Ethel Ruth Klassy

Ethel Ruth (Henan) Klassy was born on December 18, 1925, in Fort Washakie, Wyoming to Jacob and Gladys Henan. She passed away peacefully on the evening of February 18, 2024, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, Washington, at the age of 98.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Clayton Eugene Klassy, her brothers: Ben, Dean, and Everett, her sisters: Mary, Florence, Elaine, Thelma, Viola, and Claudine, her sons Curtis and David, and her stepdaughters: Constance and Genea, and her grandson Michael.

She is survived by her sister Peggy, her brother Joe, her daughter Paula, 12 grandchildren, Dan and wife Shalise, Anthony and wife Rachael, Steve and wife Kayla, Jennifer and husband Stephen, Greg and wife Christy, Suzanne and husband Felipe, Belinda, Kyle, Shawna, Dawn and husband Chris, Helena, Kayla and 10 great-grandchildren along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Ethel was born in Fort Washakie, Wyoming on the Shoshone Indian Reservation where she grew up with her parents and 11 siblings. She graduated from Cadet Nurses Corps in Cheyanne, Wyoming in 1944. She then attended the University of Wyoming and graduated. She worked as a nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tacoma and retired when she married. She married Clayton Klassy in 1953 and became a military spouse. As a family they were stationed with the Air Force here in Washington, Montana, Alaska, Missouri and finally returned to Washington where they purchased their current home in Puyallup, Washington. She loved to read, garden, fish and to cheer (and or yell) on her favorite sports teams: the Seattle Mariners, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Huskies.

Services will be held at Powers Funeral Home 320 W Pioneer in Puyallup, Washington 98371. Friday March 8, 2024, at 10am with viewing before service.  Burial will be at Woodbine Cemetery to follow. All are welcome to join the family for a reception after the burial at Powers Funeral Home.