Obituaries

Rufus and Mildred Ransdell of Seattle Washington gave birth to George Bock Ransdell on January 9, 1943.  He spent his childhood in Seattle along with sister Linda Ransdell Gurnari, graduating from West Seattle High School in 1961.  Following graduation, George joined the military serving in Germany and Fort Knox.  In 1963, George married classmate Joan Frances Pickart, together parenting three daughters: Monica Lynn Ransdell, Jennifer Lynn Ransdell and Joanna Lynn Ransdell Biron.  In1967, George and family moved to Portland, Oregon for a job transfer.  In 1989, George met and married Arlene

Catherine Carfrae Rhodes, age 92, of Seattle, WA passed away on February 24, 2019 at Providence Mount St. Vincent West Seattle. 

Catherine was born June 22, 1926 in Seattle, WA to William Watt Carfrae and Catherine Grant Carfrae (born Barnet), originally of Fife and Edinburgh, Scotland. Catherine was the last remaining Carfrae of her generation.  

Austin Calvin (“Cal”) Wiseman was born in Carthage, South Dakota on August 4, 1929 to parents Austin L. and Ellen Wiseman.  Cal suddenly passed away February 13, 2019 surrounded by family members.

Cal graduated from Madison High School, where he met his high school sweetheart and future bride Joyce. Cal and Joyce (nee Johnson), married May 23, 1950 in Madison, South Dakota. 

Cal served his country during the Korean Conflict in the South Dakota National Guard. First stationed at Camp Carson in Colorado, and later deployed “overseas” to Alaska. 

Richard Lee VanDerschelden, DDS died peacefully at home on January 31,2019.  Dick was born in Omak on April 11,1934 to Joe and Goldie.  He graduated from Fife HS in 1951, then from UW Dental School in 1957.  He entered the US Navy, married Carol Ann Bull and served 2 years, obtaining rank of Lieutenant.  He practiced dentistry in South Park where he served the community for 44 years.  During this time, he was active with South Park Lions, Georgetown Comm.

Jerry Andresen, 74, Yakima, WA and formerly of West Seattle, WA, Minot and Lake Upsilon, ND died on Friday, February 15, 2019 in a Yakima, WA hospice home following a thirteen-month battle with brain cancer.

Jerry Buford Andresen was born on March 3, 1944 in Everett, WA to Arvid and Miriam (Weeks) Andresen. He was raised and educated in the West Seattle, WA area and graduated from Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA with a degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Art. 

Bill passed away on January 18, 2019, at the far-too-young age of 55 surrounded by his friends. He died at Swedish Cherry Hill from complications relating to sepsis. Having survived a heart attack, several strokes, and staph infection in November, Bill was never able to fully fight off the blood infection.

Bill was born August 30, 1963, in Evanston, Illinois to James and Susan Peckham. He joined his proud brothers Charlie and Jimmy and lived his pre-college years at the family home in Wilmette, Illinois.

Alvin “Bud” Springer was born and raised in South Dakota.  He married his sweetheart Alvina Schlecht on April Fool’s Day, 1943.  They had three children:  Gerrie (Dick) Peterson, Penny (Frank) Savage, and Rick Springer.  

They moved to Seattle in 1945. Bud loved his family, spending much time with his children, 9 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.  

Bud also enjoyed traveling throughout 49 states, camping, fishing, hunting, playing pool, and dancing. For over 20 years, the couple spent half the year at their home in Arizona.

Dr. Douglas Hom, age 69, passed away Friday, January 25, 2019. He suffered a heart attack while skiing and, after a week-long struggle at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, died peacefully, surrounded by family. 

Ireda Cooper, born Iriada Alice Sasonoff in Seattle on December 5, 1936, passed away at the age of 82 on Sunday, January 13, 2019 in West Jordan, Utah following treatment for a heart condition. Ireda was raised in White Center's Highland Park neighborhood where her parents George and Alise emigrated from Russia through China in the mid-1920s. She was the baby of the family with two older brothers, Leon and Alexander, (West Seattle and Burien) and one older sister, Vera (Shlyapin) of Santa Rosa, CA.

Ruth Emily Vogel was an avid traveler, a devoted mother and a generous soul.  She was born in Walnut Creek, CA on October 5, 1954, and died in Seattle, WA on January 9, 2019.  Ruth graduated from UPS Law School in 1988, worked as deputy prosecutor in Lewis County, and later assisted many clients through her 22-year Ballard practice.  She was a strong advocate for personal estate planning.