Obituary: Plante, Elden E.

PLANTE, Elden E. Elden, just three days shy of his 90th birthday, passed away in his sleep on September 29th, 2014.

He left this world peacefully so as to continue on his journey with his wife of 57 years, Marilyn E. Plante, who preceded him in death earlier this year.

Elden is survived by his twin daughters Monique (and Brian) Baxter of Spokane Valley, WA, and Michelle (and Patrick) Harder of Spokane, WA; as well as two grandchildren.

Elden was born on October 2nd, 1924, in Walla Walla, WA, the only son of Percy and Leah Plante.

Shortly after his birth the family moved to Canada where Elden spent the majority of his childhood growing up in the towns of Moose Jaw, Regina, Calgary, Prince George and Nelson.

Elden returned to the United States and enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II in 1943, where he was trained as a Surgical Technician and received numerous decorations before being Honorably Discharged in 1946.

Elden immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves where he spent the next three years before being Honorably Discharged in 1949.

Elden served our country one last time for a year during the Korean War in 1953 as a Medical-Surgical Instructor for the U.S. Army, reaching the rank of 2nd Lieutenant before his last Honorable Discharge.

Elden continued to work in the medical field after his military service ended and was employed at both the Veterans Administration Hospital and at St. Luke’s Hospital in Spokane, and later he worked as a surveyor for the Washington Water Power Company.

Elden and Marilyn were married on May 29th, 1957, in Coeur d’Alene, ID, and put down deep roots on the north side of Spokane.

Shortly after marriage they planned and built their first house together where they lived for almost 20 years, and when needing more space for their daughters they bought a new house close-by and made that into their home for another 30 years.

Along with carpentry and gardening, Elden had a lifelong interest in flying.

He took pilot flight lessons in the early 1980s and flew radio-controlled model airplanes for many years thereafter.

Elden will be remembered most for his fierce independence and his devotion to his wife Marilyn.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, October 6, 2014 at 10:00am at Holy Cross Cemetery and Funeral Center Chapel, 7200 N. Wall St., Spokane, WA.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions can be made in Elden’s name to the USO.

Arrangements have been entrusted to: