Family: Milestones

SAMPSON 100th

Gail Sampson celebrated her 100th birthday July 30, 2017, at her longtime home in Pullman, Wash. Though no longer able to attend church, she keeps up with what is going on, prays for church and community members, and stays engaged on church and community…

HOOPER 100th

Irmgard Hooper celebrate her 100th birthday on June 25, 2017, with a luncheon in Albany, Ore.

Irmgard S. Siemsen was born June 29, 1917, the third of five children born to Herman and Auguste (Hartwig) Siemsen in Roundup, Mont. She attended small,…

KABANUK 90th

Every year Andy and Dorothy Kabanuk celebrate both their anniversary and Dorothy’s birthday together because they are only two days apart.

This year, 23 family and friends met in the party room of the Pacific Express Restaurant in Walla Walla, Wash…

VERSTAPPEN 90th

For Elizabeth Verstappen's 90th birthday celebration on April 16, 2017, she had a few surprises. The first surprise was a former Japanese exchange student flying in from Okinawa. The next surprise was her only granddaughter, Julianne Pittman Sanders,…

JENSEN 100th

Mildred Matterand was born in Stanwood, Wash., on Jan. 4, 1917. She was the second of four daughters born to Haakon and Sophie Matterand. She grew up on the banks of the Stillaguamish River where her dad built boats. Mildred and her sisters swam in the river…

BUNKER 90th

Mazie Ellen Bunker of Willow, Alaska, and Longview, Wash., celebrated her 90th birthday with an open house at her Longview home on March 12, 2017.

Mazie was born in Jackson, Mich., on March 13, 1927. She celebrated her birthday with all five of her…

LACOM 90th

On May 1, 2016, a celebration of Jerry’s 90 years took place. Jerry and her family, along with some close friends, got together in Spokane, Wash., to share a delightful dinner and slideshow with pictures of Jerry’s life. When Jerry was first approached about…

BURDEN 90th

Ken Burden celebrated his 90th birthday on Nov. 20, 2016, at the Chehalis (Wash.) Church accompanied by 20 family members from all over the country and his church family.

He was born at the old Resthaven Sanitarium on Vancouver Island, British…

WYMAN 90th

Barbara Ruth Seaward Wyman celebrated her 90th birthday with family and friends on Aug. 13, 2016, at the Walla Walla Village Church fellowship hall.

Barbara was born on Aug. 15, 1926, in Pomona, Calif., to James and Ruth Seaward. She was the youngest…

WILLIAM 90th

Oct. 11, 1926, a tiny girl was born to Joseph and Julia Wright, the second child and the first daughter, to be followed by four more brothers and two sisters. The family lived in the small community of Toledo, Ore. Her father worked as a dairy farmhand and…

JENICKE 95th

Irene Beatrice Schmechel Jenicke had a 95th birthday on Sept. 22, 2016. She was born in Granite Falls, N.D., the third of five children born to Martha and Arthur Schmechel. When Irene was 5, the family moved to Twin Falls, Idaho, and there Irene began her…

McKERCHER 90th

Family and friends gathered at the home of Madeline Mary McKercher on June 22, 2016, to celebrate her 90th birthday. A delicious dinner was prepared and served by her family to all the guests.

Madeline Mary McPhail was born in Craik, Saskatchewan,…

MARTIN 90th

The family of Marie (Merth) Martin celebrated her 90th birthday on Sabbath, Aug. 20, 2016. Family members gathered from as far away as New York, Michigan and California for a picnic in Fort Walla Walla Park in Walla Walla, Wash.

Marie was born in…

WOODRUFF 90th

Family and friends gathered on July 10, 2016, to a catered lunch at the Red Lion Inn in Salem, Ore., to celebrate Edith Woodruff’s 90th birthday.

Edith Eleanor Lawson was born July 8, 1926, to Herbert and Inez Lawson in New Bedford, Mass. At the age…

STODDARD 100th

Roland Stoddard celebrated his 100 birthday on July 18 with his wife of 69 years by his side and in the company of many friends from the Village Retirement Center in Gresham, Ore.

Roland grew up in Valentine, Neb. The family made a few moves, and…

BOYES 100th

Helen Boyes celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends on May 1, 2016, in Hayden Lake, Idaho.

Helen A. Madison was born in Harrison, Idaho, on May 1, 1916, to Jim and Alice Madson. When she was 8 years old, the family moved down the…

MEIER 100th

Church family and friends gathered in Pasco, Wash., for a reception to honor Bernie Meier on his 100th birthday. It was hosted by step-daughter, Suzanne, and her husband, Larry Swisher, of Pasco. In attendance were step-grandsons, Jason and Christopher…

SEIBEL 90th

The Village Church members and friends met in the social room of the Village Retirement Center in Gresham, Ore., on April 23, 2016, to honor Eva (Nelson) Seibel on her 90th birthday.

Eva is the daughter of the late Henry V. and Helen (Sandberg) Nelson…

GRUZENSKY 100th

Bill Gruzensky celebrated his 100th birthday July 18, 2016. He sang “Amazing Grace” with his daughter-in-law, Deanna Russell, for the church service at the Lebanon (Ore.) Church on June 25, 2016. Bill has been a member of the Lebanon Church for 52 years…

WOODS 90th

Berton “Bert” G. Woods recently celebrated his 90th birthday in Sequim, Wash., with his family and church friends. He was born at home in Springfield, Mass., on Feb. 15, 1926, to Garfield and Ernestine Woods. The fourth of five children, he is the lone…