Alice Messer

Alice was born January 7, 1920 in South Dakota to Nim Adolph and Tina Olena Falde. She joined older sister Grace, and later came younger sister Anita. Alice grew up on the family farm and attended Hettinger High School where she played Center on the basketball team. She also competed in track. Her opponents claimed that she just stepped over the hurdles and didn't have to jump. Alice was a tall girl! The family moved to Ferndale, Washington when Alice was 16. They had lost the family farm due to the dust bowl drought years. The family attended Zion Lutheran Church in Custer, Washington and Alice graduated from Ferndale High School in 1938. She then worked at a gas station and also as a cook and server at the Lee Farm in Mt. Vernon during harvest time. She attended Pacific Lutheran University where she sang alto in the PLU choir. She also worked at the Officer's Mess Hall at Fort Lewis. Alice moved to Santa Cruz, California where she attended the Western Union training school. There she met a new dear friend Rosie Messer from Bellingham, Washington whose older brother Peter would become Alice's husband. Alice worked at Western Union in Tacoma sending telegrams during World War II. She moved back to Ferndale and went to work at Sears & Roebuck in Bellingham until marrying Peter and having son, Paul. She became a stay at home mom raising her two children, Paul and Julie. The family attended Central Lutheran Church. Peter worked in the Electric Power Industry and took a job in Newport to work at Central Lincoln PUD. After Paul and Julie left for college, Alice worked part time in Lincoln County's Electrical and Plumbing Permit Office. She also worked part-time for Ferris Nursery in South Beach where one day she was attacked by bees. Alice was a member of All Nations Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school for many years. She was part of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League and the Ladies Guild making weekly flower arrangements for the altar using flowers from her gardens, quilting, baking, and working on rummage sales. Alice especially enjoyed time with her church friends, both at church and at restaurant luncheons and day trips around the area. They were all very near and dear to her. Alice loved gardening and was Newport Garden Club President for several years. She also loved sewing, knitting, crocheting, and crossword and crypto word puzzles. She loved to travel visiting relatives and friends. One memorable trip for her was a cross country Ameri-Pass Bus trip that she took with her sisters Grace and Anita visiting many states and relatives across the entire country. Alice died on May 30, 2016. She was preceded in death by her husband, Peter and her sister, Grace. She is survived by her son, Paul, her daughter, Julie, her sister Anita, and many nieces and nephews. May her memory be blessed among all who knew her and loved her in this life. Funeral Service was held June 3rd in Newport . Her final resting place will be next to her husband in Bellingham, Washington.

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Alice Messer

January 7, 1920 - May 30, 2016