Jean Galbraith Rothenbuhler, 98, formerly of Acme, Washington, passed away on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 in Sedro-Woolley, Washington.
Jean was born at home in Saxon, Washington on June 13, 1919 to Audley Anderson and Alura Spencer Galbraith, joining brother John Rhodes Galbraith. She was about 4 years old when the family moved into their new home at the end of Maleng Rd where she has resided for most of her life.
After graduating from Mt Baker High School in 1936 and working for a short time, she and her future sister-in-law, Iva, went by bus to Los Angeles, CA where they both attended and graduated from Biola Bible College in 1948.
Following College, she worked in Seattle for the Corps of Engineers doing clerical work of various kinds for a few years. She moved to Oak Harbor and worked for a short time in an office at Whidbey Naval Air Station to be close to her very ill mother before having to move home to care for her. After her mother’s death, she remained at the family home, caring for her father until he passed away in 1976.
After the death of her father, the Lord brought Jean to Bruce’s mind in a dream. Following a short courtship, Jean Galbraith and Bruce Rothenbuhler were married at Little Brown Chapel in Wickersham, WA on September 17, 1977. They lived on her family’s farm until they were no longer able to care for themselves.
She loved growing their own beef, chickens and garden produce. She canned, dried and froze an abundance of fruits, vegetables and berries and loved sharing it with everyone who visited them.
She accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior as a young girl and loved nothing more than talking to people about the Lord. Jean promoted and supported sharing the Good News of Jesus locally and around the world. Jean and Bruce drove to the Mira Vista Care Center in Mt Vernon nearly every week for 20 years to share the Lord with the residents there. Bruce gave a short Bible message and she enjoyed playing the keyboard and leading the folks in singing many of the old well known hymns.
As hard as it was to leave the farm, in 2013 Jean and Bruce were no longer able to care for themselves and they moved to The Bridge Assisted Living in Mt Vernon. They made many friends there and the staff have become like family to them. Jean’s body became more fragile, requiring an extended time in a skilled nursing facility next door two years ago but she rebounded amazingly and was able to return to be with Bruce at The Bridge until just a week prior to her death when she was admitted to the Skagit Valley Hospital with pneumonia. After five days in the hospital she was transferred to the Life Care Center in Sedro-Woolley where she passed away peacefully the next morning.
Jean is survived by her husband, Bruce Rothenbuhler at The Bridge Mt Vernon; step-son, Larry Lintz (Bonnie) of Sedro-Woolley; step-daughter, Susan Rothenbuhler of Edmonds; grandchildren, Rosella Lantana (Tim) of Sedro-Woolley, Rebecca Bolger (Rick) of Granite Falls, Julie Handy (Mike) of Sedro-Woolley, Randy Lintz of Mt Vernon, Amanda Sherman (Robert) of Okanagan, and Brenda Jordan (Darren) of Edmonds; 13 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren; her only brother, J. Rhodes Galbraith of Acme; nieces, Lois Thorndike (Don) of Acme and Eunice Wingert (Paul) of Bellingham. great-nieces, Elizabeth Rulffes (Rod) of Des Moines; Cindy Shaw (Joel) of Kent; great-nephews, Joshua Thorndike (Meghan) of Deer Park; Dan Thorndike (Elizabeth) of Lynden; John Thorndike (Krystal) of Dickinson, ND; and Tim Wingert (Angela) of Maple Valley.
The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at The Bridge who have loved, prayed with and cared for Jean and Bruce these past four years.
Friends are invited to join the family for the Viewing on Sunday, December 3rd from 3:00 to 5:00PM at Lemley Chapel, 1008 Third St., Sedro-Woolley, WA. The Graveside Service will be on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at 2:00PM at the Saxon Cemetery. A Memorial Service will be planned for a later date. Memorials are suggested to The Gideon’s International, Bellingham Camp, PO Box 30093, Bellingham, WA 98228 or to Jews for Jesus, 60 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA 94102.