Jean Frances Galbraith

Jean Galbraith, of Yakima, Washington, passed away peacefully on March 7, 2026. She was 88 years old. Jean was born in Portland, Oregon, on July 10, 1937, and was the second daughter of Roy and Marie Lakin Oestreich. She attended The Madeline Catholic School in the second and third grades which instilled in her the need to strive for excellence and to be accepted, as she was the only non-Catholic in her class. When her family moved to a farm near Ritzville, in Eastern Washington, she attended a one-room country grade school with 12 students in grades one through six. This is where she developed her strong work ethic and a goal to be the best student she could be. She was baptized and confirmed in the Ritzville Congregational Church (RCC) at age 12. She rode the school bus 70 miles round trip to Ritzville Junior and Senior High Schools, and she graduated as valedictorian. She earned many awards and honors, including state offices in 4-H and FHA and received a trip to the 4-H Club Congress in Chicago. There she appeared on the cover of the national 4-H magazine giving a Washington state apple to then Secretary of State John Foster Dulles.

Jean attended Washington State College where she met her tall, handsome basketball player husband Bill and where she was involved in clubs and honoraries including Mortar Board and was President of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She was named one of the top 20 outstanding students when she graduated. After college, she won the title of Little International for cow milking and later became the first Washington State Dairy Princess.

Jean and Bill were married in 1959 and lived initially in Seattle where their three sons were born. Bill was employed with Washington Mutual Savings Bank and they moved to Bellevue, Grandview, Kennewick and Yakima. Jean taught in various public schools, teaching Home Economics, Language Arts, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics, and was a Librarian and Title 1B Supervisor. She earned her master’s degree from WSU and was a Counselor at Park Middle School, Kamiakin High School, Columbia Basin College, and Yakima’s Washington Middle School. She retired in 1992 after 25 years. She received her certification in Glaser’s Reality Therapy & Control Theory, educating teachers and administrators.

Jean’s mother Marie instilled in her that knowing her family history was as important as learning about the civilizations around the world. She began compiling and writing about her family’s Oestreich/ Bauer Volga German and French Belgian European heritage and then Bill’s Galbraith/Pyland Scotch, Irish, European and Van Dyk/Meijer Dutch heritage. Documenting the family history allowed Jean to share with all of her descendants how their ancestors came to America, and served in the Constitutional Congress and various wars to ensure all to be free to worship as they pleased.

Jean loved her family deeply and was incredibly proud of them. She and Bill loved traveling around the United States, vacationing in Hawaii and Palm Desert, playing golf, bridge, and reading. She was famously known for making her lemon meringue pies for friends and family. Throughout her life she had a strong faith in God, helping in the communities and churches where they lived, teaching both Junior High and Adult Sunday School classes and studying the Bible daily.

Jean is survived by her husband Bill of 66 years, sons Jon Galbraith (Debbie), Ron Galbraith (Jennifer), and Rick Galbraith (Lisa) and grandchildren, Jared Galbraith (Laura), Danica Sessions (Alex), Anthony Galbraith (Maddie), Joey Galbraith (Cody Beck), Christopher Galbraith and Nicholas Galbraith (Ally), and 5 great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.