OBITUARY

Irene Kiesecker Bott

September 29, 1914-October 27, 2023

After a brief illness, Irene Kiesecker Bott, at the age of 109 years, passed away while at her daughter’s home in Finley, Wash., on October 27, 2023.

Irene was born to Bertha Mallory and Albert Kiesecker at Anatone, Wash., on September 29, 1914. She graduated from Anatone High School in 1932 and married Earl Bott from the Grouse Flat area February, 2, 1935 at Anatone.

They farmed on Grouse Flat for several years. Their sons Elvin, Ervin and Larry were born during this time. When a purchase of a farm fell through, they were told that a man in Garfield Co, Oscar Victor, was looking for a hired man. So, they took the job and moved to the Mayview area in 1944. They lived on the Reid place.

The Koller families welcomed them to the neighborhood; they remained life-long friends. Irene often mentioned this.

They later moved to Pomeroy and purchased a home from Jack Howard. Earl worked for Tum-A-Lum lumber company, and some area farmers, including the Donleys.

In 1952 they went to work for Bowman Estate on Breakdown Road. Elaine was just a baby when they moved there. They retired in 1976 and moved back to their home in Pomeroy. Earl continued to work for some farmers. For a few summers they lived at Weippe, Idaho, in a trailer and took care of cattle for Frank Dixon. It is said that this special time reminded them of their Grouse Flat days.

They moved to Clarkston Heights in 1997. Earl died there October 13, 2002. Irene moved to Finley to live with her daughter in 2013.

Irene was a wonderful cook, baker, and seamstress. And we all enjoyed the benefits of this talent.

Water from Spruce Springs made wonderful pickles, huckleberries from the mountains were picked and made into pies and jam. One summer we all picked huckleberries, and I mean, we all picked huckleberries, for several weekends. She canned numerous quarts; I froze and canned 40 quarts. I copied her mincemeat recipe many times for other people. She did not always follow the original recipe; she added this and that, and sometimes omitted items from the original recipe. While we followed her Sugar Cookie recipe, they never tasted like Grandma’s. Irene made 300 scatter rugs, of various colors and designs, and crocheted dishcloths by the dozens. Irene would tell us to take some, and she would say, “you better take some more,” and we always did, knowing that someday there would be no more.

Irene celebrated her 100th birthday in 2014 with a very large gathering of relatives and friends. She danced to her brother, Gilbert’s band with Bob Courtney, and they glided around the floor.

Irene inherited the Kiesecker musical talent. She sometimes played a few songs on the piano at the Mayview dances; she could make a piano “talk.”

My kids, Jim, Kenny, Eileen, and Maria, spent many happy hours out at the ranch. Sometimes Earl and Irene would just come by and pick them up, and take them home with them. When Jim and Kenny were older, they worked at the ranch, helping their grandfather with the farm work, and whatever else was needed.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Earl, brothers, Gilbert, Lester, and Melvin and sister, Eulene Garrett, and her sons, Elvin, and Ervin Bott.

She is survived by her daughter, Elaine (Rex) Brinkman and her son, Larry (Judy) Bott from Zirconia, North Carolina;10 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and 10, great, great grandchildren.

There will be a memorial service for Irene at the Union Bartlett Cemetery on Grouse Flat on Memorial Day weekend, 2024.

I had the privilege of knowing this wonderful woman, my mother-in-law, for 69 years.

-Muriel Bott