Lelah Larson Dole, 96

Lelah Larson Dole, 96, a Blair native, died Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at her home in Washougal, Wash.

Services were Monday at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Vancouver, Wash.

Lelah Kuhr was born January 6, 1916, in Blair to George and Rena (Jensen) Kuhr.

She grew up on the family farm north of Blair. She attended the Blair schools and graduated from Blair High School in 1933.

In October 1935, she married Clyde F. Larson.

They farmed in the Orum area for six years, then moved with their two Mr. Larson worked in the shipyards during the war years before returning to Blair to farm north on the “bottom." The family experienced the Missouri River Flood of 1952.

In 1955, they returned to the Pacific Northwest where they owned and operated Ecola Cottages in Cannon Beach, Ore. After retirement, they became "snow birds" and divided their time between Blair, Arizona and Camas, Wash.

The couple had 53 years together before Mr. Larson died in 1988.

In 1993, she married Arthur Dole.

They enjoyed traveling, dancing and volunteering at the Washougal Senior Center.

She was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and the Moose Lodge.

She was believed to be the last surviving first cousin of the large Soren Jensen family, who were pioneers in Blair.

She is survived by her husband, Arthur, and his family; daughter, Donna Larson Jones and her husband Leo of Camas, Wash.; her son, Clyde Larson Jr. of Merritt Island, Fla.; eight grandchildren, 16 great- grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Bonnie Kuhr of Michigan; and several nieces and nephews in Nebraska and Washington.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Clyde Larson; son, Ronald G. Larson; brother, J. Merton Kuhr; and sister, Mardelle Ryan.

Memorials may be directed to Hospice, PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, Vancouver, WA 98664.