Obituary of Elaine Busch

VERA ELAINE BUSCH
February 11, 1933 ˜ September 26, 2023

Vera Elaine (Millington) Busch, of Camas, WA, was born in St. Helens, OR, on Feb. 11, 1933, to Percy Bruce Millington and Vera Edna (Sutherland) Millington. Because she and her mother shared the same first name, she went by, and most everyone called her, Elaine. On Sept. 26, 2023, our beloved mother and grandmother, Elaine, passed away at the age of 90 in Vancouver, WA.

Elaine and her family lived in Longview, WA, and Stella, WA, before settling in Vancouver, WA, where both of her parents worked at the Kaiser shipyards. On April 5, 1943, at the age of 10, Elaine excitedly witnessed First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt christen the Alazon Bay (later named the Casablanca), the first escort carrier launched out of Vancouver.

She attended Vancouver schools and graduated from the old Vancouver High School on June 7, 1951. A little over two weeks later, on June 23, 1951, Elaine married Harold W. Busch, who she met on a blind date on Sept. 10, 1948. Together Elaine and Harold built their new home and grew their family and commercial timber farm on 20 acres in Fern Prairie, north of Camas. Harold affectionately nicknamed Elaine “Queenie” and they spent 49 loving years together until his passing on November 11, 2000.

Elaine and Harold were caring and devoted role model parents and grandparents to their five children and three granddaughters. Elaine took great care of her family in their home while Harold worked at the Pendleton Woolen Mills and later at Stevenson Co-Ply. Elaine was an accomplished seamstress, embroiderer and cook, and was well known for her splendidly large meals and especially delicious pies. She loved to read and tend to her plants and flowers, her favorites being gladiolus, sweet peas, and roses. She propagated rose bushes from her wedding bouquet that still grow today.

Elaine was a member of Zion Lutheran Church for 71 years where she belonged to the women’s group, taught Bible school, and she along with Harold taught Sunday school. They also enjoyed the church Couples Club together. For many years they provided the church with Christmas trees from their timber farm, and were both very active in building and maintaining the church. Elaine and Harold blessed their children by giving them a foundation and example of faith at home by teaching them about the Lord, and by regularly taking them to Zion and assuring that they were all baptized, schooled and confirmed there.

Music was always around Elaine. She enjoyed singing and sang beautifully, and also played the violin and piano. Having grown up listening to radio shows before she got a TV, Elaine always had a radio or stereo turned on near her. She enjoyed many different genres of music, and in the mornings at breakfast before school, we got to listen to country songs and Paul Harvey. Some of Elaine’s favorite artists, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, George Gershwin and Percy Faith and his Orchestra.

Elaine was a dedicated Mariners baseball fan and would watch them nightly, always recording their wins and losses. One of her best memories was going to the Kingdome in Seattle with Harold and watching Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. play together. For decades, she regularly watched the World Series in the fall.

What Elaine enjoyed most of all was talking, laughing with, and being surrounded by her family and friends. She was easygoing and simply enjoyed good company and conversations. Elaine was strong, selfless, unassuming, generous, funny, kind, caring, and talented, and she extended her loving heart to so many who were fortunate enough to have known her. A truly genuine and beautiful soul. We regularly reminded her that she was the best Mom ever.

Elaine was predeceased by her parents and her husband, Harold W. Busch; her siblings, Melbourne, Joyce and Raymond; and her nephew, Danny Smith.

Elaine is survived by and will be dearly missed by her loving constant companions and care partners, daughter, Linda S. Busch Pfeifle, and her partner, Brian P. Paul. She is also survived by and will be missed by her sons, Timothy (Cinda) Busch, Terry (Pam) Busch, Scott (Josetta) Busch and Allan (Vicki) Busch; son-in-law, Michael Pfeifle; granddaughters, Gretchen (Michael Scott) Busch, Natalie Busch and Audrey Busch; and her nieces and nephew.

Family and friends are invited to a celebration of life service on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 824 NE Fourth Ave., Camas, WA. A reception at the church will follow, and burial will be held after the reception at Fern Prairie Cemetery, 26700 NE Robinson Road, Camas, WA. Elaine requested that memorial contributions be made to The Harold W. Busch Walkers/Alzheimer’s Association, 1300 NE 277th Ave., Camas, WA 98607.