Noella Ann Osterberg

Noella Ann (Brule) Emhoff Osterberg of Yakima, WA passed away on February 14, 2012, at the age of 83. Noella was born in Crookston, MN on December 24, 1928, the third of 4 children born to Lucien and Alphonsine (Dufault) Brule. They migrated to the Yakima Valley when she was a little girl.

Noella graduated from Yakima High in 1947 and married Bill Emhoff in December of 1947. She worked for several years as a dental assistant until their first child was born, and then became a stay-at-home mom. Once the three kids were old enough, she went to work in the administrative office of the Clerk of the Yakima County District Court. In later years she was co-owner with husband Bill, and bookkeeper of Homes Tire Service.

In January of 1989, several years after the death of her husband, Bill Emhoff, Noella married Lennart Osterberg from Shelton, WA. They settled into a new home on Camano Island and lived there until his death in March of 2003. In June of 2003 she was then diagnosed with the onset of Alzheimer’s and moved to Yakima to live at Englewood Heights, followed by a move to the Alzheimer’s wing known as Arbor House. As the later stages of Alzheimer’s settled in she was moved to Willow Springs Care Center and then in December of 2011 she moved to her last home at Garden Village.

Noella loved spending time with her six grandchildren. She was a good seamstress, liked to knit and she loved to travel – many times on the road by herself. She made trips to Branson, MO, did the Trans-Canada train from coast-to-coast, Hawaii, New England, New Zealand and spent many winters in Arizona and sunny Southern California. Noella was a member of her high school choral group, Eastern Star (Naches Order), Zonta, charter member of Englewood Christian Church and long-time choir member, and the Camano Island Fire Jets (women’s auxiliary). She was even a charter member of the Gleed Rural Fire Department.

Noella was a 10 year survivor of breast cancer. Most importantly, she always had a generous and big heart, lived with integrity and was always positive and upbeat in every attitude and manner.

Noella is survived by her sister Florence; daughter Connie Harvison (Bob); sons Steve Emhoff, and Keith Emhoff (Peggy); and grandchildren Amanda Emhoff-White (Tony), Gordon Emhoff (Tiffany), Janet Harvison-Egan (Mike), Matt Emhoff (Becky), Jason Emhoff (Sharilyn), and Katie Rollinger, plus 8 ½ great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Noella was preceded in death by her parents: Lucien and Alphonsine Brule; two brothers Albert and Arlen; husbands Bill and Len; and grandson Timothy Harvison, age 6.

No visitation will be held. A Celebration of Life will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 10, 2012 at the Englewood Christian Church. To share a memory of Noella, visit www.keithandkeith.com.