Catherine Margaret Roane

Catherine was born April 10,1934 in Greenley, Nebraska to Adolph Lidia Ripp Brood. The family moved to Woodland, Washington and Catherine attended high school there. She met and fell in love with Ivan Roane. They married and the family moved to Ridgefield, Washington in 1963. There they raise their 7 children together. Ivan was a jack-of-all trades and did anything and everything on farms. One job led him to a dairy where he could have all the milk he wanted and with seven children, he needed it!

Catherine was a devoted full-time mother whose mission in life was to love her husband and raise her children. She liked to play baseball, playing cards and board games with the kids. She was a great cook and baker feeding anyone who came over a sample of whatever she was cooking at the time. Fresh homemade bread was always available, and neighbors could smell her cinnamon rolls baking from a long way off! She made apple pies ahead of time and stored them in the freezer for when they were needed. Unfortunately, her boys managed to raid the freezer and eat her pies, I was told! It was not unheard of for the kids to get on their bikes and take a ride without telling their mother. They would insist that they had asked her permission (when they really didn’t). Her only response was that “The Lord promised to not give her more than she could handle” but I am sure there were times when the limits were being pushed!

Catherine loved to entertain, and family reunions would be held at their place for good reason. Everyone camped outside and she would make breakfast for everyone starting with her plate-sized pancakes! Catherine’s gift of hospitality and warm welcome was a blessing to all who came!

Sadly, her husband, Ivan died February of 1960 at the age of 56 but Catherine worked hard to hold the family together.

Her life was not without its pleasures. She enjoyed crocheting, cooking, watching wrestling and roller derby. She took an active part when she watched to programs, and one could get injured if they sat too close to her when she got excited! One of the special things she did was to make quilts for the children. In the middle of her quilts was the Lord’s Prayer which I know she learned in the Catholic Church as a young person.

Catherine is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Ivan, and 3 brothers. She is survived by three daughters and four sons: Mary Sparks, Dean Roane, Anthony Roane, Marge Steed, Anna McDonald, Dan Roane and Ivan Roan. She has 19 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild and many nieces and nephews.

We will be holding a viewing on August 31st, 2025 from 11am to 5pm; Services will be held at Park Hill Cemetery on Sept 19th, 2025 at 11am followed by a potluck at Lewisville Park in Battleground, WA.