Else (Wende) Wittrock, age 91, passed into the loving arms of our Lord Jesus Christ, surrounded by family, on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Else was born Nov. 29, 1932, in Twin Butte, Alberta, Canada. She entered the world as an identical twin with her sister, Ida. Else was one of 10 children, including six girls and four boys born to a farming family.  

The girls wanted a piano more than anything, so they struck a deal with their father. He would buy them their piano as long as they milked cows and delivered it to the townspeople a mile down the prairie road in Pincher Creek. They finally earned their piano, and music became a huge part of their family joys and traditions! The older sisters learned to read music and taught the younger ones to sing in harmony into their 90s.  

Else always had a love for children which led her to college and teacher certification at Provincial Normal School in Victoria. She began teaching fourth grade in Cranbrook, B.C., in 1952. Two years later, Else accepted a new fourth grade position at Spokane Lutheran School on Division Street.  

One afternoon Miss Wende was teaching her students to square dance in the basement when a tall, dark, handsome young pastor stopped by to visit the school. The rest is history and the two married July 16, 1955, in Nanaimo, B.C. Else and her new husband Roland settled in Kellog, Idaho, where he pastored the Lutheran church. Else continued teaching at Elk School, near Cataldo, Idaho, for a period of time.

Soon after, they moved to Freemont, Calif., where son Jesse was born in 1960 followed by Jon in 1963. The family then moved to Brookings, Ore., as Roland was called to pastor another Lutheran church. Else got back into teaching and served as an elementary school librarian and playground supervisor.

Music, children and her Christian faith remained an ever-important part of her life. She sang in church choirs, directed children's junior choir, taught Sunday school and vacation bible school, and started the "Good News Club," and after-school program for elementary-age children. Else later developed an interest for ministering to young ladies in the beauty pageant world and once attended The Miss Universe Pageant in China.

After Roland retired from the ministry, the two moved to Federal Way, Wash., to be close to son Jesse, wife Laurie, and their first grandson. Soon came two more grandsons and another move to Spokane, Wash., in 2001, to follow the kids! Else and Roland experienced much joy being part of their grandsons' lives. They were faithful attendees of all music recitals and sporting events. Else had the patience of Job and taught her grandsons piano and bread-baking skills.

In the last chapter of Else's life, she enjoyed her three grandsons the most. So much love and affection flowed between Grandma Else and Jimmy (37), Danny (34) and Aaron (30)! That love grew to include Jessica, Aaron's wife, and Darwin, Jimmy's husband. Besides the above-mentioned family Else is survived by son Jesse and Laurie Wittrock of Spokane, and son Jon and Jodi Wittrock of Walla Walla, sister Irene McKechnie of Nanaimo, B.C., and brother Walter Wende of Kamloops, B.C., sister-in-law Marsha Wittrock of Portland, Ore., and numerous nieces and nephews.

We are so grateful to the following people and organizations who cared for Else this past year: Hospice of Spokane, Avalon Care Center at Northpointe, Pastor Taran Denning and Pastor Jim Johnson of Saint Luke Lutheran Church. A Memorial Service for Else will be held at Saint Luke Lutheran Church, 9704 N. Division St. Spokane, WA 99218, on SATURDAY, FEB. 1 AT 1 P.M. Donations may be made to Saint Luke Lutheran Church Music Department at the above address. Also, a big thanks to Heritage Funeral home for their flexibility and sensitivity during this time.