Obituaries - H Surnames
Benton & Franklin Counties
Return to Obituary Index
Deaths of 2 Brothers Devastate Kahlotus
Kahlotus, Franklin County -- The Columbia Basin town of Kahlotus is dealing with the deaths of two brothers
who were leaders in the community of 220 people.
Kahlotus, Franklin County -- The Columbia Basin town of Kahlotus is dealing with the deaths of two brothers who
were leaders in the community of 220 people.
Kurt Harder, 45, and his brother Eric, 39, died Friday when they were overcome by fumes while using a gas-powered
pump to drain a leaking cistern at Eric's home.
The men were the great-grandsons of one of Kahlotus' founders, Hans Harder, and fourth-generation operators of the
family farm and ranch.
The brothers climbed inside the 6,500-gallon cistern intending to drain, patch, and refill it, said their older brother,
Bill Harder Jr.
Kurt apparently realized what was happening and was able to climb out of the cistern and get to the house to call their
father, Harder said.
"He said something was awful bad and to get there as fast as he could," Harder said.
"Then he went back down to try to save his brother. He tried to carry him up the ladder and he fell back down. That's
how they found them."
Volunteer firefighters pulled the men out of the cistern and tried to revive them. Franklin County Coroner Dan
Blasdel ruled the deaths were accidental.
There is anger about how long it took sherrif's deputies and the coroner to arrive.
Sheriff Richard Lathim said Monday that the initial call for help was never sent to the dispatch center, but rather was made
to the homes of the volunteers in Kahlotus. He said deputies didn't know anything was going on until more than an hour after
the incident happened and after a medical helicopter had been requested.
"It's a terrible tragedy. You have all these emotions goings on and people reacting," Lathim said. "I don't think it would
have mattered... if they would have called us first.
The men worked with their father, William Harder Sr., and their older brother. Kurt managed the wheat farm, while Eric and his
wife, Terri, managed the Hereford cattle business.
Kurt was chairman of the Franklin County Farm Service Agency, president of the county Wheat Growers Association and a fire district
commissioner. He also was a member of the Natural Resource Conservation District, Washington Cattleman’s Association, National Cattleman’s
Beef Association and Washington Wheat Growers Association.
Eric was president of the Kahlotus Lions Club, chairman of the Kahlotus School Board and a volunteer firefighter. He also was
involved with the Washington Cattleman’s Association, National Cattleman’s Beef Association and Washington Wheat Growers Association.
The brothers died the day before the annual Kahlotus Days festival, which takes place the first Saturday of June.
They were on the Kahlotus Days committee and were going to be the cooks for the Lions Club breakfast on Saturday, their brother said.
The Lions Club turned the breakfast into a memorial to the men.
Eric Harder leaves behind his wife, Terri, a daughter, Nicole, 10, and two sons, Eric Max, 11, and Timothy J. 7.
Eric and Kurt are survived by their older brother and parents, William Sr. and Vivian Harder.
A funeral service will be Wednesday at the Kahlotus School gym. The brothers will be buried side by side at the Harder Family Cemetery in Kahlotus.
The Associated Press, June 9, 2009
W.A. Hawes Buried at White Bluffs
Wellington Arthur Hawes was born in Kentucky seventy-five years ago, and died at the Pasco hospital Wednesday
morning, Oct. 1. He had been ill for over six months and very little hope was held for his recovery as he had
heart and kidney trouble. His brother Mason's gave him the best of care and his last days were made as happy as
possible. Funeral services were in charge of the Hanford Masonic lodge, the Rev. H.A. Noyes preaching the funeral
sermon. Interment was held at White Bluffs cemetery. A number of the Mason brothers of Kennewick attended the funeral.
The members of the Order of Eastern Star of which he was also a member attended in a body. Mr. and Mrs. Hawes were
one of the early settlers of Hanford. They took up a homestead in the early days. Mrs. Hawes died about seven years
ago. Mr. Hawes leaves a daughter in California and a host of friends and neighbors who will miss him.
The Kennewick Courier-Reporter, 9 October 1930
Patrick Michael Huber, 73, of 20B Navy Homes, Pasco, died today at
Hawthorne House, Kennewick. Mr. Huber was born in Three Forks, Mont., July 4, 1882. He was
a retired laborer and had lived in the Tri-Cities three years. He belonged to St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife Mary: two stepsons, Raymond Small, Pasco, and Gordon Small, Spanaway.
Bruce Lee Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Tri-City Herald, Monday, 17 February 1964, Page Six
Services for Donald Allen Haines, 13, of 4305 W. Ruby St., Pasco,
will be announced by Einan's Funeral Home. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Haines, he died
Friday of carbon-monoxide poisoning. Born July 29, 1954, in Pomona, Calif., he was in the
eighth grade at Isaac Stevens Junior High School, where he played on the junior varsity
football team and was to start Monday as manager of the baseball team. Donald was a member
of the Second Ward Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a former member of the
Tri-City Columbians drum and bugle corps. In addition to his parents, he leaves sisters:
Susan Marie and Cynthia Colleen; brother, Gerald Arthur; grandmother, Mrs. Thomas K. Jones,
Richland, and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Haines, Vista, Calif.
Tri-City Herald, Sunday, 17 March 1968, Page 35
For more information on this story, see newspaper article at Franklin County Old Newspapers
Carl C. Heilman, 68, of 711 Jan St., Pasco, died Sunday in Our Lady of
Lourdes Hospital. He was born in Geneva, Neb., and lived in the Tri-Cities for 12 years. He retired
from the Army and was a member of the Eudora, Ark., Church and VFW. Survivors include wife
Stella; sisters Vilettie Biglin, Mead, Marge Strong, Kennewick; brothers Ernest Heilman, Three Forks,
Mont., and Glen Heilman, Coulee City. Services will be announced by Columbia Memorial Chapel.
Tri-City Herald, 1 June 1981, Page 19
Services for Stella Heilman, 66, of 711 West Jan St., Pasco, who
died Sunday at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, were held today at Greenlee Funeral Home Chapel.
Burial was in Columbia Memorial Gardens. She was born in Bexar, Ala., and had lived in the
Tri-Cities since 1969. She married Carl Heilman in Little Rock, Ark, in 1954. He died in May 1981.
She was a homemaker and a member of Eastern Star and the Emmanuel Baptist Church, Pasco. Survivors
include brother Paul Howell, Eudora, Ark. and sisters Sleeta Howell, Louisiana, and Mabel Alexander, Arkansas.
Tri-City Herald, 28 January 1982, Page 18
Geraldine Mae Cutler House, 73, died Friday at her home in Kennewick.
She was born in Circleville, Ohio, and lived in Kennewick 20 years. Columbia Memorial Funeral Chapel,
Pasco, is in charge of arrangements.
Tri-City Herald, Saturday, 14 October 1995, Page B7
Patricia Ann "Pat" Hickman, 63, Pasco, died Wednesday in Our Lady of
Lourdes Health Center in Pasco. She was born in Caledonia, Mich., and lived in Pasco since
1959. She and her husband owned and operated Hawthorne House in Kennewick and Heather House in Richland.
Smith Funeral Home, Sunnyside, is in charge of arrangements.
Tri-City Herald, Saturday, 14 October 1995, Page B7
Patricia Ann "Pat" Hickman, age 63, longtime Pasco resident, died Wednesday,
October 11, 1995, at Our Lady of Lourdes Health Center, Pasco, WA. Pat Hickman was born October 17, 1931
in Caledonia, Michigan to Alger and Leona (Ellis) Dutcher. At an early age, she moved with her parents to
Toppenish, WA, and recieved her early education in Wapato. She later attended and graduated from Upper
Columbia Academy in Spangle, WA. She then attended Walla Walla College and following her education worked
as a receptionist for the Shearer Clinic in Toppenish, WA. On July 8, 1951, she married Albert "Al"
Hickman in Toppenish. WA. Following their marriage, they made their home in Tacoma, WA, while Al
completed his service in the United States Army. Al received his honorable discharge in December of
1952 and Pat and Al made their home in Walla Walla, Medford, OR, the Yakima Valley and later Seattle
where Pat was employed at Boeing. In 1959 they moved to Pasco where she and her husband owned and
operated Hawthorne House in Kennewick, WA, and in 1965 built, owned and operated Heather House in
Richland, WA. In 1978, Al and Pat were two of the founders of Cypress Gardens School, later to
become Country Haven Academy of Pasco, WA. Pat was a member of the Country Haven Seventh-day
Adventist Church in Pasco, was active in Home and School at Tri-City Jr. Academy and also served as choir director.
She also served as choir director for the Riverview Seventh-day Adventist Church in Pasco. For
20 years Pat was the leader and she and Al traveled with the gospel group, 'the Impact Singers,"
which was based in Pasco. Pat is survived by her husband Albert "Al" Hickman of Pasco, WA.; two
daughters, Sherri Jo Gerking and husband, Ed of Meadow Vista, CA, and Mitzi M. Lundberg and husband,
Randy of Beaverton, OR; one son, Albert M. "Bud" Hickman and wife, Claudia of Pasco, WA, 7 grandchildren,
Casey, Kelli and Katie Gerking, Charlie Lundberg, Stephanie, Brent, and Ryan Hickman; one brother Maurice
Dutcher of Marysville, WA. She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister. Funeral services
will be held Monday, October 16, at 2:00 p.m. at the Riverview Seventh-day Adventist Church, Pasco.
Burial will be in the Riverview Heights Cemetery under the direction of the Smith Funeral Home, Sunnyside.
Those wishing to honor her memory may contribute to Country Haven Academy, 510 Country Haven Loop, Pasco, WA 99301.
Tri-City Herald, Sunday, 15 October 1995, Page D6
Jack Harper, 87, of Eltopia, passed away Monday, July 31, 2000, at
Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Center in Pasco. He was born April 20, 1913 in Post, Texas, to William
and Lily Harper. Jack served in the U.S. Navy from 1935 until 1955. O [??? ????]n December 6, 1937,
Jack married Jewel Loreta Johnston, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Following his discharge from the military,
he farmed in Eltopia from 1956 until 1975. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and traveling. Jack and Jewel
enjoyed Rv'ing across the country and visiting family and friends. He loved and enjoyed his family,
children, grand and great-grandchildren and friends. Jack is survived by his loving wife of 62
years, Jewel Harper, of Eltopia; daughters, Dolores, and husband, David Engle, of Coupeville, WA
and Pamela Blevins, of Marysville, WA; son, Curtis Harper, and wife, Charlotte, of Burbank, WA; 11
grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death
by his parents, sisters, brothers and youngest son, Charles Harper. A memorial service will be held
Saturday, August 5, 2000, at 2:00 p.m. at the Eltopia United Church of Christ in Eltopia. Graveside
services will follow at the Eltopia Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made
in his memory to the Eltopia United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 207, Eltopia WA 99330.
Mueller's Greenlee Funeral Home in Pasco is in charge of arrangements.
A picture accompanies this obituary.
Tri-City Herald,, Friday, 4 August 2000, Page A10 (Tacoma Tribune)
Oscar Halvorson, age 21, a shingle weaver, Tuesday afternoon ended his
life in his home at 2710 South 14th Street by sending two bullets from a small revolver through his heart.
Relatives attribute the act to sudden insanity, declaring the young man had not been normal for the last
few days. He was the son of G.A. Halvorson, a fruit grower of Kennewick, and had been in Tacoma only a short time.
Oscar was to have met his sisters, Miss Laura Halvorson and Mrs. Tomine Davis at the postoffice yesterday
afternoon at 4 o'clock. When he did not arrive they returned to their home and found his body lying on a
bed in his room. A revolver lay beside the body. The police were notified and Detective John Strickland,
with County Coronor L.B. Ashton, investigated. The coronor found that Halvorson had shot himself through
the heart twice, the bullets entering the body less than half an inch apart. Halvorson's sisters have
been in Tacoma several weeks and were joined by him several days ago. He left Kennewick to find employment
here, but was unsuccessful. Coronor Ashton was told that the youth had been despondent for three or four
days and was not himself. Miss Halvorson and Mrs. Davis were hysterial over the sucide and were taken to the
home of Rev. O.J. Ordal, 912 South 17th Street. The body of Halvorson was removed to the C.O. Lynn company's.
The Kennewick Courier=Reporter, Thursday, 29 October 1914, Front Page
Edward Hensley, 74, Rundel Road, died Friday night at his home.
Born Dec. 23, 1893, in Springfield, Mo., he moved to Prosser in 1936. A veteran of World War I, he was a member of Captain Green Post, American Legion.
Survivors include his wife Frances; daughter, Mrs. Elmer (Ella) Landin, Kennewick, and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Monday in Benton Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Ervin Rynes officiating. Burial will be at East Prosser Cemetery.
Tri-City Herald, Sunday, 17 March 1968, Page 35
Rachael Jean Hammitt, 17, died Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas.
She was born in Seattle and lived in Benton City and West Richland from 1971 to 1982.
Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Tri-City Herald, Wednesday, 2 March 1988, Page C9
William "Bill" Jessie Hughes, 40, of Star, Route Box 159, Eltopia, died Friday at his farm.
He was born Jan. 26, 1943 in LaGrande, N.M.
Mr. Hughes came to Washington state from New Mexico at the age of five with his family and was raised and educated in Eltopia.
He was a member of the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1970, serving two tours in Vietnam during the war.
On July 10, 1965, he married Karla Lukan in Heidleberg, Germany.
After his discharge, he returned to Eltopia to farm and was actively involved in children's athletics.
Survivors include his wife Karla, Eltopia; sons, Billy and Paul, both of Eltopia; brothers George Hughes, Eltopia ?? Hughes, California and Richard Hughes, Walla Walla; sister Virginia Hughes, Walla Walla and parents, Woodrow and Sadie Hughes, Walla Walla.
Mr. Hughes was preceded in death by a daughter, Jennifer, Jan. 6, 1973.
Funeral services are performed at Greenlee Funeral Home.
Tri-City Herald, Sunday, 17 April 1983, Page D8
Dorothy Hutfles, 73, of Kahlotus, died Wednesday at Kadlec Medical Center in Richland.
She was born in Los Angeles and lived in Kahlotus for nine years.
She was a homemaker.
Columbia Memorial Chapel, Pasco, is in charge of arrangements.
Tri-City Herald, Friday, 7 January 2005, Page B5
Frank W Hout, 60, of Renton, died Saturday in the Valley Medical Center in Renton.
He was a communication technician for AT&T.
Einans’s Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Tri-City Herald, 11 May 1992, Page A8
Frank W Hout, 60, of Renton, died Saturday, May 9, 1992 at the Valley Medical Center
in Renton. He was born May 22, 1931, in Hawarden, Iowa, and had lived in Renton for six years. He was a communication
technician for AT&T. He retired in 1990. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy G Hout of Renton; stepdaughter, Kim M
Faubert of Richland; sons, Steve Hout of Templeton, TX and Jeffrey Hout of San Bernardino, CA: sisters, Evelyn Maki of
Whidbey Island and Cora Bell of Hawarden, IA; brother, Clyde Hout of Pitkin, LA: 5 grandchildren: mother, and father-in-law,
Esther & Mike Gordon of Richland; sisters-in-law and husbands, Jannette & Don Precechtel or (sic) Richland, Marion
& Bill Henry of Kalispell, MT and Charlene & Mike Helle of Richland; numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services
will be Wednesday, May 13, at Einan’s Funeral Home at 7 p.m. Entombment will be at Sunset Mausoleum. Einans’s Funeral Home
is in charge of arrangements.
Tri-City Herald, 11 May 1992, Page A8
Hester M Hancock, 79, a longtime Grandview resident, died Wednesday, February 17, at the Central
Convalescent Center of Yakima. She was born November 27, 1908, in Stilwell, Oklahoma, to Richard and Rena Guffey. She spent
her early years and received her education in Stilwell. On November 26, 1924, Miss Hester Guffey and Pascal Hancock were
married in Stilwell, Oklahoma. They made their home in Stilwell until 1945, when they with their family moved to Grandview
where her husband was employed at the Hanford project. Her husband Pascal Hancock died December 2, 1980, and following his
death she continued to make her home in Grandview until the time of her death. She was a member of the Grandview Assembly of God.
She is survived by one daughter, Hazel Buechler, of Yakima; six sons, Richard T Hancock and Joe M Hancock, both of Prosser,
Roy C Hancock and Tom B Hancock, both of Seattle, James O Hancock of Houston, Texas and Jerry P Hancock of Clark, S Dakota,
and by a daughter-in-law Mrs. Pascal (Shirley) Hancock Jr. She has 33 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren; one sister,
Jane Johnson, of Grandview, one brother, Clinton Guffey, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and a number of nieces and nephews. She is preceded
in death by three sons, Pascal C Hancock Jr who died in 1986, John C Hancock and Jack C Hancock, and two brother and two sisters.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 20, at 1 pm at the Chapel of the Smith Funeral Home, Grandview. Burial will
be in the Grandview Cemetery.
Tri-City Herald, Thursday, 18 February 1988, Page A10
Aaron Lee Hoverson, 13, of 907 E 15th Ave., Kennewick, died Tuesday at his home.
He was born in Brewster and lived in Kennewick eight years. He attended Highlands Middle School. Survivors include father
David Hoverson, Wilbur; mother Debra Hoverson, Kennewick; sister Angela Hoverson, Kennewick; grandfather Keith Hoverson, Ephrata; grandparents Woody and Glenna Winget, Auburn, Calif.; great-grandparents Mr and Mrs Donald Hoverson, Kennewick and Mr and Mrs Carl Dennis, Kaysville, Utah.
Services are schedule at 1 p.m. Friday in Mueller’s Chapel of the Falls.
Tri-City Herald, Thursday, 17 November 1983, Page C5
Inez M Havens, 66, of 924 W Agate St., Pasco, died Tuesday in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.
She was born in Moscow, Idaho and had lived in the Tri-Cities since 1966.
She married her husband Walter in Colfax in 1938.
She was a member of the First Methodist Church, Pasco Rebekah Lodge, and Franklin County Senior citizens.
Survivors include husband Walter; son Richard Havens, Hubbard, Ore.; sisters Verna Keebler and Alice Drader, both Spokane;
Helen Everson, Moscow, Idaho; Bernice Warde, Martinez, Calif.; Mabel Fine, Finole, Calif.; and two grandchildren.
Services are scheduled at 2 p.m. Saturday in Greenlee Funeral home and at 2 p.m. Monday in Shorts Funeral Home, Moscow,
Idaho. Burial will be in the Moscow City Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a,m. until service time.
Memorials may be made to the Diabetes Association in care of Greenlee Funeral Home, Box 2546, Pasco.
Tri-City Herald, Thursday, 17 November 1983, Page C5
Ernest Jerome “Ernie” Hansen, 61, of Pasco, Washington died Wednesday, December 8, 2004, at the
TriCities Chaplaincy, 2108 West Entiat Avenue, Kennewick.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 15, 2005, at the River View Baptist Church, 4900 W Richland, Pasco.
Arrangements through Columbia Funeral Chapel, 224 South 24th Ave., Pasco.
Memorials may be made to the TriCities Chaplaincy, 2108 West Entiat Avenue, Kennewick, WA 99336, given in Ernest Hansen’s name.
Ernie Hansen was born January 4, 1943, in Stanley, North Dakota, to Henry Savrine Hansen and (Tilda) Thelma Sybel Fladager Hansen.
Ernie’s first home was on a farm in Ross, North Dakota. He later moved to Tacoma, Washington, with his mother and attended school
at Arlington elementary in Tacoma. At age 8 in 1951 he lived with is father and stepmother Grace S Wuotila Hansen attending Lone
School in Ball Club Minnesota; Deer River elementary and Junior and Senior High School in Deer River, Minnesota.
Ernie grew up in Deer River, MN and later moved to Walla Walla, then Pasco, living in Washington state for 28 years. Ernie was a
member of the River View Baptist Church in Pasco. He was given eternal life through Christ in 1955. He worked for the Kennewick
School District for the last 25 years. After graduating from high school in 1961, Ernie came to Walla Walla, and worked in pea
harvest. Later that year, in October, he enlisted in the US Navy training in radar gunfire control. FTG2 Ernest J Hansen, Fire
Technician Gunnery 2nd Class, served on the USS Nicholas (DD449) based out of Desron 5 Pearl harbor. Ernie trained for anti-submarine
warfare. After five months out at sea on their way back to their home port the ship turned around and headed to Vietnam. He was
with the first squadron and the first five ships to serving Vietnam. Ernie was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the
Vietnam Service Medal. He was released from active duty and transferred to Naval reserve February 1966, after 4 years, three
months and 20 days of service to our country. He then worked for Pacific Bell, Daly City, San Francisco until he entered the
North Dakota State School of Science in August 1966 and graduated in June 1968 with a degree in electronics. He worked for the
Bureau Engraving in Minneapolis, Minnesota until 1969, then for the Reserve Mining Co in Babbit, Minnesota until 1972. From 1972
until October 1976 he worked for Millers TV, Little Falls, Minnesota, for Sears Roebuck Company from 1976 until 1979, then St
Regis Paper Company and Nortee (nondestructive test equipment manufacturing) until he joined the staff for the Kennewick School
District in August 1979. He retired from the school district in October 2004. Ernie enjoyed working for school district serving
the teachers, and loved to build and repair all types of electronic and mechanical equipment. Ernie had a keen sense of humor
and a generous heart. November 4, 1978, he married Linda Kay Kingsland, making their home in Pasco. He lived the last three months of his life in the
TriCities Chaplaincy where he and his wife enjoyed walking, and sitting in the park across the street and feeding the birds
and squirrels. He was preceded in death by his father, Henry Hansen who died in May 1993; stepmother, Grace Hansen who died on
October 23, 1988; and mother, Thelma Hansen who died February 26, 1997. Survivors include his wife, Linda; sister and brother-in-law,
Dr Ardyce M Morgan and Herb of Bridgeport, West Virginia; brother and sister-in-laws Donald L and Betty Hansen of Dubois, Wyoming;
and Clark and Carolyn Hansen of Walla Walla, Washington; Aunt Pearl Nelsen of College Place, Washington; and many nieces and nephews,
great-nieces and nephews and cousins.
Tri-City Herald, Thursday, 15 December 2004, Page A13
Leland E Hall, 79, Warden, died Saturday at his home.
He was born in Roswell, Idaho, and lived in the Columbia Basin since 1959.
He was a retired custodian for the Warden School District.
Muscott Stevens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Tri-City Herald, 28 August 1990, Page A7
