June M. (Hense) McClaskey- Peterson passed away at 96 ½ years old at her residence on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, 2023 (123123), in Olympia, Washington. She was with loved ones and passed with no pain or suffering, which was God’s blessing to her. When asked by her daughter what she wanted for Christmas, she replied, “A new year!” She got her wish — she received a new year and eternity with her Lord and savior!
June will be forever loved and remembered by her twin children, Margaret “P.J.” (Cal) Sanders and Dewey R. “Bob” (Ginger) McClaskey; her grandchildren Gina (Jeff) Dorman, Jeffry (Sasha) Macdonald, Debbie (Greg) Kimball and Polly (Jason) McCullar; and her nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She leaves behind many other cherished nieces and nephews, extended family members and friendships, including her life-long loving friend and classmate, Elsie. June appreciated the care she received from her caregiver and her staff. They will remember her for reading her bible verses and praying each night and for the cowbell she rang for help — which will be rung every New Year’s Eve in her memory.
June was born in Ford’s Prairie, Washington, an unincorporated community in Lewis County near Centralia, on June 30, 1927. Fortunately, she was born just before midnight on June 30 because her mother wanted to call her “June,” not “July.”
June is survived by the only living member from her original family, her brother, David (Eva) Hense, of Olympia. June was predeceased by her parents, George and Emma Christina (Holmes) Hense, her siblings Howard Hense, Ginger Hense (Harold) Skinner, Ivan “Ben” (Nina) Hense and Thomas (Betty) Hense.
June attended Ford’s Prairie Elementary School then graduated from Centralia High School. Then she worked as a telephone operator before she met her future husband. She married Dewey C. McClaskey in 1946 at the First Christian Church in Centralia, Washington. They were blessed with twin children. Dewey built a new home for the family next to McClaskey Woodwork, where he worked with his father in the carpentry business. In 1954, the family moved to Mossyrock, Washington, where Dewey built another new home, and he and his father opened a hardware store, M & M (McClaskey & McClaskey) Materials, Mossyrock Trailer Village & Laundromat and sold mobile homes to the influx of construction workers building the Mayfield and Mossyrock dams. June worked side by side with Dewey in the hardware store until they sold the businesses and home after the children graduated from Mossyrock High School. Dewey and June moved to Olympia, Washington, in 1967, where Dewey built their retirement home. Dewey and June enjoyed many happy retirement years with the family, especially when the grandchildren started coming! Sadly, Dewey passed away in 1981.
In 1988, June married Irving M. “Pete” Peterson, owner of Peterson’s Food Town in Olympia. They enjoyed many happy years together living in their condominium at the Olympia Country Club, where they both enjoyed golfing and fun social occasions. They also enjoyed exploring world travel and family celebrations. Pete passed away in 1999, and June was widowed a second time.
June had a long life and said that she had been everywhere she wanted to go and had seen everything she wanted to see. She enjoyed her family and friends and loved to celebrate their occasions. She was known for her family and friends’ celebrations and her talents to have a beautiful home, food and wonderful parties like in “House Beautiful.” She loved to do projects, artfully done. She believed in God and said she gave her heart to Jesus and that she expected to go to Heaven!
You are loved and will always be in our hearts!
June’s funeral service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 27, at 11 a.m. at Newell-Hoerling’s Mortuary at 205 W. Pine St., in Centralia, Washington. After the service, June will be laid to rest beside our father in the McClaskey family plot at the Mountain View Cemetery in Centralia, Washington.
