Stanna Lee White

Stanna Lee White died at the age of 76 on Sept. 1 at Life Care Center in Ritzville, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

She was born on July 25, 1937, to Agnes and Stanley Adamsin in Ketchikan, Alaska. She had two older siblings, Stuart and Peggy, and was soon joined by younger sister, Sandy.

She spent her early childhood years in Ketchikan. When she was 10 years old, her mother Agnes moved with the girls from the cool and moist climate of Ketchikan, to the hot and dry climate of Coulee Dam for health reasons. Stanley remained in Ketchikan, where he served as the fire chief for many years.

She spent her junior high years in Coulee Dam before the family moved to Ritzville, where she attended all four years of high school. While attending Ritzville High School (RHS), she acquired the nickname of “Bunny;” was active in Pep Club; sang in the senior high choir and girls sextet; assisted with the high school office; served on annual staff, as a FHA officer, a cheerleader and a member of Girls’ Red R.

After graduating from RHS in 1955, she moved to San Francisco, Calif., and lived briefly in the Haight-Ashbury section of town. She attended Dental Nurses Training School in San Francisco, and after obtaining her license, returned to Spokane and worked for Dr. Arnold Pedersen until her marriage in 1957.

She met her future husband, Gilbert White, on a double blind date with her fellow classmate, Beverly (Hennings) Weber and Jerry Weber. They were married on Nov. 30, 1957 at Trinity United Methodist Church (TUMC) in Ritzville. She and Gilbert resided at the cow/calf ranch on Crab Creek north of Ritzville for the next 50 years.

Their daughter Linda was born in 1959, and son Dean was born in 1961. She spent 19 years as a homemaker and mother at the ranch, but was also very active member of TUMC where she served as a Sunday school teacher and member of the Staff-Parish Committee, and also assisted as called upon with many other church activities. She was also active with the Girl Scouts, the local fair and the local crisis line.

She began working part time in 1976 as receptionist-secretary-bookkeeper for the Adams County Counseling Service. A lifelong interest in working with people encouraged her to switch jobs in the Counseling Service and to work and train as a Geriatric Counselor Assistant-Geriatric Specialist with the local nursing home, Life Care Center of Ritzville. In 1979, she began work as Assistant Activity Director at Life Care Center. She became the Activity Director at Life Care Center in 1980, and served in that capacity for 15 years until November 1995. She then served as the first Activity Director at Rose Garden Estates in Ritzville from November 1996, until August 1999, when she retired. She also served as a volunteer and as chairman of the North Adams/Lincoln County chapter of the American Red Cross and assisted cancer patients while she worked at Life Care Center and the Rose Garden.

She was a member of Eastern Star and held the position of Esther. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She was a longtime member and an officer of the Washington State Association of Activity Professionals. In 1993, she received the annual “Whatever it Takes Award” from Life Care Center for outstanding customer service. She was honored as Beta Sigma Phi’s “Lady of the Year” at the 23rd annual spring tea at TUMC in April 1995.

She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in early 2004. With the dedicated efforts of her husband and other caregivers, she was able to reside at home and remain active with family and church activities until April 2007, when she was admitted to Life Care Center of Ritzville. Throughout the next six and a half years at Life Care Center, she confronted Alzheimer’s disease with courage, grace and dignity.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Stanley and Agnes; stepfather, Carl Michel; sisters, Sandy and Peggy; and daughter, Linda.

She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Gilbert; son, Dean; son-in-law, John Morris Jr .; brother, Stuart; stepsister, Jackie; sister-in-law, Vivian Rehn; her niece, Wendy and son Alex, who always considered her as their surrogate mother and grandmother; and many relatives and friends.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the many caregivers and friends who provided care, or visited her while she was at her home and while she was a resident at Life Care Center. The support, comfort and encouragement given to her, Gilbert, Linda and Dean greatly helped to ease the burden of Alzheimer’s disease and contributed much to her quality of life during her last years.

Graveside service is to be held at Ritzville Memorial Cemetery at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14. The memorial service will follow at 11:45 a.m. at TUMC in Ritzville, immediately followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be sent to TUMC of Ritzville; The Inland Northwest Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association; or the American Cancer Society. Danekas Funeral Home of Ritzville is entrusted with the arrangements. An online guestbook is available at http://www.danekasfuneralhome.org.