Henry Alexander Bise dies

OTHELLO - Longtime local resident Henry Bise passed away on Monday, April 8, in Othello. He was born Nov. 6, 1919 in Hartline and lived most of his life in local area.

Mr. Bise joined the US Army and served 44 months with the 24th Infantry Division, 30 of it fighting the Japanese in World War II. He spent most of his military time fighting battles in the Pacific Theater, going from island to island hunting the Japanese fighters.

Mr. Bise remembered at one pint not eating for 18 days and came out of the jungle weighing only 98 pounds. His nephew, Larry Webley, tells a story of Mr. Bise packing a wounded soldier on his back in the jungle for days to get him to safety.

Mr. Bise received various medals, including the Presidential Citation and the Purple Heart. He was shot while fighting a vicious battle on the island of Leyte in the Philippines.

Written accounts of Staff Sgt. Henry Bise's service have been published, including a full page story about he and his brother Kelly in the June 2, 1945 Spokesman Review.

Mr. Bise was at Baxter Army Hospital in Spokane recovering from wounds when he looked up and his brother Kelly was four seats away in the mess hall. They hadn't seen each other in six years. Kelly was fighting the Nazi's in Italy and was also shot, earning a Purple Heart.

The story can be read by searching Staff Sgt. Henry A. Bise on the Internet. The brother's story was used to help sell War Bonds.

In 1945 Mr. Bise married Betty, and in 1953 they moved to the Beverly area where they opened a gas station and café to serve the workers at the two dams. They were some of the original settlers of the area.

Mr. Bise helped to build the water system at Beverly. He owned and operated Bise Construction which his son Kevin still operates in the area.

In 1996, the couple moved to Bise's Orchard on a ridge above the S Curves. His son Kevin and family and daughter Henrietta and husband Ralph all lived their near the folks. As Mr. Bise said, "The while darn family lives here."

Betty passed away in 1999. Later, in 2002, Henry married Coralie Keith. They lived in the area until moving to Othello a few years ago because of declining health. Mr. Bise was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Betty, all six of his brothers and his three sisters. He was the last remaining sibling.

Mr. Bise is survived by; his wife Coralie Bise of Moses Lake Washington; his daughters Henrietta (Ralph) Stephens of Beverly Washington, and Linda Simmons of Tennessee; and his son Kevin (Brenda) Bise of Beverly; as well as, 6 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandson.

Services for Henry were held on Saturday, April 13, at the Almira Cemetery.