Nina Marie Fossum

Nina Marie Fossum, age 96, much loved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, died in Yakima on Thursday, October 19, 2017.

Nina is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Amelia (Mimi) and James E. Bryan of Selah; her son and daughter-in-law, Sig and Teresa Fossum of Naches Heights; and three granddaughters, Marna Kristine (Bryan) and Richard Bulpin of Bothell, WA., Zori Ana (Fossum) and Tyler Weinbender of Lower Naches, and Larisa Marie (Fossum) and Ethan Flory of North Plains, Ore. She was preceded in death by her husband, Martin Christian Fossum in 1999 and one son, Richard Hans Fossum in 1966.

Nina, whose parents left Norway and settled in Seattle, was born July 22, 1921 and grew up in Seattle. In 1942, she married Martin Fossum, whom she had known all her life, as the parents were family friends. She moved to Lower Naches, WA where Martin was an orchardist and they raised their family there.

In 1966, Martin invented and developed the tractor-mounted Fossum Tree Trimmer and the next year Nina, Martin and Sig traveled the U.S. in a camper to take the trimmer to equipment shows and to set up dealers. In 1969 Martin sold his interest in the orchards to his brother and the family moved to Selah, where they built a house. Thru the 70’s, they developed the tree trimmer business in Selah where they fabricated, shipped, and maintained their office where she was the bookkeeper. They periodically traveled around the United States, going to equipment shows and setting up or visiting dealers during this time. They sold the business and retired in the late 70’s.

Throughout her life, Nina had many varied interests, most of which she enjoyed with Martin. In the 40’s and 50’s, she was a member of the Lower Naches Women’s Club and member of the Lower Naches Grange. She was a talented seamstress, an art she learned as a tailor’s apprentice in Seattle before marriage and for years made clothing that rivaled “store-bought”. Nina and Martin and the family enjoyed snow-skiing, boating, water-skiing, tennis, golf, bridge, hunting, (especially going on camping hunting trips with friends and family), and fishing (she caught a 40 lb salmon at Port Angeles!).

After retiring, Nina and Martin traveled in their RV for many years all over the U.S., including Alaska, and Canada.

At her request, no formal services will be held. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to the Yakima Greenway Foundation in care of Keith & Keith Funeral Home, 902 W. Yakima Avenue, Yakima, WA 98902.