Marlene "Marti" Kay Hollenback

Marlene (Marti) Kay Hollenback joined her parents to be with our Lord on April 15, 2017 at the age of 74. She was a cherished mother, sister, and grandmother and family was the most important part of her life. She died as she lived, loving, caring about and taking care of others. Her caring nature extended to her employees, cherishing them as the business’ most valuable assets. She maintained many life-long friendships with fellow high school and nursing students, as well as business associates.

A lifetime member of the Spokane community, she was born July 6, 1942 at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, Washington. She graduated from Central Valley High School in 1960, and then attended Washington State University for one year. She transferred to Deaconess School of Nursing to pursue her life-long goal of being a Registered Nurse, graduating in 1964.

Marlene married Dennis Kent Waltermire, a Fairchild Air Force Base Airman on December 14, 1963 and followed her new husband to Japan where he was stationed in the Air Force. After Denny’s discharge, the young couple lived in Indiana for two years while Denny attended Northwood Institute for Automobile Dealers. They returned to settle in Spokane, where they raised their four children and were married for nearly 30 years.

Marlene accepted a nursing position with Valley Medical Hospital in 1969 and was the Head Nurse of the Pediatric Unit. She graduated with a Bachelors of Health Science degree from Whitworth in 1985. She continued to progress within the Empire Health Services system, eventually being promoted to the Director of Community Programs.

In 1995, at the invitation of her father, she joined the family owned automobile dealership, Dishman Dodge. Initially, as the general manager then transitioning to be the owner and dealer principal, she became very active in both the Spokane community and various automotive organizations. She served her local community on the boards of the American Red Cross, Children's Home Society, Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, Spokane Valley Community Center, Success by 6, Better Business Bureau, Associated Industries Insurance Trust, Deaconess & Valley Hospital Foundation, Spokane Valley Sunrise Rotary, Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery and the PACE board. Marti served on the Board of Directors for Washington State Auto Dealers Association, was a member of the WSADA Executive committee and represented Washington's franchised new-car dealers on the board of directors of the National Automobile Dealers Association from 2005 through 2017.

Marlene loved to travel, especially to Maui. She continued the tradition established by her parents of annual family holidays in the Hawaiian Islands. She cherished and found serenity near the water, particularly the family properties on the Spokane River. After her youngest daughter purchased Simply Northwest, she found a new hobby in the creative process of making gourmet gift baskets. The Beta Sigma Phi sorority was a significant social outlet for Marti in the 70’s & 80’s. The love of automobiles was deeply rooted genetically in Marlene, evolving from her 1950 pink Nash Rambler convertible she shared with her sister, Jeanne, to her most recent favorite summer ride of a 2008 orange Dodge Challenger.

Marti was a recipient of numerous awards including Everyday Hero Award by the Kiwanis in 2003, NAWBO Business Woman of the Year Finalist in 2007, Northwood University's Automobile Dealer Education Award, Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame in 2009, Spokane Valley Citizen of the Year in 2014, Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, Spokane Business Catalyst Magazine's Best Local Business Woman Silver Award, 2006, 2010 & 2013.

Her parents, Mark & Allene Hollenback, preceded Marlene in death. She is survived by her children Dee Dee (Carl) Christian, Mark Waltermire, Matthew (Robyn) Waltermire, Denielle (Shane) Stuhlmiller; grandchildren Kent, Cadee & Becca Christian, Samantha Waltermire, Dane & Eden Marlene Stuhlmiller, Grayson & Paxton Waltermire; sisters Jeanne (Larry) Leach & Cheri Hollenback.

Services will be held at 2:00 PM on April 27, 2017 at Spokane Valley Baptist Church, 1222 S McDonald Rd, Spokane Valley, WA. A reception will follow at 4:30 PM in the main showroom of Dishman Dodge.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations are made to Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery (vanessabehan.org) or Hearth Homes (hearth-homes.org).