Dima L. Huey, age 92, a longtime resident of Sedro-Woolley, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 8, 2007.
Dima was born on July 1, 1915 in Green Castle, Missouri. Her parents were Harley and Effie Saner VanLaningham. She moved with her family to New Providence, Iowa in 1923 and later moved to Mason City, Iowa.
Dima married the love of her life, David G. Huey on June 12, 1936 in Mason City, Iowa. They enjoyed 58 years of togetherness and partnership before David passed away in 1994. In 1951, Dima and David moved to Wickersham, Washington and shortly thereafter purchased a small grocery gas station on Duke’s Hill north of Sedro-Woolley. Huey’s Union 76 station was operated by Dima and David well into the 1970’s. The family home was in the same building and that is where Dima made her home with daughter Danniella and youngest grandson David until her death this past Saturday.
After the closure of their store, Dima worked for Stokely Van Camp’s Cannery in Mount Vernon, retiring from there in the mid 1980’s. The couple traveled extensively in their motor home visiting friends and relatives through-out the country oftentimes with their close friends Ed and Etta Madlung of Sedro-Woolley. Their travels also took them to Europe and Hawaii with their children. Dima often brought up her fond memories of Octoberfest in Munich in 1986.
Dima was quite an outdoors person. She loved to camp, hunt, dig clams, and she backpacked in the Cascades well into her 60’s. She caught her backpacking partners often with delightful surprises. One of the best was after being on the trail for 8 days, pulling a 2 pound brick of aged cheddar cheese out of her pack much to the delight of her trail mates.
She will be remembered by her family and friends for her eternal optimism, caring, warmth, and love of family.
Dima’s family would like to extend their appreciation for the care and kindness shown to her by the staffs of Visiting Angels, Skagit Valley Hospital, and foremost Dr. Stephen Aldrich and his office.
Dima is survived by her children, Dianna Danninger and her husband Roger of Marysville, WA, Delores Fladebo and her husband Larry of Lake McMurray, WA, David Huey and his life partner John Sibold of Bellingham, WA and Danniella Alberto of the family home in Sedro-Woolley. 6 grandsons, Darin Hefty of Puyallup, WA, David Hefty of Chandler, AZ, Raymond Fladebo of Big Lake, WA, Mark Fladebo of University Place, WA, and David Alberto of Sedro-Woolley, WA and 7 great-grandchildren. 3 sisters, Della Giesler of Federal Way, WA, Stella Tosel of Mason City, IA, Gertrude Meins of Sedro-Woolley, WA, and a brother, Martin Butler of Marysville, WA and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband David and a brother, Harry Van Laningham.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 11:00AM at Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley with Rev. Jerry Connors Officiant-Vashon officiating. Interment will follow in the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery. Visitation will be available from Tuesday to Friday from 9AM to 5PM at Lemley Chapel.