Irma Katherine Ebbert

Irma, 94, passed peacefully away early Mother's Day morning, May 14, 2017 at the Cheney Care Center.  She was born on April 25, 1923 to Johann (John) Diedrich Schmidt and Else Catharina Gülck in Lüdersbüttel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. 

When Irma was two years old, her family immigrated to the United States and settled in Eastern Washington.  Irma grew up on the family farm near Cheney.  She loved sports, school, her teachers and was salutatorian of the Cheney High School Class of 1941. 

In the fall of 1941 at the age of 18, she married her neighbor William Pence. In August of 1947 Bill and Irma moved to Pullman where they raised their two sons. In 1952, Irma began working at Washington State University. 

She retired as an administrative secretary for the College of Agriculture in May of 1978 after working there for 26 years. 

In 1964, Irma married Richard Felber and moved to Colfax.  She lived in Colfax for 53 years. Irma began playing golf in 1954 and played for 50 years.  She was a women's golf club champion 10 times - once in Pullman and nine times at the Colfax Golf Club.  She loved the game of golf and often wondered what her life would have been like without it. 

In 1977 Irma married Gordon Ebbert.  They enjoyed bridge and golfing in Mesa, Ariz. during the winter months.  Gordon passed away in 2005.  Irma and Gordon were married for 27 years. 

Irma was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters Anna and Christine.  She is survived by her son Gary, wife Sue, and their children Will Pence (Gina) and Kelli (Jamie) Frye; son Ron, wife Marilynn, and their children Todd and Sara (Dan) Tadlock; and stepson Jim (Cathy) Ebbert and their daughters Susan (Michael) Calland and Carol (Achim) Hübner.  She is also survived by her sister Mary Marsh and by nephews John Marsh (Becky), Nick Marsh (Shelly), Howard Marsh Jr. (Karen) and niece Carol Marsh Lerew.  Irma has eight great-grandsons, one great-granddaughter, two step-great-grandsons, and two step-great-granddaughters.

A private family graveside service will be held Thursday May 18 at Spokane Memorial Gardens. Cheney Funeral Chapel in charge of arrangements. Visit her online guestbook at cheneyfuneral.com.