Bernadine Elna (Pyburn) Whitmore, 100, of Colfax WA, went to be with her Heavenly Father on June 7, 2013 at Nelson's Corner in Colfax, WA. Born June 27, 1912, in Wilcox, WA, she was the daughter of George E. and Minnie A. Pyburn.
In 1914, when Bernadine was 2 years of age, her father passed away from a ruptured appendix and she lived with her mother and two brothers in the Wilcox farm house her father had built for them. Her father had also built the Wilcox school where she attended throughout elementary school. They moved from Wilcox, WA to her Uncle Rob's home between Steptoe and St. John, WA when she was 11. She attended Colfax High School through her junior year. As a child, she enjoyed horseback riding, playing the piano, going to dances in Colfax and reading.
At 15, Bernadine met Irvine (Rusty) Whitmore. Rusty had taken her on her very first date and on January 9, 1930, at the age of 17 they were married in Colfax, WA. 79 years later, they were still inseparable. Their first apartment was in Spokane while Rusty managed a Piggly Wiggly store. Soon after, they moved to Pullman and opened their own delicatessen. Unfortunately, the great depression struck and they were forced to close.
Rusty and Bernadine bought an older trailer and put it on their land inherited by Bernadine's family on the Colfax Airport Road. Board by board they built the home that they shared for over 75 years. Rusty took a job with Whitman County, until he retired as the Superintendent of County Roads. Bernadine was a member of the Grange and Philathea Club. She was also a member of her church's choir that sang at many nearby churches. Bernadine was baptized as an adult and was a founding member of Community Bible Church that she and Rusty helped build in 1975.
Rusty and Bernadine raised 3 boys; Lawrence Irvine, Darrel Dean, and Robin (Rob) Craig. They all loved to camp and fish so the family had many fishing adventures together always competing to see who would catch the "big one". The winner was almost always Bernadine. They also cared for their granddaughter Daria through high school while in their eighties and never missed a school event.
Bernadine always put family first. She was a stay-at-home mother and helped run their family oiling business. Bernadine had taken a business course in high school that helped her perform the office duties and keep the accounting records of their successful business for 12 years along with Rusty and their sons Darrel and Rob.
She had the incredible gift of hospitality and especially cherished the time with her family and friends. Her door was always open and visitors were treated like family. Laughter and love filled their home.
Her other hobbies included gardening, oil painting, and she was an avid bird watcher. She would care for any animal that crossed her path. She had a great love for Bluebirds and would take care of the little ones if something happened to the parents.
Bernadine is survived by her son, Rob (Kathy) Whitmore, her grandchildren, Daria (Lee) Brown, Darylanne (Steve) Soproni, Nisa (Mike) Shiners, Dean Whitmore, Clay Whitmore; her daughters' in-law Lujean Whitmore and Annette (Gene) Sartore; and many great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Irvine (Rusty) Whitmore, her son, Lawrence Whitmore and her son Darrel Whitmore.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, June 21st, at the Colfax Cemetery, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM at the Catalyst Church (formally Community Bible Church) with Pastor Ken McNaughton officiating.
Memorial gifts are suggested to the Whitman Hospital Foundation or to Gentiva Hospice. On-line guest book is at www.bruningfuneralhome.com
Bruning Funeral Home, Colfax, is caring for the family.