Ella (Dennler) Whitman (1918 - 2010)

Born 13 Jun 1918 in Juliaetta, Idaho, United States

Ancestors

Died 20 Dec 2010 at age 92 in Spokane, Washington, United States

Biography

Obituary

Our dear mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Ella Martha Wittman, 92, passed away peacefully in the arms of her family Monday, Dec. 20, 2010, at Moran Vista Senior Living in Spokane.

Ella is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Dick Wittman; daughter Margaret Dahmen-Burns of Spokane; and sons Ronald Dahmen of Post Falls, Idaho, and Doug Dahmen of Santa Maria, Calif. Ella dearly loved all of her 13 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren, several of whom were with her in her final hours. Her husband and her children's father, Ray Dahmen, preceded her in death in 1958. Ella's daughter, Donna Druffel, also preceded her in death, as did Ella's granddaughter, Karyn Druffel.

Ella was born June 13, 1918, to Doris and George Dennler on Fix Ridge in Juliaetta. She was raised there with her three brothers, William, Adolph and Ernest, and her three sisters, Frieda, Elsie and Martha. Ernest and Martha, who reside in Lewiston, survive her.

Ella attended Juliaetta schools, and as a young woman moved to Lewiston with her beloved sisters. Ella was proud to have worked in the fine dining room of the historic Idaho Hotel. Ella met her husband-to-be, Ray Dahmen, and they were married Nov. 11, 1940. They purchased the Kamiah grocery store, which Ray operated while Ella was a homemaker. Later, they moved to Uniontown, where Ray and Ella owned and operated the Uniontown Community Market, affectionately called simply, "The Store."

After Ray's death, Ella married Dick Wittman Feb. 25, 1960, and they continued to operate the store until they retired in 1990.

Together, they enjoyed community parties and functions in Uniontown. They loved their community, and all of their family and friends. Together Ella and Dick enjoyed bowling and golfing. Boating and water-skiing on Lake Chatcolet was the highlight of their younger years.

Ella was happiest tending to her beautiful roses and many other flowers in their yard. She was proud to live across the street from the beautiful St. Boniface Church.

The rosary will be recited at 10:30 a.m., followed by celebration of a funeral Mass for Ella at 11 Thursday at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Uniontown. Kimball Funeral Home of Pullman is caring for the family.

It is her family's wishes that memorials be made to the St. Boniface Church endowment fund in Ella's name or to Hospice of Spokane, 121 S. Arthur, Spokane, WA 99210, who so graciously and lovingly supported and cared for Ella.

It would be impossible to overstate the gratitude the family feels toward the entire staff at Moran Vista Senior Living for their many kindnesses.

Online condolences may be sent to www.kimballfh.com.

--Lewiston Tribune December 21, 2010

Sources

• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=91414060

• "United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MDC5-WWX : accessed 30 January 2015), Ella Dennler in household of George Dennler, Juliaetta, Latah, Idaho, United States; citing sheet 2B, family 42, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,820,292.