Lenora Jean Hirning Weise

Lenora Jean Hirning Weise

July 14, 1936 – May 9, 2023

Lenora Jean Hirning Weise, 86, of Newport, Wash., peacefully passed away on May 9, 2023.

Jean was born on July 14, 1936 to Arthur and Lorentina (Otto) Hirning in Mandan, ND. Jean was just an infant when her family moved to Missoula, Mont. and then Walla Walla, Wash., before settling in Ritzville in 1943. She graduated from Ritzville High School in 1954.

While in school she worked at Carroll's Steak House where she first met Jerry, the love of her life. He would come in and order a thick chocolate malt with double malt. She was hired as a telephone operator for AT&T in the summer of 1954. After Jerry came back from Korea in 1955, he worked at Walenta's Shell Service Station. Jean would walk by on her way home from work and Big Jer would whistle at her. She started to stop and talk to him and then he began to drive her home after he got off work. Jean and Jerry were engaged in August of 1955 and were married on December 18, 1955. Jean and Jerry had 4 children, Jay, Mary Jo, Jill, and Janell.

In the early 60's Jean and Jerry operated the Tastee Freeze Drive Inn (currently the Boxwood Home and Garden) and then the Lucky Lane Drive Inn at 1st and Chelan. In Jan. of 1967, Jean was hired by the National Bank of Commerce. She continued to work for the bank as it changed hands several times, until retiring from the Moses Lake Key Bank in 1997.

Jean was always an avid reader, and after retirement, quilting became another passion. She was the crossword puzzle queen and no one could match her cookie baking skills. Jean was an active member of the Zion Congregational Church and could always be counted on to lend a helping hand. She and Jerry volunteered in several organizations in the Ritzville community; they loved to go camping (with their many friends), play cards together and with friends (especially cribbage), make sausage, and above all enjoyed their grandchildren. "Grandma Jean", "Grams", "G-ma" was always up for anything when it came to her grandkids, whether it was babysitting, taking them to swim lessons, or watching them participate in sports. Her greatest pleasure was just spending time with family and words cannot express how much we are going to miss her.

Jean was preceded by her parents, her husband Jerry, sister Kathleen (Arlo) Ottmar, brother James, and daughters Mary Jo and Jill. She is survived by son Jay (Lois) Weise, daughter Janell (Tim) Edwards, grandchildren Holly (Kelly) Hultman and great-grandson Dean; Tyler (Lauren) Edwards, Conor (Emily) Weise and great-granddaughter Stevie; Katie Jean Weise, sister Carolyn Edelen, sister-in law Sylvia Hirning and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of the River Mountain Village facilities for their exceptional care of Jean for the past five years.

Services will be held at the Zion Congregational Church, 301 E Broadway Ave, Ritzville, WA on Sat., May 20, 2023 at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Zion Congregational Church or the East Adams Library District, two places very close to Jean's heart!