Wesley Leo Plager

Wesley Leo Plager died July 15 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane at the age of 91.

Born to Rudy and Louise Schutz Plager on the family ranch near Paha on a particularly hot Friday the 13th of July, 1923, he was the grandson of Adams County pioneers from Detmold, Germany and Bessarabia, Russia.

He enjoyed telling tales of growing up on the farm with his three sisters Irene (Selcho), Evie (Phillips), and Rita (Arlt). He had a large extended family of 102 first cousins.

After taking over the farm in the 1940s, he raised wheat, but particularly loved his Hereford cattle.

In his earlier years, he was a devoted member of the Jaycees, many bowling teams, and most especially the “Ralston Rabbits” baseball club. One of his great joys was having a grandson that “played ball” at the collegiate level.

Wes was, above all, a family man. In 1951, he married Joan Marie Anderson and together they had three sons and an adopted daughter. As Highway 395 expanded in 1993, they moved to Ritzville and watched their grandchildren grow and welcomed the arrival of their first great-grandchildren. Coffee with the “crew” every morning was a favorite retirement pastime: discussing wheat prices, farming, and local goings-on.

He was proud of his Germans from Russia and German heritage often wearing a cap that read, “You can tell a German, but you can’t tell him much”. Gruff, loud, and nearly always with a twinkle in his eye, Wes loved nothing more than a good argument or practical joke.

Wes was preceded in death by his daughter Missy.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joan; his three sons, Doug of Kirkland, Rudy (Joni) of Paha, and Boyd (Jill) of Spokane; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Ashes will be scattered at the Paha Cemetery and interred at the Ritzville Memorial Cemetery.

A memorial will be hosted for family and friends at the Plager Ranch on Aug. 9.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Ritzville Food Pantry, Ritzville Public Library, or Adams County Pet Rescue.