Obituary: Bly, Verla Dietrich
Age 90
(Age 90)
Passed away Saturday, July 7th at her home in Harrington, WA.
She was born on June 1, 1922 in Davenport, WA to Arlina Rouse Dietrich and Arthur B. Dietrich.
When she was 11 years old, Ted M. Manly became her stepfather.
She graduated from Davenport High School in 1940 and attended WSC (now WSU) for two years.
In 1942, she married her Davenport H.S.
classmate, C. Wesley Bly.
They made their home on a wheat, cattle and Belgian horse ranch outside of Harrington and raised two children, Beverly and Dennis.
She was very involved in the day-to-day activities of the farm: bookkeeper, cook, pie baker and even wheat truck driver during harvest for many years.
She became an accomplished piano player at a young age and was very involved as an accompanist for groups and individuals during her school years.
She taught piano lessons and played for dances at the Harrington Golf Club and for a dance band in Yuma, AZ where they spent their later winters.
She joined Eastern Star in 1950 and was past Worthy Matron.
She was appointed and served as the Grand Organist of the Grand Chapter Order of Washington Eastern Star for 1978 - 1979.
She was a member of the Harrington Community Congregational Church, Washington Association of Wheat Growers and Washington Association of Cattlemen.
She was Lincoln County Multiple Sclerosis chairman for 10 years and member of the Inland Empire M.S.
Board for several years.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years and her brother Leland Dietrich.
She is survived by her daughter Beverly (Jim) Williams; Spokane and her son Dennis (Susan) Bly, on the family farm in Harrington; five grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; two half sisters; foster son, Dick Peterson; brother-in-law Dale (Shirley) Bly; and special companion, caregiver and former classmate Bill Livingston.
Verla was a wonderful and loving wife, mother and grandmother to her family and was always so proud of everyone’s accomplishments.
A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at 11am at the Strate Funeral Home in Davenport.
A private interment will precede the service at the Harrington Cemetery.
The family suggests memorials be made to the Harrington Opera House.
Please visit www.stratefuneralhome.com to sign the guest book.
STRATE FUNERAL HOME, DAVENPORT, WA is caring for the family.