William (Bill) Ehlers Obituary ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************ Submitted Jan 2006 by Nancy Russell nanruss@icehouse.net --------------- 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.