Lela May Dachenhausen Waller, 86, of Burlington, WA, passed away on June 7, 2020 after a long battle with a terminal lung disease.
Lela was born in Scranton, Kansas on May 6, 1934, to Howard and Mary Ellen Dachenhausen. In 1940, Lela’s family drove from Scranton to Bremerton, WA. This is where she met Floyd Calvin Waller. She and Floyd were married on January 10, 1953.
Lela and Floyd moved to Anacortes, WA and raised their three children. While there, Lela worked as a legal secretary for several attorneys, to include Eugene Anderson, Jim Anderson and Steve Mansfield. She also worked for the City of Anacortes before retiring. They sold their house and began traveling in their RV. They spent winters in Arizona and summers in Northwest Washington with their children. Eventually they bought a house in Burlington but still traveled to Yuma, Arizona. On March 7, 2014, while in Yuma, Floyd passed away. Lela returned to Burlington to be near her family.
Lela is survived by her sister Lora Sipp (Doug). her three children, Cindy Stutzman, Sheryl Strinden (Eric) and Ronald Waller; nine grandchildren; Jennifer Halvorsen Schultz, Mindy Nelson (Jared), Ryan Grant (Kailyn Wentz), Ashley Bond (Brandon), Ian Strinden (Elvia), Jesse Strinden (Callie), Lucas Strinden, Kat Backowski (Michael) and Krissy Thomas; twelve great-grandchildren; Garritt, Mason and Ethan Nelson, Jaxson and Kendra Bond, Xavier Johnson, Kailee Kite, Kyra, Emma and Michael Backowski, and Karina and James Thomas. Lela is also survived by many nieces and nephews and Floyd’s sisters in California, Katherine Harbison and Debbie Quinn. She was preceded in death by her husband Floyd, her brothers Larry Dachenhausen and Jack Dachenhausen, and her son-in-law James Stutzman.
At Lela’s request, no services will be held. Memorials in honor of Lela are suggested to the American Lung Association or a charity of your choice.
When tomorrow starts without me,
And I’ m not there to see;
If the sun should rise and find your eyes,
All filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn’t cry the way you did today
While thinking of the many things,
We didn’t get to say.
I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you’ ll miss me too;
But when tomorrow starts without me,
Please try and understand,
That an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the hand,
And said my place was ready,
In Heaven, far above,
And that I’ d have to leave behind,
All those I dearly love.
So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don’ t think we’ re far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I’ m right here,
In your heart.