Yetta Melcher

Yetta Melcher, age 94, formerly of Odessa, passed away on Monday, June 21, 2004 at the Moses Lake Samaritan Hospital. Yetta Melcher was born July 28, 1909 in Odessa to John and Sophia Trautman Greenwalt.

She attended country school before marrying Carl R. Melcher on October 10, 1937 in Menno, Wash. Together they made their home and raised their family on the family farm located 23 miles southwest of Odessa. They moved from the farm to Moses Lake in 1999.

They were very active in Zion-Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Odessa. Yetta's husband Carl preceded her in death a week ago, on June 14.

She is survived by: a daughter, Alice Kanzler and husband, Gilbert of Ritzville; a son, Gorden Melcher and wife, Alice of Moses Lake; five grandchildren, Jeffrey and Rodney Melcher, Lisa Hays, Kim Holt and Treasa Lebasck; five great-grandchildren, Nathan and Alexis Melcher, Emilee and Ben Hold and Trista Lebsack; and a sister, Emma Bischoff of Ritzville.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 25, 2004 at 11 a.m. at Zion-Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Odessa, with the Reverend Donald G. Smith officiating. Vault interment will follow at the Odessa Cemetery.

Danekas Funeral Home, Ritzville, Wash., is in charge of funeral arrangements.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Zion Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Mrs. Melcher will lie in state at the Danekas Funeral Home on Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.