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Edwin Chalmer `Fritz' Franzen
Feb. 20, 1908 -- March 4, 2006
Edwin Chalmer ``Fritz" Franzen died peacefully of natural causes in his Cape George Colony home, with family members at his bedside, in Port Townsend. He was 98.
Born in Golden, Ill., to Henry and Mary (Janssen) Franzen, he grew up in nearby Camp Point, Ill.
After two years at Illinois College, Jacksonville, he attended the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, from which he earned a degree in civil engineering with honors in 1931.
In September 1931, he entered service with the Army Corps of Engineers, for which he was employed continuously until his retirement in December 1965.
Mr. Franzen's first assignment was with the district office in Rock Island, Ill., where he worked on the design of a nine-foot channel for the upper Mississippi River. It was in Rock Island that he met and married
Margaret Leppanen.
In the Office of the Chief of Engineers, from 1936 to 1939, he assisted in the review of designs and specifications for all projects being planned and constructed by the corps.
In 1939, he joined a new corps office in Tulsa, Okla., where for nine years he was responsible for the design of flood control and power dams on the Arkansas River and tributaries as well as planning and designing major military installations in Oklahoma and Texas during World War II.
In 1948, Mr. Franzen was chief of the design branch in the Walla Walla office until 1951, when he became chief of the engineering division.
While in Walla Walla, he designed or was responsible for more than $1 billion in civil and military construction.
On the completion of 34˝ years of continuous service with the Corps of Engineers, he received the Army's second highest award, the Decoration for Meritorious Civilian Service, as one of the top 10 Public Works Men Of The Year in 1964.
In June 1965, he received a Presidential Citation signed by Lyndon B. Johnson ``for his outstanding suggestions which will result in tangible savings to the government of $107 million."
The American Society of Civil Engineers presented him with the Edmund Friedman Professional Recognition Award in 1966 for encouraging young engineers.
Mr. Franzen was a life member and fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers; a life member of the National and State Society of Professional Engineers, International Congress on Large Dams; and the national civil engineering honor society Chi Epsilon, as well as academic honoraries Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi.
He was also a life member of the Masonic Lodge and Elks.
After retiring in December 1965, Mr. Franzen was recruited as chief engineer for construction of a dam in Brazil, where he and his wife lived for three years in Rio de Janeiro.
On their return to the United States, the Franzens became one of the early residents of Cape George, where they have lived since 1970. He was one of the early presidents of the board of trustees of Cape George Colony Club.
The couple had an active post-retirement life that included travel to 56 countries.
He was an ardent gardener and an avid sports fan, particularly of Seattle-based teams and the University of Illinois basketball team.
He was also a weather buff and kept records of wind and rainfall at Cape George from June 1970 until a few years ago.
Surviving are his wife of more than 70 years; son and daughter-in-law Richard and Margo Franzen of Herndon, Va.; daughter Ellen Dissanayake of Seattle; daughters and sons-in-law Elizabeth and Seth Ratliff of Cary, N.C., and Susan and John Anderson of Aptos, Calif.; sister Deloris Getts of Santa Cruz, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren
Services: None. Kosec Funeral Home, Port Townsend, is in charge.
Memorials: Jefferson Healthcare Hospice, 834 Sheridan, Port Townsend, WA 98365; or charity of choice.
Donald Dare Gilstrap
April 29, 1929 -- March 6, 2006
Donald Dare Gilstrap died in Port Angeles of age-related causes. He was 76.
He was born to Hardy Ransom and Katherine P. (Laster) Gilstrap in Bakersfield, Calif., where he attended school before graduating in Tollhouse, Calif.
He married
Doris June Richards in Virginia City, Nev., on Dec. 18, 1963.
Mr. Gilstrap was a Navy veteran who served in the Korean War.
He was also a hydro power plant operator with Pacific Gas & Electric Co. for 45 years, during which he lived in Balch Camp, Bakersfield and Wishon -- all in California -- before retiring to Sequim.
In addition to belonging to the International Order of Electrical Workers, he was a 52-year member of the Masonic Lodge in Clovis, Calif.
Mr. Gilstrap -- who also liked to backpack, fish and golf -- had a special interest in both picture framing and working in his yard.
Survivors include his wife; son Terry N. Gilstrap of California; and one grandson.
He was preceded in death by sons Larry Gilstrap and Barry Gilstrap, daughter Len Safford and one granddaughter.
Services: Celebration of life to be held in Fresno, Calif., in May. For additional information, contact Gilstrap's Towing & Transport Inc. at 559-348-0500.
Memorials: Charity of choice.
Joseph Matthew Slagle
March 19, 2001 -- March 9, 2006
Joseph Matthew Slagle of Port Ludlow died of a brain and genetic disorder at age 4.
Joseph was born to Earnest Luther and Nancy Jane (Thompson) Slagle in New York City.
``No matter how bad he felt, he always had a smile for people, " said his mother.
Survivors include his parents of Port Ludlow; brothers and sisters-in-law Lue and Heide Slagle Jr. of Port Ludlow and Nick and Tracy Slagle of Auburn; brothers Jesse, Matthew, Gary, Austin, Travis, Michael and Samuel, all of Port Ludlow; sisters and brothers-in-law Sheri and Dan Quackenbush of Tooele, Utah, and Brenda and Michael Hill of Port Ludlow; and sisters Anamari Slagle of Port Hadlock and Alaana Slagle of Port Ludlow.
Services: Visitation at 2:30 p.m. and funeral service 3 p.m. today at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel, 10104 Rhody Drive, Chimacum. Burial will be at Shine cemetery.
Mary Patricia Winters
May 9, 1929 -- March 9, 206
Mary Patricia Winters of Sequim died at her home of cancer at age 76.
Mrs. Winters was born to John Paul and Mildred Albertine (Elliot) Andrews in Charleston, W.Va., and graduated from high school in Olean, N.Y.
She married
Peter Ross Winters on Feb. 7, 1953; they divorced in 1964.
She was a secretary in Pittsburgh, Sunnyvale, Calif., and Sequim, where she retired and built a custom home.
She enjoyed gardening, sewing, animals and nature, and was a member of the Sequim-Dungeness Chamber of Commerce.
Survivors include son Ross A. Winters; son and daughter-in-law David L. and Cindy Winters; daughters and sons-in-law Diana E. and Alan Graham and Wendy and Greg Martin; sister Nancy Charles of Delaware; and four grandchildren.
Services: Monday, March 13, 2 p.m., at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 505 N. Fifth Ave., Sequim.
Sequim Valley Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
SHIRLEY MAE BUTLER
Born June 10, 1938, to Percy and Caroline Bruner in Mitchell, South Dakota.
Shirley went to be with the Lord on Feb. 22, 2006, at the age of 67.
She was preceded in death by her stepchildren, Sherry Hill, Daryl Butler and Alva Butler, and grandson Charles Trimble.
She is survived and will be greatly missed by her loving husband and best friend, Wayne Butler, Port Angeles; stepdaughter Sharon Trimble, Port Angeles; brother Gerald Bruner (Elsa) and their children of California; and sister-in-law Marilyn Sizemore, Grandview, Washington.
Also surviving are Evelyn Parent, whom she loved very much and considered to be like a mother and best friend, and Caroline Parent, who she loved like a sister.
She also left behind eight grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and her bird, Baby. Also, her extended family at St. Andrew's Place, especially Paulette Frank and Liz Butler.
She was well-educated, leaving Nampa High School to attend Nampa Business College, Nampa, Idaho, ultimately graduating in the top 10 of her class with honors and a master's degree in sociology.
She worked as a social worker in Yakima, Washington. She was known for being compassionate and caring to her clients.
Shirley centered her life around the Lord, her husband, others, and her bird, Baby.
She was known for reading her Bible, and even though she was in a wheelchair, she rode the transit bus at least twice a week to see her husband.
She was an animal lover and avid reader, and liked to paint.
Later in life she enjoyed playing bingo at St. Andrew's Place Assisted Living.
She lived life graciously until the last and left this world a much better place.
A celebration of Shirley's life will take place at St. Andrew's Place (Assisted Living). Services on Saturday, March 18, at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Andrew's Place, 520 E. Park Ave., Port Angeles, WA 98362.
The family wishes to thank the people at St. Andrew's for their loving care and concern.
Lois L. Bettelyoun
Jan. 29, 1933 -- March 7, 2006
Lois L. Bettelyoun died in Forks Community Hospital of respiratory failure. She was 73.
She was born in San Jose, Calif., to John and Sara Lavina (Clough) Counts.
She married
Lorenzo J. Bettelyoun Sr. in Myrtle Point, Ore., on Nov. 28, 1954. Her husband died April 10, 1997.
Mrs. Bettelyoun, who lived most of her life in Oregon, recently moved to Forks.
She enjoyed playing bingo and cards at the senior center.
Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law Lorenzo ``Joe" and Candice Bettelyoun of Okanogan and Paul and Tina Bettelyoun of Forks; daughter and son-in-law Iva ``Charly" and Leo Martinez of Forks; daughter and fiancé Rose Peterson and Mike Anthony of Longview; brother and sister-in-law John and Sally Counts of Redmond, Ore.; sister and brother-in-law Verna and Henry Schwab and sister Sue Seiber, all of Sweethome, Ore.; 24 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Services: Saturday, March 11, 1 p.m., memorial in Church of the Nazarene, 170 Sol Duc Way, Forks. The Rev. Tom Lafrenz will officiate. Fellowship with coffee and dessert will follow.
Mount Olympus Funeral Home, Forks, is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials: Church of the Nazarene, 170 Sol Duc Way, Forks, WA 98331.
Clarene Esther Birch
Nov. 20, 1928 -- March 6, 2006
Sequim resident Clarene Esther Birch died in Crestwood Convalescent Center, Port Angeles, at age 77. Cause of death was pending.
She was born in Midvale, Utah, to Clarene and Esther (Downs) Rasmussen.
She married
Byron Glade Birch on July 31, 1946 in Sandy, Utah.
Before retiring to Sequim in 1992, she and her husband lived in Portland, Ore., and Anchorage, Alaska.
Mrs. Birch was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In addition to reading, she enjoyed painting, gardening and crocheting.
Survivors include her husband; sons and daughters-in-law Dana and Nancy Birch of Chula Vista, Calif., and Kevin and Gayle Birch of Salem, Ore.; daughter and son-in-law Shari and Jon Cooper of Irmo, S.C.; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Services: Saturday, March 11, noon to 12:45 p.m., visitation in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 813 Highway 101 W., Sequim, immediately preceding the 1 p.m. funeral. Bishop Christopher King will officiate. Burial in Sequim View cemetery will follow the service.
Sequim Valley Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
