Ada Ruth Whitmore

Ada Ruth Rasmusson was born in her grandmother Ada Porter's house south of Sunnyside, WA on May 8, 1930.

She passed away July 2, 2025 at The Orchards in Grandview, WA. She was the first, and only girl, of five kids born to Durman and Jewel (Porter) Rasmusson. Mom spent her childhood roaming the streets of Bickleton and trying to outwit and outprank the kids from Cleveland. She spent many hours at "Grandma Carter's" house and was very proud of the fact that she could outrun all of the town boys. She spent one summer helping her dad trail sheep from Alderdale to Mt. Adams.

Mom met her future husband, Lawrence (L.D.) Whitmore while attending Bickleton High School. Some dates consisted of movies in Sunnyside. Because of curfew and slow car speed, they always had to leave before the end of the movie. They were engaged Valentine's Day 1947, and married Christmas Eve 1947. Mom was 17 and a senior in high school. Dad was 19. He had been farming with his dad, Del, and Mom joined in. For the next four years, not a wheel turned that Mom wasn't along.

They lived in a couple of places before getting a house built on the homestead in summer of 1951. The first of five kids came Oct. of that year. It was here that they proceeded to set the stage for their 68 year marriage. They continued farming, began collecting, and raising kids. "The Ranch" became known as Whoop-N-Holler (hollering kids) - Carolyn, Lawrence Jack, Christine, John Thomas, and David.

Over the years there were foster kids, exchange students, and uncles in and out. Mom took pride in keeping her yard nice and making sure that the ranch hummed along smoothly (as could be). She loved crossword puzzles and The National Enquirer.

She looked after older people (relatives and non) and made sure the kids and house were taken care of. Because she wanted to do something for herself, she went to beauty school and got her beautician's license at age 60. She was also instrumental in getting the bluebird trails started in Bickleton after the Brinkerhoff's put up their coffee can nest. Next to her family, her passion was history.

She spent two years collecting pictures for the book "Glancing Back thru the Years" that she and Chloe Walling put together. She researched the Klickitat Co. east end cemeteries and got markers on graves that didn't have a marker. Some cemeteries didn't have good records on who was buried where and she tried to rectify that. She put together geneology notebooks of the east end communities. If someone ever lived in the area, their name is in a book. It's possible that if you just drove through the area, your name is in a book. In her history van, there are notebooks for every Alder Creek Pioneer Picnic, schools west of Rock Creek, and of course notebooks on her and Dad's families. Whew!

If that weren't enough, she volunteered on the Klickitat County Park Board, Centennial and Tourism Committees. Mom worked on the census one year, was a substitute postal worker and rural route driver. She was a White Creek Grange member for over 50 years, a Rebekah, charter member of the Presby Museum, and a member of many cemetery and museum organizations. She was the Morning Program Chairperson for the Alder Creek Pioneer Association for many years, as well as being in charge of the Memorial list. Mom and Dad were members of the Evergreen Club, and Farm/City Swap Club (visit each other's homes - not what you're thinking!) And then there is the Whoop-N-Holler Museum. It started with a block building in the 60's, to a car barn, to an actual old school house, plus several more buildings. She LOVED history.

Ada Ruth was predeceased by L.D., her parents, Durman and Jewel Rasmusson, her in-laws Del and Fern Whitmore, all of her brothers: Durman (Jr.), Philip and Lorna Rasmusson, Bill Joe and Dorothy Rasumsson, Mike and Martha Rasmusson. L.D.'s sisters: Ethel and Max Read, Eileen Bowden, Betty Jo and Don Berger, grandson Alex Whitmore, nieces Virginia Read and Linda Day, nephew Brad Rasmusson. She is survived by kids: Carolyn and Lyle Cleveland, Jack and Tami Whitmore, Christine Whitmore, Tom and Melinda Whitmore, Dave and Debbie Whitmore. Bonus kid: David Hubbard. Grandkids: Tina Cleveland, Crystal and Scott Taylor, Laurie and Robert Cheyney, Del and Erin Whitmore, Kate and Chris Watson, Bryan and Melissa Whitmore, Ashley and Sean Bryan.

Bonus grandkids: Phylicia and Tommy Quinby. Great grandkids: Hunter Taylor, Tanner Taylor, Addison Whitmore, Warner Watson, Penelope Watson, Audrey Whitmore, Eli Whitmore, Alex Bryan, Mackenzie Bryan. Bonus great grandkids: Sydnie O'Banion, Hali and Riker Telford, John O'Banion, Boston Quinby, Carson Quinby, Nolan Quinby. Bonus great, great grandkids: twins Fletcher and Ronan Telford. Many nieces and nephews from both sides of the family and of course many friends, acquaintances, and geneology pen pals. 

Thank you to the caring staff at The Orchards in Grandview and Prosser Memorial Hospital. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: ACPA Endowment Fund, Bickleton Evangelical Church, Presby Museum, or a charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to Valley Hills Funeral Home, Sunnyside, WA. Viewing Friday, July 11, 4-7 P.M. at Valley Hills 531 S 16th St. Sunnyside, WA. Memorial service July 12 11:00 A.M. Alder Creek Pioneer picnic grounds, Cleveland, WA. There will be a lunch following the service.