Ella Mae Ketchum

Ella Mae Ketchum, born June 24, 1938, died September 12, 2024.

Ella was born at home at the O’Brien Farm outside Philip, South  Dakota. She was the fifth child of eight born to Lawrence and Marie  (Hanson) Pfeifer; she grew up on her parents’ farm just south of Philip. She married Robert J. Hanson of Midland on June 1, 1957; they resided in Philip and were blessed with three children.

Ella worked as a nurse’s assistant at the hospital and took part in local plays and was on the bowling team. They moved to Seattle, Washington in July 1968. They divorced in 1970 and after a short second marriage to Ralph Ehler she married Robert (Bob) Ketchum on November 28, 1975. They resided at a small farm north of Arlington in the Lake  Bryant area. They raised peacocks; pheasants; turkeys, chickens, ducks, black/white cows (which the grandkids decorated for holidays), plus Mom’s horse and lots of dogs. She and Bob loved to fish, hunt and enjoy the nature they saw on their property. They had a wonderful garden, and we all miss their tomatoes and strawberries. She continued to work in the health care field in some capacity until her retirement.

Ella and Bob had several foster children which Ella continued to foster after Bob passed away in January 1999.

In recent years Ella suffered from Alzheimer's and resided at  a memory care facility, The Terrace of Beverly Lake, in Everett. She died after a short illness at Providence Hospital, Everett, Washington.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert (Bob) Ketchum, parents Lawrence and Marie (Hanson) Pfeifer, her brothers Melvin Pfeifer, George Pfeifer, Larry Pfeifer, Leo Pfeifer and Robert (Barney) Pfeifer and sister and brother-in-law Elaine (Pfeifer) and Jim Williams. Sister-in-laws Virginia (Darden) (Larry) Pfeifer, Helen (Solon) (Larry) Pfeifer and Janet (Hohurst) (Leo) Pfeifer.

She is survived by her three children Anna (Hanson) and Mike Marchi of Weatherford, Texas; Linda (Hanson) and Roy Dean of Mill Creek, Washington and Thomas and Bunny (Bowling) Hanson  of Everett, Washington. Her grandchildren Christine (Marchi) and Jake Lowry of Fort Worth, Texas; Stephen and Serina (Roush) Marchi of Kilauea, Hawaii; Michael Kiick and Kelly Kovach of Spanish Fork, Alabama; Joshua Hanson and Danielle Knapstad of Everett, Washington and Rachel Hanson and Travis Schademan of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. Her great grandchildren Alayna Lowry; Khloe Kiick; Cooper Marchi; Brayden Lowry; Zowie Kiick and Atlas Hanson. Her brother and wife Joseph Roy and Marge (Dineen) Pfeifer of Philip and sister-in-law’s Violet (Schimke) (Melvin) Pfeifer, Minnesota; Donna (Kronfus) (George) Pfeifer, Idaho and Diane (Slovek) (Robert Pfeifer) and Charles Gittings, Philip. Along with many special nieces, nephews, relatives across the country.

She will be laid to rest next to Bob Ketchum at a graveside service on Monday, September 23, 2024 at Loyal Heights Cemetery, Arlington, Washington.