Margaret Putnam Hesse

Margaret Putnam Hesse, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother and a 20-year resident of Ephrata, died Monday, April 9 in Ephrata of a rare liver disease. She was 76.

Born May 19, 1930, to W.T. and Lorene (Biersdorf) Putnam, Mrs. Hesse grew up outside Hillsboro, Ore. She earned a bachelor's degree in home economics from Oregon State College (now University) in 1952.

She married Louis Hesse on Dec. 26, 1951, and they farmed the Hesse family farm near Scholls, Ore. until 1987, when the family moved their operation to the Moses Lake/Ephrata area.

Mrs. Hesse had a lifelong passion for sewing and enjoyed making her own clothes and home decor, including braided wool rugs. She taught 4-H sewing to neighbor girls for 25 years and served as a judge at county and state fairs in Oregon.

At the time of the U.S. Bicentennial, she wrote "Scholls Ferry Tales," a 100-page community history published by the Groner Women's Club, of which she was an active member for many years. The book was reprinted in 1994.

She was involved in several community and church organizations throughout her life. She served two terms as president of HCE (Extension) and as district financial secretary and parliamentarian for the Lutheran Women's Missionary League.

She loved to travel, and she and her husband made seven trips to Europe. They also visited Australia and New Zealand, the Panama Canal, most Canadian provinces, and 46 U.S. states.

Mrs. Hesse is survived by her husband of 55 years; four children: Louis (Debra) Hesse of Moses Lake, Ann (Norman) Gosch of University Place, Christopher (Pamela) Hesse of Camas, and John Hesse of Ephrata; nine grandchildren: Dayna (Shane) Hall, Benjamin (Kelli) Hesse, and Rachel (Jason) Brown; Jennifer, Elisabeth, Christopher, and Alexander Hesse; and Josephine and Jacob Hesse; great-grandchild Danelle Hall; twin sister Maurine (Henry) Hinck and two brothers William and George (Terry) Putnam. She was preceded in death by a son-in-law, David Price.

A memorial service was held on April 14 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Ephrata, with her brother the Rev. George Putnam officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or the charity of your choice.