Denva Ruth Fetzer

Yakima – Denva Ruth Fetzer passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 20, 2012, the first day of spring, at Good Samaritan Rehab Center. She was born on March 1, 1930 to Arthur Seran and Bertha Smith in Maumee, Arkansas.

In 1944, she moved with her family to Naches, Washington and lived on the McPhee Ranch for many years. Denva graduated from Naches High School in 1947 at the age of 17. On August 29, 1949, while working at Rankin Equipment Company, Denva was introduced to “the love of her life,” Bill Fetzer, Jr. They became engaged at Christmas of that same year and were married January 26, 1951 in Yakima.

Denva enjoyed reading, gardening, crossword puzzles, watching the Mariners with Bill, knitting, and crocheting. Before she became ill, Denva crocheted caps for all of her children and grandchildren.

Denva was baptized at the Lenox Avenue Church of Christ in 1957 and was a member of the Summit View Church of Christ. She was a devoted Christian and passed those values on to her children and grandchildren. Denva worked at several local secretarial positions and retired from the YVCC Business Office in 1992.

Denva is survived by her husband of 61 years, William Ward Fetzer, Jr., her three daughters: Vicki Fetzer and Christi (Gary) Hull of Yakima, Lori (Ron) Ranniger of Tumwater, one son: William Ward (Kimberly) Fetzer III of Yakima, ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters, Icel Sherry of Yakima, Nevel (Buey) Davis of Selah, a dear first cousin, Bonnie Adams of Olympia, and numerous nephews and nieces.

Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 p.m. today, Thursday, March 22, 2012 at Keith & Keith Funeral Home, 902 W. Yakima Avenue. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 23, at the Summit View Church of Christ, 100 North 72nd Avenue. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Denva’s name to the Summit View Church of Christ or the American Diabetes Assn. in care of Keith & Keith Funeral Home. To share a memory of Denva, please visit www.keithandkeith.com.

The family would like to give a special thank you to Dr. Chua, the staff at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, and the caregivers at Good Samaritan.