Genevieve Riffe Young, age 88, peacefully passed away with her family by her side January 25, 2016 after surgery at Providence Centralia Hospital. She was a long time resident of Chehalis. Born Wanda Genevieve Rushton to Lovell and Gladys Rushton on April 6, 1927 in Aberdeen, Washington, she was the eldest of 6 children. They lived in Copalis Crossing at the time of her birth. She grew up in the small towns of Southwest Washington and Oregon State, settling in the Mossyrock area where she graduated from Mossyrock High School in 1946.
Genevieve married Quentin Thurman Riffe on December 21, 1945 at his parents’ home in the town of Riffe. They raised 5 children at their home on Sitka Street in Chehalis. Gen loved to travel and they often packed up the kids and tent camped their way through many states. She loved spending time in the cabin at their property near Brinnon on Hood Canal. Graduating to a camper and then a small motorhome, the road always called to her to see the beauty of our great country and she was particularly enchanted by the Grand Tetons in Wyoming and the State of Alaska. She and Quentin first drove the AlCan Highway to Alaska in 1982. She was very active in her Good Sam RV Club. Gen also loved to garden and to can and preserve the vegetables and fruits she grew. Her flowers were beautiful, too.
Gen worked hard all her life. Her sister Rosalie said Gen was her “Dad’s Boy”. He had a small logging operation in the hills near Boistfort and as a 15 year old, she drove the “donkey”, loading logs on his log truck. She also drove the truck but only on logging roads as she did not have her license yet! As a high school student, she was the first woman school bus driver for the Mossyrock School District. Whether in the berry fields at Silver Creek and on Newaukum Hill in the summer or at Sherwood Forest Farms in the winter, she gave it her all. She drove school bus for the Chehalis School District and retired in 1981. Quentin passed away November 18, 1989. They were married nearly 44 years and enjoyed many happy times, and were most proud of their children.
Gen married Don Young on September 30, 1995. They had a wonderful life together, especially enjoying their motorhome and events with their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. For years every summer they hosted the Rushton Family Reunion in their beautiful yard. Gen’s children think Don treated her like a Queen and for that they are grateful.
Gen was preceded in death by her baby daughter Madeline in 1948, her young grandson Peter Tracy Riffe in 1999, her brothers, Bud and Pete, and her sister Edith Swigert.
Gen is survived by her loving husband, Don, her sisters, Rosalie Hendricks of Mossyrock and Dona Letteer of Deary ID, her sons, Darrel and his wife Sheila of Olympia, Randy and his wife Pat of Chicago IL, Kim and his wife Sue of Centralia, and Tracy and his wife Jani of Albuquerque NM, and her daughter, Kristi and her husband Dale Gerard of Chehalis. She is survived by Don’s daughters, Nikki Sills and her husband Greg of Lilloette B.C., and Vikki Allen of Everett.
She is survived by her grandchildren, Derek Riffe and his wife Courtney, Jarred Riffe and his wife Jennelle, Lindsay and her husband Ryan Kidd, Brett Sandwick, Aaron Riffe, Allyson and her husband Dave Grove, Michelle and her husband James Hewitt, Adam Riffe and his wife Cori, Darien Riffe, Brianna and her husband Jim Marentes, Chloe Riffe, Aimee Rochelle Gerard, Kama Steliga and Cassie Sills, and by thirteen great grandchildren with the fourteenth on the way February 2016. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Sticklin Funeral Chapel. Visitation will be Wednesday, February 3, 4-8pm and Thursday, February 4, 12-8pm, at Sticklin Funeral Chapel.
Funeral services for Genevieve Riffe Young will be at Sticklin Funeral Chapel Friday, February 5 at 11am with Pastor Dan Schaefer officiating. Graveside services will follow immediately at Claquato Cemetery. Don and the entire family invite you to join them in celebrating Gen’s life at V.R. Lee Community Building, 221 SW 13th Street, Chehalis, following the service and graveside.
To view photos from Gen’s life and sign the online guestbook please visit www.SticklinsFuneralChapel.com.
“And they will know you are my disciples by your love. – John 13:35”
Arrangements are under the direction of Sticklin Funeral Chapel, 1437 S. Gold St., Centralia, WA 98531. 360-736-1388.
Condolences may be offered at www.sticklinsfuneralchapel.com
