Winona Westenskow Darling's Obituary
WINONA WESTENSKOW DARLING
OCTOBER 2, 1915-SEPTEMBER 24, 2008
Winona Westenskow Darling peacefully departed this life Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at the Tacoma Lutheran Home. Winona was born in Imbler, Oregon to Jacob L. Westenskow and Meredith Kent Westenskow, the first of six children. Surviving Winona is her sister, Myrtha Fields, John Day Oregon, Peter Westenskow (Faith) of The Dalles, Oregon, daughter Donna Darling Salas (Pablo) of Tacoma, six grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.
Winona grew up on the family farm in Imbler and learned many skills, including home keeping and cooking. Winona did not make fancy meals, but what she made was delicious.
As a child, she attended school in the Imbler area and, upon graduating from high school, attended Normal School [teacher's college] in LaGrande, Oregon. After graduation she taught school, eventually teaching at Milton-Freewater, Oregon where Winona met and began dating a young Pharmacy Clerk, Russell LeRoy Darling. They were married at Portland, Oregon May 25, 1940.
Winona and Russ had two children, a baby boy who died shortly after birth, and their daughter, Donna Louise Darling. Later in life, when Donna was in school, Winona began substitute teaching for the Tacoma School District. She went back to school and finished her BA degree in January, 1967. Her daughter, Donna, graduated from high school that same year.
In 1968 until she retired at age 62, Winona taught at Washington-Hoyt Elementary School. For the first few years she taught Third Grade, and then moved up to Fourth Grade. The Third Graders seemed just too immature! (The writer's apologies to all Third Graders). After retirement, Winona enjoyed working in her yard and keeping up her home, which was immaculate.
For the past eight years, Winona has lived at the Tacoma Lutheran Home, three of them with her husband, Russell. In 2000, they celebrated their Sixtieth Wedding Anniversary. Russell died January 4, 2001 at age 90.
Winona's Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, October 1, 2008, 2:00 PM in the Garden Chapel at Mountain View Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The American Heart Association, The American Cancer Society, or the Tacoma Lutheran Home, whose kind and caring staff took such good care of Winona for eight years.
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