Helen Gloria Sackmann

Helen Gloria (Borth) Sackmann passed away at the age of 86 on April 13, in Ritzville.

“Gloria,” to everyone who knew her, was born Aug. 1, 1925, on a farm four miles north of Lind, to Rudolph and Barbara (Ottmar) Borth. The farm was where her grandparents, Johannes and Helena Wahl Borth settled when they arrived as German immigrants from Russia in 1903.

She was one of six children: Eleanor (Pence), Victor, Cleve, Barbara (VanBuren), and Marjorie who died as an infant. In 1929, her family moved to a farm north of Paha. She attended school in Paha until the eighth grade and graduated from Lind High School in 1941.

She married Reinhold Sackmann on Dec. 28, 1945. They farmed the place where she was born, while raising three children: Steven, Sidney and Carol.

She had a happy, busy life. She spent a lot of her time serving her church, accompanying the congregation and choir for over 50 years. She served on the church council, Ladies Aid, Lind Alumni Association and the Adams County Historical Society.

She enjoyed crocheting, sewing, gardening, writing, reading, cooking, photography and oil painting. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family.

After Reinhold’s death in 1983, she moved into Lind and became an avid historian and genealogist, devoting countless hours to researching and compiling the history and heritage of her families.

She met Cal Johnson of Moses Lake in 1991. They enjoyed a loving relationship, traveling and spending time together, while each maintained their own home. Health issues prompted her to move to Rose Garden Estates in Ritzville in the fall of 2008.

She was preceded in death by her husband Reinhold in 1983, and sister Eleanor Pence in 2003.

She is survived by Cal; sons, Steven (Susan) Sackmann of Lind, Sidney (Debbie) Sackmann of Moses Lake, and daughter, Carol (Paul) Simonson of Ritzville; eight grandchildren, Jennifer (Enoch) Dahl of Wells, Nev., Justin Simonson and Travis Simonson of Ritzville, Jeff (Jaime) Sackmann of Warden, Annie (Tom) Hindman of Kennewick, Julie (Jimmy) Griffin of Terlton, Okla., Janis (Buck) Rountree of Lind, Keith (Katy) Sackmann of Beaverton, Ore., and 10 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial gifts made to the Adams County Historical Society or the Lind Community Church.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, April 28, at the Lind Community Church beginning at 11 a.m. Danekas Funeral Home and Crematory of Ritzville is in charge of arrangements.