Ivan Earl Cole

Ivan Earl Cole, 92, lifelong resident, passed away May 5, 2009, at Columbia Crest Care and Rehabilitation Center in Moses Lake.

Ivan was born to Earl and Bertha Cole on Aug. 10, 1916, at the family homestead north of Wheeler. Ivan was the oldest of four children. In the early 1920s, the family moved to Mae Valley, where Ivan grew up. He attended Neppel schools, graduating in 1935. In 1936, Ivan moved back to the original homestead and began farming. In 1937, he met his lifelong mate, Ruth Olson. They were married April 4, 1940. Together they raised four children, Douglas, Cheryl, Carol and Jeff.

The father E. B (Earl) Cole formed a father and sons cattle operation called the E. B (Earl) Cole and Sons Cattle Company, with his sons Ivan and Verlyn Cole. In the year 1969, Ivan sold his interest in the cattle operation back to his dad and brother and formed a farming operation with his son Doug, still known today as Cole Farms, Inc.

In 1944, Ivan, as one of the founding members, helped charter the Columbia Basin Rodeo Association. During the years he held many offices as well as a position on the board of directors. In the beginning the rodeo owned their own stock.

In the early 1980s, Ivan became involved with the Basin Horseless Carriage Club. His greatest pride was his restored 1951 Hudson Hornet. He received many trophies in various car shows.

Ivan was preceded in death by his parents; wife Ruth in 1994, son Dennis “Bunky,” 1948 and daughter Carol, 2006. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Verlyn Cole; a sister, Fern Morton and a sister and brother-in-law, Phyllis and John Libby.

Surviving family members are Douglas, Moses Lake, Cheryl (Dave) Fairbanks, Wenatchee and Jeff of Moses Lake, grandchildren Marnie (Mike) Boyer, Mike (Tiffany) Cole, Christopher and Cody Cole all of Moses Lake and Chuck Cole of Warden, Justin (Indu) Fairbanks, Henderson, Nev., Jennifer Fairbanks, Wenatchee and Danny (Nicole) Fairbanks, Wenatchee, great-grandchildren, Chelsea and Benjamin Steele, Kyle, Wyatt and Cheyanne Cole and Jacksyn Hayes; his sister-in-law, Bonnie Cole of Moses Lake and brother-in-law, Don Morton of Northridge, Calif. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 16, 2009, at the Moses Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1601 W. Valley Road. Interment will follow in Pioneer Memorial Gardens, Moses Lake. Arrangements are in care of Kayser’s Chapel & Crematory. Viewing will take place at the funeral home on Friday, May 8, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 9 from 8 a.m. until noon. You may sign the guest book or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com.

The wonderful memories we have of you will live on with all of us.

If desired donations may be made to the Moses Lake Roundup Association, Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 367, Moses Lake, WA 98837.