Helen Leslie Gnaedinger, 87
Leslie Gnaedinger was born in Aberdeen, Wash., on Aug. 1, 1923, to Thomas H. McKay and Minabelle Rowell McKay. Leslie died in Silverton on Jan. 19, 2011, of causes related to old age.
Leslie led a wonderful life in Aberdeen and the family summer home in Grayland at the beach. Leslie attended public schools in Aberdeen until high school when she attended Annie Wright Seminary in Tacoma on a scholarship. After graduating in 1941 Leslie attended University of California, Berkeley and Reed College in Portland, Ore., where she graduated in 1945. While in college Leslie worked as a welder in the Portland Shipyards and at the B-29 factory in Hoquiam, Wash.
Leslie started her master's program in Pullman, Wash., at then Washington State College. While working as a lab instructor in a biology lab she met her future husband Dr. Ernest E. (Ned) Gnaedinger who was returning to school in premed. They wed June 17, 1947, and remained so until their deaths.
Leslie and Ned moved to Portland where Ned attended Medical School and Leslie worked for Multnomah County as a biological specialist for the county. They moved to San Bernardino, Calif., with their first born where Ned completed his internship. In 1952 the young couple moved to Ned's hometown in Wallace where he went to work at the Wallace Hospital and Leslie continued to produce a family.
Leslie was very involved in the Shoshone County Medical Auxiliary, Chapter X of PEO and the Shoshone Country Club.
Leslie was interested in many things. She always first and foremost liked to read widely and variously and discuss what she read. Leslie also liked gardening, horse packing, camping, golf, skiing, bird hunting, bridge and many happy days at the family cabin at Killarney Lake on the Coeur d'Alene River. Most of all Leslie was a wonderful mother. She was involved in Scouting with her children, encouraging them in their endeavors at sports and school, and supporting them in their successes and failures.
Leslie Gnaedinger was predeceased by her husband, Ned; both parents; her brothers, Perry, George and Donald McKay; and her sisters, Laura Hogan and Minabelle Farley.
Leslie is survived by her sister, Edna Guerin of Bremerton, Wash.; and her children: Mike (Sandy) Gnaedinger of Ephrata, Wash., Bill (Dorothy Wiley) of Pullman, Wash., Kristi of Wallace and Leslie (Nils) Flostrup of Haarby, Denmark. She is also survived by six grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces with whom the family were very close.
The family wishes to thank the staff and volunteers of Good Samaritan in Silverton who gave much comfort and very good care to our mother in her final years.
Memorials may be made to the Ned Gnaedinger Rotary Scholarship, P.O. Box 1165, Wallace, ID.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. You may sign Helen's online guest book at www.shoshonefuneralservice.com.
Shoshone Funeral Service and Crematory is entrusted with making arrangements.