Elvera Virginia Fetter died peacefully on December 5, 2004 at the age of 92. Elvera was born on July 7, 1912, in Holdrege, Nebraska, the first of six children born to Eddie and Nellie Nelson. The family moved for a short time to Minnesota, but returned to Nebraska and settled in Minden,
Nebraska, where she went to school and worked on the family farm. It was on this farm that she became imbued with her life-long love of animals, especially horses, dogs and cats. Shortly before she was to graduate from high school (where she was a top student,) she married William Thompson
in 1929, thereby interrupting her education to become a wife and mother.
She was the mother of two boys when she and her family moved to Oregon in 1935 where, after several temporary stops, they settled on a farm in Rainier, Oregon. By the time they settled on the farm, they had two more boys, for a total of four sons. Through hard work by the whole family, they cleared land and developed a peppermint farm, which they operated for years. Even while they were farming peppermint, they also had some cattle and sold some milk to supplement the peppermint income. By the time peppermint cultivation in the area decreased and became less profitable, they had expanded the herd of dairy cows to the
point that dairy became their farming focus. They continued the dairy until their youngest son completed high school in 1959.
After her husband died in the summer of 1959, Elvera continued to run the dairy with hired help, but after a few months, she decided to sell the dairy and pursue her life-long dream of becoming a teacher. Against the advice
of nearly everyone but her immediate family, in the spring of 1960, at the age of 48, she enrolled at Oregon College of Education in Monmouth, Oregon, to earn her college degree. However she first had to obtain a GED, since she hadn't completed high school, which she did while in her
first term of college. Going back to school after so many years was very difficult and discouraging, but she persevered, and with the help and encouragement of friends, family and instructors, she graduated with her teaching degree in 1963. That she completed this difficult course of study at her age confirms that she was a very strong and determined person.
She was very proud that she, a middle-aged single woman, had overcome all the obstacles to achieve her dream. In her last term of college, she met a fellow student, Ervin Fetter, who shared her dream of teaching and was also getting his degree as a middle-aged student. In August, she and Ervin were married in what was to become a very happy and positive partnership for the next forty-one years. Her new and extended family included two step-daughters.
Elvera taught elementary school in Estacada and Dallas, Oregon, for two years each before she and Ervin moved back to Rainier. She then taught at Beacon Hill elementary school in Kelso until her retirement at age 73, while Ervin taught at Clatskanie. Elvera loved children in the same way she loved animals, and always wanted to give them as much as she was able from her big heart. That she was successful is verified by the number of her former students who often stopped her on the street to thank her for her devotion to their education and well-being.
She is survived by her husband, Ervin; sister, Gail Harwood of Ventura, California; sons, Vance Thompson of Longview, Dewey of Missoula, Montana, Eugene of Rainier and Bruce of Troutdale; stepdaughters, Linda Stone of Clatskanie and Sherri Swank of Clatskanie. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her sister, June Boesel; brothers, Ronnie, Russell and Neil Nelson.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 10, 2004 at Haakinson-Groulx Mortuary, 215 "C" St., Rainier, Oregon with Pastor Ron Jacobson officiating. Contributions in her memory are suggested to the Columbia Humane Society, 2084 Oregon Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 or an animal related charity of your choice.
Cremation has taken place under direction of Haakinson-Groulx Mortuary of Rainier.
Nebraska, where she went to school and worked on the family farm. It was on this farm that she became imbued with her life-long love of animals, especially horses, dogs and cats. Shortly before she was to graduate from high school (where she was a top student,) she married William Thompson
in 1929, thereby interrupting her education to become a wife and mother.
She was the mother of two boys when she and her family moved to Oregon in 1935 where, after several temporary stops, they settled on a farm in Rainier, Oregon. By the time they settled on the farm, they had two more boys, for a total of four sons. Through hard work by the whole family, they cleared land and developed a peppermint farm, which they operated for years. Even while they were farming peppermint, they also had some cattle and sold some milk to supplement the peppermint income. By the time peppermint cultivation in the area decreased and became less profitable, they had expanded the herd of dairy cows to the
point that dairy became their farming focus. They continued the dairy until their youngest son completed high school in 1959.
After her husband died in the summer of 1959, Elvera continued to run the dairy with hired help, but after a few months, she decided to sell the dairy and pursue her life-long dream of becoming a teacher. Against the advice
of nearly everyone but her immediate family, in the spring of 1960, at the age of 48, she enrolled at Oregon College of Education in Monmouth, Oregon, to earn her college degree. However she first had to obtain a GED, since she hadn't completed high school, which she did while in her
first term of college. Going back to school after so many years was very difficult and discouraging, but she persevered, and with the help and encouragement of friends, family and instructors, she graduated with her teaching degree in 1963. That she completed this difficult course of study at her age confirms that she was a very strong and determined person.
She was very proud that she, a middle-aged single woman, had overcome all the obstacles to achieve her dream. In her last term of college, she met a fellow student, Ervin Fetter, who shared her dream of teaching and was also getting his degree as a middle-aged student. In August, she and Ervin were married in what was to become a very happy and positive partnership for the next forty-one years. Her new and extended family included two step-daughters.
Elvera taught elementary school in Estacada and Dallas, Oregon, for two years each before she and Ervin moved back to Rainier. She then taught at Beacon Hill elementary school in Kelso until her retirement at age 73, while Ervin taught at Clatskanie. Elvera loved children in the same way she loved animals, and always wanted to give them as much as she was able from her big heart. That she was successful is verified by the number of her former students who often stopped her on the street to thank her for her devotion to their education and well-being.
She is survived by her husband, Ervin; sister, Gail Harwood of Ventura, California; sons, Vance Thompson of Longview, Dewey of Missoula, Montana, Eugene of Rainier and Bruce of Troutdale; stepdaughters, Linda Stone of Clatskanie and Sherri Swank of Clatskanie. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her sister, June Boesel; brothers, Ronnie, Russell and Neil Nelson.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 10, 2004 at Haakinson-Groulx Mortuary, 215 "C" St., Rainier, Oregon with Pastor Ron Jacobson officiating. Contributions in her memory are suggested to the Columbia Humane Society, 2084 Oregon Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 or an animal related charity of your choice.
Cremation has taken place under direction of Haakinson-Groulx Mortuary of Rainier.
Elvera Virginia Fetter died peacefully on December 5, 2004 at the age of 92. Elvera was born on July 7, 1912, in Holdrege, Nebraska, the first of six children born to Eddie and Nellie Nelson. The family moved for a short time to Minnesota, but returned to Nebraska and settled in Minden,
Nebraska, where she went to school and worked on the family farm. It was on this farm that she became imbued with her life-long love of animals, especially horses, dogs and cats. Shortly before she was to graduate from high school (where she was a top student,) she married William Thompson
in 1929, thereby interrupting her education to become a wife and mother.
She was the mother of two boys when she and her family moved to Oregon in 1935 where, after several temporary stops, they settled on a farm in Rainier, Oregon. By the time they settled on the farm, they had two more boys, for a total of four sons. Through hard work by the whole family, they cleared land and developed a peppermint farm, which they operated for years. Even while they were farming peppermint, they also had some cattle and sold some milk to supplement the peppermint income. By the time peppermint cultivation in the area decreased and became less profitable, they had expanded the herd of dairy cows to the
point that dairy became their farming focus. They continued the dairy until their youngest son completed high school in 1959.
After her husband died in the summer of 1959, Elvera continued to run the dairy with hired help, but after a few months, she decided to sell the dairy and pursue her life-long dream of becoming a teacher. Against the advice
of nearly everyone but her immediate family, in the spring of 1960, at the age of 48, she enrolled at Oregon College of Education in Monmouth, Oregon, to earn her college degree. However she first had to obtain a GED, since she hadn't completed high school, which she did while in her
first term of college. Going back to school after so many years was very difficult and discouraging, but she persevered, and with the help and encouragement of friends, family and instructors, she graduated with her teaching degree in 1963. That she completed this difficult course of study at her age confirms that she was a very strong and determined person.
She was very proud that she, a middle-aged single woman, had overcome all the obstacles to achieve her dream. In her last term of college, she met a fellow student, Ervin Fetter, who shared her dream of teaching and was also getting his degree as a middle-aged student. In August, she and Ervin were married in what was to become a very happy and positive partnership for the next forty-one years. Her new and extended family included two step-daughters.
Elvera taught elementary school in Estacada and Dallas, Oregon, for two years each before she and Ervin moved back to Rainier. She then taught at Beacon Hill elementary school in Kelso until her retirement at age 73, while Ervin taught at Clatskanie. Elvera loved children in the same way she loved animals, and always wanted to give them as much as she was able from her big heart. That she was successful is verified by the number of her former students who often stopped her on the street to thank her for her devotion to their education and well-being.
She is survived by her husband, Ervin; sister, Gail Harwood of Ventura, California; sons, Vance Thompson of Longview, Dewey of Missoula, Montana, Eugene of Rainier and Bruce of Troutdale; stepdaughters, Linda Stone of Clatskanie and Sherri Swank of Clatskanie. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her sister, June Boesel; brothers, Ronnie, Russell and Neil Nelson.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 10, 2004 at Haakinson-Groulx Mortuary, 215 "C" St., Rainier, Oregon with Pastor Ron Jacobson officiating. Contributions in her memory are suggested to the Columbia Humane Society, 2084 Oregon Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 or an animal related charity of your choice.
Cremation has taken place under direction of Haakinson-Groulx Mortuary of Rainier.
Nebraska, where she went to school and worked on the family farm. It was on this farm that she became imbued with her life-long love of animals, especially horses, dogs and cats. Shortly before she was to graduate from high school (where she was a top student,) she married William Thompson
in 1929, thereby interrupting her education to become a wife and mother.
She was the mother of two boys when she and her family moved to Oregon in 1935 where, after several temporary stops, they settled on a farm in Rainier, Oregon. By the time they settled on the farm, they had two more boys, for a total of four sons. Through hard work by the whole family, they cleared land and developed a peppermint farm, which they operated for years. Even while they were farming peppermint, they also had some cattle and sold some milk to supplement the peppermint income. By the time peppermint cultivation in the area decreased and became less profitable, they had expanded the herd of dairy cows to the
point that dairy became their farming focus. They continued the dairy until their youngest son completed high school in 1959.
After her husband died in the summer of 1959, Elvera continued to run the dairy with hired help, but after a few months, she decided to sell the dairy and pursue her life-long dream of becoming a teacher. Against the advice
of nearly everyone but her immediate family, in the spring of 1960, at the age of 48, she enrolled at Oregon College of Education in Monmouth, Oregon, to earn her college degree. However she first had to obtain a GED, since she hadn't completed high school, which she did while in her
first term of college. Going back to school after so many years was very difficult and discouraging, but she persevered, and with the help and encouragement of friends, family and instructors, she graduated with her teaching degree in 1963. That she completed this difficult course of study at her age confirms that she was a very strong and determined person.
She was very proud that she, a middle-aged single woman, had overcome all the obstacles to achieve her dream. In her last term of college, she met a fellow student, Ervin Fetter, who shared her dream of teaching and was also getting his degree as a middle-aged student. In August, she and Ervin were married in what was to become a very happy and positive partnership for the next forty-one years. Her new and extended family included two step-daughters.
Elvera taught elementary school in Estacada and Dallas, Oregon, for two years each before she and Ervin moved back to Rainier. She then taught at Beacon Hill elementary school in Kelso until her retirement at age 73, while Ervin taught at Clatskanie. Elvera loved children in the same way she loved animals, and always wanted to give them as much as she was able from her big heart. That she was successful is verified by the number of her former students who often stopped her on the street to thank her for her devotion to their education and well-being.
She is survived by her husband, Ervin; sister, Gail Harwood of Ventura, California; sons, Vance Thompson of Longview, Dewey of Missoula, Montana, Eugene of Rainier and Bruce of Troutdale; stepdaughters, Linda Stone of Clatskanie and Sherri Swank of Clatskanie. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her sister, June Boesel; brothers, Ronnie, Russell and Neil Nelson.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 10, 2004 at Haakinson-Groulx Mortuary, 215 "C" St., Rainier, Oregon with Pastor Ron Jacobson officiating. Contributions in her memory are suggested to the Columbia Humane Society, 2084 Oregon Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 or an animal related charity of your choice.
Cremation has taken place under direction of Haakinson-Groulx Mortuary of Rainier.
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