William (Bill) Ehlers Obituary

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Submitted Jan 2006 by Nancy Russell
nanruss@icehouse.net
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Okanogan Independent
January 23, 1975

Okanogan sorrowed at Bill Ehlers death

Okanogan was sorrowed at the recent death of one of its long time residents, 
Bill Ehlers, who passed away in the Brewster Hospital, Friday, January 17.  Bill 
lived in Okanogan for 52 years and in a recent visit recounted some moments in 
his life.

Bill, born in Walla Walla, spent his early years in Rossland, B.C.  He came to 
the Okanogan Valley in 1922 as an employee of C.E. Blackwell Hardware.  With his 
wife Nell and son Gordon, Bill moved into a house near the present Okanogan High 
School.  A second son was born in 1924, and a daughter Mary Jeanette, in 1925.

In 1934, he purchased his present house and lot, for the seemingly small sun of 
$400.00.  The house had to be moved from Booher Lake near Riverside and the 
moving crew got the house hung up at Shellrock Point in the process.  The house 
located on the river has survived the severe floods of 1948 and 1972.

After 13 years in the hardware business at Blackwell's, Bill began work with 
Vince White as Deputy County Treasurer.  In 1943, he was elected to the position 
of County Treasurer, which he held until his retirement in 1963.  The 1943 
election was the first and only time he was opposed for the position of County 
Treasurer.

Upon retirement, fishing, handy work and travelling occupied much of Bill's 
time.  A bout with throat caner left him without his natural voice, but the 
sucessful operation allowed him to maintain a lot of his activities.

Bill and Nell celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1969.

Survivors are his wife Nell; a son, Bob Ehlers of Salt Lake City,Utah; a 
daugher, Jeanette Cunz, Spokane; four grandchildren; and a sister, Mary Ehlers, 
Vancouver, B.C.

Bill was preceeded in death by a son, Gordon, lost in the service of his country 
in 1943.