All Obituaries

Stephanie Stein, 63, passed away unexpectedly on January 4, 2023 at the Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle after a brief illness. Stephanie was born on September 18, 1959 in Los Alamos, New Mexico to parents Carol and Paul Stein. She was the first daughter and the middle child of three.She began her academic journey at University of California, Santa Cruz from 1977-81 for her BA in Psychology. She then attended University of California, Santa Barbara from 1982-84 for a master’s...

Norm Woods had his last tee time at 12:48 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, 2023 surrounded at home by his family and friends. A celebration of Norm’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 2, 2023 in the Teanaway Hall at the Kittitas County Fairgrounds. Norm was born on April 15, 1951 in Ellensburg to Robert “Bob” & Norma (Wareham) Woods.  He was named after his mother, Norma, and his sister Roberta was named after their father, Robert.  Norm was a...

Colleen M. (Willette) Major, 97, peacefully left her family on Sunday, March 5, 2023 at her home in Ellensburg.  Colleen was born on January 10, 1926 in Los Angeles, California. Her parents were James & Cecilia (Mayta) Willette. She grew up in Cle Elum and the upper county became a cherished part of Colleen’s life - always connecting her to her roots.  She was the oldest of five children - Jim, Tom, Lucille, and Jack soon followed.  Colleen was married to her...

Alison L. Helland, 82, known as “Cookie” to those whose life she had touched, passed away Thursday, March 2, 2023 at the Kittitas Valley Hospital after a brief illness. Cookie was a lifelong resident of Ellensburg and a member of the Ellensburg High School graduating class of 1959. Cookie was very friendly, had an infectious sense of humor and true to form joked with those caring for her at KVH in her final days. Cookie was never a person to sit idle. Through the years she had...

Dr. Nancy E. Allen (Jurenka), PhD, 85, longtime Ellensburg resident and CWU Professor Emerita in Reading Education, passed away on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at the KVH Hospital in Ellensburg.  A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 17, 2023 at Grace Episcopal Church in Ellensburg. Nancy Allen was known in her academic career as Dr. Nancy Jurenka, her former married surname.  She was born on April 12, 1937 in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, the youngest of three...

Lawrence Joel “Larry” Standish, 76, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Ellensburg on Saturday, February 18, 2023.  A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 9, 2023 at Johnston & Williams Funeral Home in Ellensburg. Larry was born on October 22, 1946 in Olympia, Washington to Lawrence Nathan & Violet Kathryn (Hedges) Standish.  He was raised in Leavenworth and graduated from Leavenworth High School in 1964. He went on to attend...

William S. “Bill” Pattee, 79, lifetime Kittitas Valley resident, passed away at his home on Wednesday, February 15, 2023.  At his request, no formal services will be held. Bill was born in Ellensburg, Washington on November 19, 1943 to Leonard & Myrtle (Sisk) Pattee and was proud of being a descendant of two Kittitas Valley pioneer families.  He grew up in Ellensburg and attended the local schools before serving in the United States Army from...

Bruce E. Reason, 81, of Cle Elum, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 3, 2023 with his wife, daughter and son present. A gathering will be held sometime later this year with details to be announced. Bruce was born on January 29, 1942 in Lansing, Michigan.  He served four years in the United States Air Force as part of the SAC Security team. Following his honorable discharge from the Air Force, Bruce worked in procurement for California based Rainbird Sprinklers before joining...

Patricia Ann Titus, 82, departed her loving family peacefully on the evening of February 2, 2023, in the comfort of her own home on Third Street in Cle Elum, surrounded by her daughter and granddaughters. Patricia was born in Wenatchee on May 16, 1940 to Leona Lydia (nee’ Heimbigner) and Herman John Schorzman. Of proud Volga German heritage, she was raised in Odessa, Washington at the Heimbigner family dairy farm. This is where her lifelong love of horses began, with her very first...

A1C Wade Roger Hillemann, USAF, 19, lifetime Ellensburg resident, passed away on January 12, 2023. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 28, 2023 in the Teanaway Hall at the Kittitas County Fairgrounds. Wade was born in Ellensburg, Washington on April 4, 2003.  He grew up in Ellensburg and attended Valley View Elementary, Morgan Middle School and graduated from Ellensburg High School in 2021.  At the time of his graduation, Wade had not only earned his...