EXCITING UPDATE

In 2022, I posted a video on TikTok asking for help finding the children of Grandma E. Virgina (Kaelber) Fifer's youngest brother, Alvin “Manny” Kaelber. Earlier this week, I was in contact with one of Alvin’s grandchildren. (TikTok video update here.) I can't say how excited I am & wish that Grandma were here to know. 

L-R: Alvin “Manny” Kaelber , Virginia “Bid” Kaelber, Florence “Sis” Kaelber, Belle “Toots” Kaelber, & James Kaelber

Virginia Fifer - RIP

Virginia Fifer  
aka Emma Virginia (Kaelber) Fifer

via The Statesman Examiner

Virginia Fifer passed away Friday, September 15, 2023 in Spokane Valley, Washington. She was the fourth child of Frank and Mary Kaelber. Virginia was born in a log cabin in Inchelium on August 29, 1925. She attended Barnaby Creek school and Inchelium school where she would walk three miles to catch a bus.

Virginia married Robert Fifer, at the end of World War II and moved to Olympia where Robert was stationed at Fort Lewis. When Robert was sent to Japan with the Corp of Engineers, Virginia moved to Spokane where she worked in a parking garage. After Robert was discharged from the Army, Virginia and Robert moved back to Inchelium.

In 1959 Robert and Virginia purchased the family ranch on Barnaby Creek. Virginia raised a huge garden and provided food for the family. She was active on the Inchelium election board. One of her favorite hobbies was picking huckleberries. She was noted for the delicious pies she baked.

When Robert passed away in 2012, Virginia moved to Spokane Valley where she lived until she passed.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband Robert, her parents and all her siblings. She is survived by her son Larry Fifer (Jill) of Veradale, WA, granddaughters, Dawn Fifer and Tonya Fifer of Spokane Valley, WA and great grandson, Tyler Alexander of Veradale, WA.

Virginia was laid to rest next to her husband Robert in Mountain View Park in Colville, Washington.

A Dyck genealogy. Compiled in 1936 by Maria Dyck Kuhlmann with the help of her father Jacob Dyck. Revised in 1948 by Rev. & Mrs. H.J. Dyck. Second revision in 1963 by Mr. & Mrs Alven Dyck ...

via: https://archive.org/embed/dyckgenealogycom00dyck

Jacqueline Vertrees Sleeth - RIP

Jacqueline Vertrees Sleeth 

via Tri-Cities Herald

Jacquie was born in Kansas City, Missouri, the oldest child of Jack & Eula Vertrees. After graduation from Bellingham High School, she attended Pacific Lutheran University where she sang in the choir. In 1945 she met and married Ray Dyck, the couple bought a dairy in Post Falls, Idaho. Jacquie returned to school and earned her nursing degree. In 1964 Jacquie & Ray divorced, and she moved to Spokane where she met and married Bud Sleeth. In the mid 1970's they moved to Kennewick, and Jacquie began work at Kennewick General Hospital as head of Central Supply and remained until her retirement in the 1990's. Jacquie loved her pets and gardening. Always active, she took exercise classes at CBC, ran in fun runs, volunteered at the hospital, worked on the election board, was a member of Sons of Norway, and a member of First Lutheran Church. In 2015 she moved to Spokane to be closer to her daughters, although her heart always remained in Kennewick. Jacquie is survived by her husband Bud Sleeth, Spokane; bother Tom (Ann) Vertrees, Kennewick; daughters Gail (Gordon) Schoonmaker, Post Falls, Idaho; Jill (Larry) Fifer, Rice, Washington; grandchildren Jeff Dawson, Dawn Ray Fifer, Tonya Fifer, and great grandson Tyler Fifer-Alexander all of Spokane. A celebration of her life will be held at First Lutheran Church in Kennewick on Saturday, March 10th, at 2:00 pm.

Raymond Lee Dyck, 97 - RIP

Raymond (Ray) Lee Dyck, 97 

via Find A Grave

Ray rode off into the sunset on March 16, 2017 in Post Falls, Idaho. Ray was born on October 30, 1919, he was the oldest child of Frank and Lena (Schrag) Dyck, German, Russian Mennonite farmers in Ruff, Washington. He grew up working on the family's wheat ranch. His love for rodeo began at a young age, and he never passed up a chance to practice riding the family's cattle.

After graduating from Lind High School, he began breaking horses and mules. He became a cattle buyer and met his wife, Jacquie Vertrees, who was a telephone operator in Moses Lake, when he made sales calls.

Ray was one of the founders of the Moses Lake Rodeo which continues today.

Ray and Jacquie, along with their infant daughter, moved to Davenport, Washington, and raised cattle.

In 1950, Ray packed up the family, purchased a dairy and moved to Post Falls, Idaho. Although his love for rodeo continued , he put aside his calf roping (tie down roping) in order to raise his family. Always involved with horses, he became a member of the Kootenai County Saddle Club.

Ray and Jacquie divorced in 1965. He began raising exotic cross cattle and sold his Brahma bulls to rodeo contractors.

Marilyn Fitzsimmons and Ray were wed, but later divorced.

Ray, always a hard worker, sold his dairy but needed more to do in retirement so he went to work at Helmers Hardware. He also enjoyed team roping in his later years. In his 90's, Ray moved to Guardian Angel Retirement Community in Post Falls.

Ray is survived by one brother, Alvin Dyck (Marge) of Moses Lake, Wa. Three daughters: Gail Schoonmaker (Gordon) of Post Falls, Id; Barbara Jill Fifer (Larry) of Rice, WA; Jeanne Ruebke of Coeur d'Alene, ID. Grandson, Jeff Dawson of Spokane, Wa. Granddaughters: Dawn Ray Fifer and Tonya Fifer of Spokane Valley, Wa., Brianna Ruebke and Kelly Ruebke of Coeur d'Alene, Id. Great-grandson, Tyler Fifer-Alexander of Spokane Valley, Wa.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, a sister and his son, Frank Dyck, and his son-in-law, John Ruebke.

The family wants to extent a heartfelt thank you to the wonderful caregivers, nurses and staff at the Timber House Guardian Angel Post Falls for the superb and loving care they gave Ray. Also, we extend a grateful thank you to Hospice of North Idaho.

Most of all the family wants to thank Ray for making us the luckiest people in the world.

loss of a research tool

If you have looked at the Research Tools section of this blog, you know that one of my links is: Spokesman Review ~ birth announcement search. Unfortunately, I have recently realized that this feature is not working. This is unfortunate & hopefully something that will eventually be fixe.

Thanksgiving 2015 - in pictures

Mennonite Country Auction

You can find the 
Mennonite Country Auction 
on Facebook.

* * *

Please visit my post
USGenWeb & Menno Mennonite Cemetary.

Larry Fifer's retirement party

19 June 2015

Salish

When I was young, I lived in Inchelium, WA. 

I attended the Inchelium School District 

(a K-12 school) from kindergarten through 8th grade. 

Salish is/was the language of this tribe. 

While I am not Native American, 

I would still like to share a link that I have found, 

which is to the Salish School of Spokane. 

Salish School of Spokane