Jane Bernice (Richards) Sutter

Surrounded by family, longtime Moses Lake resident Jane Bernice (Richards) Sutter passed away in Spokane on May 8 after a short illness.

Last June, Jane and her husband Don Sutter, celebrated their 50th anniversary with a renewal of vows witnessed by their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jane was born in Boise, ID on May 2, 1928 to Edith and Kenneth Richards. She was raised by her grandmother, Eva Williams, who she called "mama."

Jane married Norval Keith Graham in Boise and moved to Moses Lake in 1950 where Keith worked for the Terteling Company as a construction worker on the Columbia Basin Project. The couple had five children. Keith was killed in an auto accident while on his way to work on Wanapum Dam.

Jane met and married Don Sutter in 1962. From the beginning, Don generously gave his love and support to Jane and her children. The addition of another daughter was welcomed and cemented the new family.

Jane's life revolved around her family. She was the leader of the Willing Workers 4-H Club and served as a leader on the county level. She later became the assistant manager for the Grant County Fair. She loved being called "the fair lady," and was a fixture in the fair office for 25 years. She and Don also worked on the Spring Festival Committee for several years.

After her children were raised, Jane discovered a passion for genealogy. Finding a Revolutionary War ancestor, she was told she was eligible to join the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

She soon decided to start a DAR chapter in Moses Lake and spent many evenings sitting in the Moses Lake Library (with coffee and cookies) waiting for others to answer her ad in the Herald. Within a few months she had found the six required members and Karneetsa Chapter (named after Chief Moses' mother) was organized in 1986. Twenty-seven years later, Karneetsa is still going strong with over 40 members from across the Columbia Basin. Through the years, Jane's tireless support of the chapter she organized never faltered.

In 1991 Jane's enthusiasm and commitment to DAR was rewarded with the Washington State DAR (WSSDAR) Award for Outstanding Chapter Regent. She served as state chairman for several patriotic committees and won many state and national awards. She also served as a state officer and as WSSDAR State Regent 1996-1998. During her term, Jane and her five daughters "The Dream Team" hosted two memorable state conferences in Spokane and Tri-Cities.

Jane and Don traveled to each of the 35 chapters in Washington State during her term as state regent and Jane proudly represented Washington State at the NSDAR Continental Congress in Washington D.C. for seven years.

Jane enjoyed learning about history and sharing with others through programs she gave across the state as a member of the DAR Speaker's Staff. She eventually discovered eleven Revolutionary War ancestors and one Mayflower Line and enjoyed sharing their stories with her children and grandchildren.

Jane was a member of the NSDAR, The General Society of Mayflower Descendants, The National Huguenot Society, The National Society of the United States Daughters of 1812, The National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century, the Daughters of Union Veterans and The National Society Women Descendants of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company.

Jane was generous and thoughtful. She loved organization, parliamentary procedures and protocol. She was up on the latest technology and amazed everyone with her computer-generated projects and newsletters - especially our annual family camping letter. Her last Karneetsa newsletter went out just last week.

Whether in sequins and white gloves at a DAR banquet or in jeans and a patriotic t-shirt at the family campout, Jane was a lady and an inspiration to our family. Her homemade birthday cards were enjoyed by kids of all ages and each of us treasures the family quilts and calendars she made. She will be remembered for her strength and determination and especially for the legacy of our special family that she and Dad created through respect, patience and love.

Jane is survived by her husband, Don, at the home; son: Mike & Linda Graham, Spokane; daughters: Mary Jane (Graham) & Larry Honegger, Rathdrum, ID; Debby (Graham) & Greg Evans, Ridgefield, WA; Norma (Sutter) & Chuck Yost, Colville, WA; Becky (Sutter) & Bob Massart, Moses Lake; and Donna (Sutter) & Cary DeMille, Bountiful, UT; 20 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her granddaughter Marnie Beth Yost.

Services for Jane Sutter will be on Monday, May 13 at 10 a.m. at Kayser's Chapel of Memories in Moses Lake. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to Karneetsa Chapter NSDAR for a Jane Sutter Memorial Veteran's Project, c/o Karen Hand, 8491 Road 10 NW, Ephrata, WA 98823. Please sign the online guestbook or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com.