Josephine Theresa Fletcher

Josephine (Jo) Fletcher, 92, of Yakima passed away peacefully while sitting in her rocking chair at Englewood Heights Assisted Living on January 18, 2013, where she was well known as a collector of dolls. She enjoyed having family, friends, and fellow residents visit her apartment and admire her many beautiful dolls.

Jo was born March 19, 1920 in Dickinson, ND, to Jerry and Albina Kostelecky. Starting in her teens she was known for her ability to cut and style hair and shared this talent with family and friends. In 1939, she married Joe Boespflug and they moved to Glendive, MT where their two sons were raised.

In 1965, Jo moved to Yakima, WA where her mother and two sisters lived.

She was employed by Grants Department Store and took pride in assisting women with selecting just the right outfits. In a chance meeting Jo met Larry Fletcher and they were married in 1966.

Jo lived an adventurous life and enjoyed traveling. Some of her most memorable trips were to Europe, the Great Wall of China, and Hawaii.

She excelled in doll making and received a number of blue ribbons at the Central Washington State Fair. She was a member of three doll clubs – Friendship Dolls, Doll Seekers and Simply Dolls and continued to enjoy life surrounded by her collection of dolls, especially her antique dolls.

She is survived by her two sons, James Boespflug of Denver, CO and John Boespflug of Tacoma, WA; six grandchildren and three great grandchildren; four sisters, Minnie Roller of Yakima, Mary Ann Hibl of Boulder, CO, Dorothy Hoornaert of Pleasant Hill, CA, Rose Marie Ulmer of Yakima; one brother , Jerome Kostelecky of Yakima, sister-in-law, Ludy Kostelecky of Spokane, WA, and a special niece, Rose Marie Tormaschy of Dickinson, ND.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband Joe Boespflug, her husband Larry Fletcher, and three brothers Joe, John and Wayne Kostelecky.

Jo was active in Catholic Daughters of the Americas. They will provide an honor guard at her Memorial Mass. She was also a member of Young Ladies Institute, and they too will participate in her Memorial Mass. Jo was active in other clubs and organizations including Woman’s Century Club, VFW Ladies Auxiliary, and Retired Senior and Volunteer Program.

A Memorial Mass will be held on what would have been Jo’s 93rd birthday at 11:00 a.m., March 19, 2013 at St. Paul Cathedral Chapel in Yakima, WA. A reception will follow at Langevin-Mussetter Funeral Home, 1010 W. Yakima Avenue, Yakima, 509-453-3141. Private inurnment will be at Calvary Cemetery. To share a memory of Josephine, visit www.lmfuneralhome.com.