Mildred Laine

Lifetime Deep River, Washington resident, Mildred Laine, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 18th, 11 years to the day that she lost her husband of 55 years, Waino Laine.

Mildred was born in Deep River on September 4, 1922, along with twin brother Robert, to August and Mary Haataja. Mildred was the proud Finnish descendant of grandparents Ephraim and Anna Haataja of Seal River and Carl and Amanda Hanson of Frankfort.

As a child, Mildred attended the Seal River Apostolic Lutheran Church. Mildred attended the Deep River School through the 8th grade and later graduated from Naselle High School. Following graduation, Mildred proudly served her country in the U.S. Navy WAVES.

On December 22nd of 1946, Mildred married childhood neighbor, Waino Laine. Mildred lived her entire life in the Deep River Valley—residing since 1962 on the family farm which overlooks Deep River and her childhood home. Mildred and Waino raised three children, Carol (Ervest), Steven, and Clifford.

Mildred was a devoted wife, homemaker, mother, and grandmother. At times, Mildred worked at the Altoona and Chinook Canneries. Mildred was a 4-H leader as well as an active member of the Grays River Valley Better School Club and the WSU Cooperative Extension Westend Homemakers. Mildred was also a faithful blood donor and electoral poll worker. The loyal wife of a Columbia River and Bristol Bay gillnetter, Mildred enjoyed clam digging and sport fishing with her family.

In later years, Mildred looked forward to senior citizen lunches at the Rosburg Hall, an occasional trip to Astoria or Long Beach with her husband, and Scrabble games with family and friends. Mildred also enjoyed sewing, embroidering, painting, gardening, canning and sharing meals, holidays, and birthdays with her family. Mildred’s family and friends could always count on a home-cooked, noon-time meal which often included fresh vegetables from her garden and her home-canned fruit. There was almost always a berry cobbler, apple crisp or other fresh-baked goods for dessert and for coffee time with visitors.

As the years passed by, Mildred grew increasingly proud of her Finnish heritage and her Deep River roots. In 2003, Mildred made a pilgrimage to Finland with daughter Carol and granddaughter Katriina.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents August and Mary, her husband, Waino, her brothers Art and Harold (Kathleen) Haataja, and son-in-law Gary Ervest. Mildred is survived by her twin brother, Robert and wife Darlene of Rosburg, sister-in-law Irene Henning (Art) of Portland, daughter Carol Ervest of Rosburg, son Steven Laine of Raymond, Washington, son Clifford Laine and wife Rhonda of Eugene, Oregon, and close family friend Bill Karwoski of Rosburg as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins throughout the area. Mildred cherished her granddaughters Stephanie Esvelt (Jono) of Colville, Washington, and Katriina Timm (Ross) of Anchorage, Alaska, as well as grandsons Justin Laine (Abbie) and Erik Ervest of Rosburg, Jared Laine of Olympia, Washington, Cliften Laine of Phoenix, Arizona, and Clayten Laine of Eugene, Oregon. Mildred is also the great grandmother of Gary and Lane Esvelt, Analiisa, Cora, Margaret, and Sallee Laine, and Julia Timm.

There will be a viewing from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on August 31st at the Dowling Funeral Home in Cathlamet.

There will also be a family graveside service on August 31st at the Seal River Cemetery followed by a memorial at 12:30 p.m. at the Deep River Evangelical Lutheran Church and a reception to follow at the Deep River American Legion Hall.

Donations can be made to the Deep River American Legion and Ladies’ Auxiliary in care of Nick and Dee Nikkila, 17 Wirkkala Road, Naselle, Washington 98638.