Obituary: Riley (Horlacher), Mildred Marie
Age 90
Mildred was the granddaughter of pioneer homesteaders of the Rosalia and Fairfield area.
At a young age she lived with her grandmother Leitz in Fairfield and then later moved to Rosalia to live with a family in town so she could attend and graduate high school.
Mildred graduated from Rosalia High School with the class of 1941.
She was a care giver to twin girls in return for her room and board.
After graduation she worked for Turnley’s Dry Goods also in Rosalia.
She married Lester F. Riley on December 4, 1943.
Together they were the parents of four children; Chadd O’Riley, Walter R. Riley (Jeannie), Forrest D. Riley, and Zanna Riley Lindgren (Mack).
After living on the ranch at Rosalia for a short time she and Lester moved to Central Ferry where they raised their three children and ranched for the remainder of their lives.
They also built and operated the Walla Walla Livestock Sale Yard for several years where she cooked in the cafĂŠ.
She moved back to Rosalia with Forrest and Zanna to care for Lester’s dad for many years in between and after the kids graduated they moved back to the Central Ferry Ranch.
Mildred loved to spend time with her family.
She spent many hours teaching others her hobbies and love of baking, sewing, and quilting.
She was a very active member of the Gould City Homemakers Club, the Dusty BB Club, and the Rosalia Garden Club.
She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.
She had a heart bigger than Texas and hands that knew nothing but work and love.
She had a kind word to say about everyone.
She was an amazing cook and loved to open the family home to anyone, especially at meal time.
She was a loving grandmother of Holly Lindgren Ferrell (Gary), Richard Lindgren (Rock), Chad Lindgren (Ilda), Heidi Lindgren, Heather Lindgren Smith (Mat), Shawn Riley (Jamie), Justin Riley (Nicole), Cody Riley, and Jose Castanon (Mary).
Great grandmother of Aaron Castanon, Jessica Castanon, Haley Lindgren, Mikala Lindgren, Riley Castanon, Hally Lindgren, Wesley Castanon, Carley Castanon, Colin Riley, Colby Riley, Briley Smith, Maggie Riley, Jonah Riley, Jace Lindgren-Miller, and Alexis Lindgren.
She was also a step-great grandmother to Nicole Blakeley Lewis, Tanya Blakeley Bailey, Cassandra Blakeley, Robbie Fogelson, Andria Fogelson, Ellie Lewis and Alivia Lewis.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Lester Riley, an infant son, her mother, her father, brothers Paul and Homer Horlacher, sister Evelyn St. John and son-in-law Philip Lindgren.
A graveside service will be held at the Rosalia Evergreen Oddfellows Cemetery on Friday, August 16th at 10:30 am.
A potluck gathering will be held immediately following at the Malden Community Church in Malden WA.
Schanzenbach Funeral Home, Rosalia, WA.