Lavada Hamilton

Mass of Christian Burial for Lavada Hamilton will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. this Saturday, October 15, 2022 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Cle Elum with burial to follow at Laurel Hill Memorial Park.  The Vigil service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Friday, October 14, also at the Church.  Mrs. Hamilton, a longtime Upper County resident, passed away at her home on Saturday, October 8, 2022.

Lavada was born on January 25, 1923 in Perham, Minnesota to Warren & Trella (Higginbotham) Rick.  She grew up in the Perham - Grand Rapids - Bemidji area and graduated from Long Prairie High School. She met a young soldier by the name of Keith Hamilton and instantly fell in love.  They married on September 4, 1943.

The young couple lived in California and Alaska as Keith’s duty assignments changed and, upon his discharge, they made their home in Fall City before migrating east over the mountains to Snoqualmie Pass and then Easton where they made their home until Keith passed away in 1983.  Lavada then moved to Yakima for several years to be closer to her daughter, Annie. It was in Yakima that Lavada met Milt Styner and they were companions for 13 years until his passing. In 2010, Lavada moved back to the Upper County to live with her daughters Janice and Teresa at the “3 Widows Ranch”.

Lavada worked for many years at The Continental Restaurant on the top of Snoqualmie Pass.  Whether it was those passing through,the WSDOT road crews or the local state troopers, Lavada was well loved by her customers.  Many of them simply called her “LaMom”.  She also worked at RV Town in Easton and when she moved to Yakima, she worked with her daughter Annie at Ponderosa Assisted Living.  Everything she did was in service to others – she loved people and was a very social person.

Lavada was an amazing baker and her family will always remember her homemade butterhorns.  She also liked playing cards with friends and, in her younger years, enjoyed participating in a bowling league.

Lavada is survived by her children Dennis (Marcia) Hamilton of Lake Cushman, Washington; Janice Osmonovich of Cle Elum; Annie (Don) Oord of Yakima and Teresa Meehan of Cle Elum.  She also leaves behind her grandchildren Mundi Hamilton, Daniel Teison, Elizabeth Teison, Eugene Rockefeller, Bill Barnes, Edward (Jennifer) Oord, Jennifer (Patrick) Thornton and Philip (Dana) Meehan, as well as 13 great-grandchildren, 7 great-great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews spanning across many generations as well as her best friend Donna Henkel.  She was preceded in death by her husband Keith Hamilton; companion Milt Styner; sister Viola Gau; brother John C. Rick as well as her son-in-laws Donald “Cougar” Osmonovich and Michael “Mickey” Meehan.

Memorial contributions in Lavada’s honor are suggested to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Cle Elum or to the Easton Fire Department.

Johnston & Williams Funeral Home and Crematory of Cle Elum has been entrusted with caring for Mrs. Hamilton and her family.  Online condolences may be left at www.johnston-williams.com