West Seattle, WA, died after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease on February 18, 2018. Her daughters were with her when she peacefully passed. 

Joyce was born in Seattle on September 19, 1934. She graduated from West Seattle High School in 1953. She married George, who preceded her in death (2012), on April 23, 1954. George and Joyce lived most of their married life in the Alki area.

Her public persona was a quiet, dignified and modest Lady who preferred staying in the background. The absolute best mother and grandmother, she was adored by five children, Leslie, Kathy, Kim, Clark and Dagny, and three grandchildren, Indianna, Bowe and Bonnie Rose.  Her clever use of language, mischievous sense of humor, erudite conversation and boundless love will be missed endlessly.

Betty Ann Oebser, 86, beloved mother, wife, and sister, died Tuesday, January 16, 2018.  She had been a Des Moines resident for almost 60 years.

Betty was born in 1931 in Chehalis to John and Flora (Jenkins) Kludt.  

She graduated from Chehalis High School and studied for a year at Central Washington University where she met her future husband and the love of her life, Leonard Oebser.  They were married for almost 60 years before his death in 2013.