German, Della Fulton Cooke
Kittitas Co., WA
Striking again at the thinning ranks of Kittitas Valley pioneers, death came Saturday [October 25 1941] to Mrs. Della German, 72, a resident of the valley since 1884. She died at her home in Ellensburg, Saturday afternoon at 6 o'clock after an illness of three months.
Mrs. German was born Della Fulton, the daughter of F. M. and Arabella (Clemens) Fulton, in Boise, Idaho, September 6, 1869. At the age of three, she moved from Boise with her family to Dallas, Tex., in a covered wagon. They lived in Dallas 11 years, then again made the trip over the Chisholm Trail to Abilene, Kan., through Denver and northward to Idaho, then on to Washington. They spent the first year in the Wenas, coming to Ellensburg in June of 1894 and settling on the old Coleman ranch in the Fairview District.
In 1889, she was married to Rufus Cooke and lived on the Cooke ranch until 1922, when her husband passed away. On April 2, 1925 she was united in marriage with J. W. German. He died November 3, 1936, and from then until the present she made her home with her niece, Mrs. Grover German, whom she had raised from childhood.
Mrs. German is survived by her stepson and niece, Mr. and Mrs. Grover German and their children, Barbara and Kirk; three sisters, Mrs. Nellie Wilmarth of Nampa, Idaho, Mrs. Estella Cooper of Willows, Calif., and Mrs. Jacquelyn Nickell of Pateros, Wash; two brothers, J. L. Fulton of Willows, Calif., and W. R. Fulton of Camas, Wash., and many nieces and nephews.
Until her last illness, Mrs. German was deeply interested in politics and took an active part in the work of several women's clubs. She was held in high esteem by a host of friends and relatives in the valley.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 1:15 o'clock at the Honeycutt Chapel with Rev. Teddy Leavitt of the Christian Church in which she was a life-long member, officiating. Burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery.
