Pomeroy Washington Downtown National Historic District

Pomeroy Washington city cemetery

2011 Garfield County, Washington,
Funeral Notices and Obituaries


Roberta Antoinette (Diener) Breithaupt

Roberta Antoinette Breithaupt, 93, died Oct. 25, 2011, at Garfield County Memorial Hospital in Pomeroy due to congestive heart failure.

Obit photo of Roberta Breithaupt, Pomeroy

She was born Jan. 13, 1918, to Charles Diener and Mary Macklin in Spokane. Growing up and attending school at Otis Orchards, Roberta went into high school at age 12. She completed high school by age 16, in 1934, with honors. With scholarships she attended Spokane Junior College and Eastern Washington University, graduating in 1937 with a three-year degree in music, and a four-year degree in education in 1938. By attending college in the summers, as well as the school year, this was completed by age 19. From 1937 to 1941, Roberta taught elementary school in Albion, Rosalia and Teoka, all in Washington, and Orchard Park in Spokane.

In January 1941, she moved to Seattle to attend Northwest Bible Institute, where she met and later married Harold H. Breithaupt on July 20, 1942. Ten children were brought into this union. Together they pioneered churches in western Washington, finishing pastoring in Hay, Wash., in 1955. Harold was employed by farmers and the railroad, which included many moves. In 1957, the family moved to Pomeroy and settled in Pataha in 1959.

Roberta was part of the Assemblies of God from 1941 to 2009, when the local church closed, having served in the music and teaching Sunday school.

Her hobbies were listening to the radio, writing, making birthday cards for her family, art and gardening.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Winafred Diener; parents, Charles and Mary Diener; daughter, Sarah Naomi; and her husband of 59 years, Harold.

Roberta is survived by nine of her children, Paul Harold of Rockhill, S.C., Philip David of Columbia, Mo., Daniel Joseph of Omak, Wash., Elisabeth Esther Ward of Russellville, Ark., Stephen Samuel of Japan, Rebekah Ruth Titus of Sioux Falls, S.D., Reuben Benjamin of Pomeroy, Wash., Hannah Mary Czoski of Fort Meyer, Fla., and Evangeline Roberta Workman of Pomeroy; 18 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Services were held at the Pomeroy Church of the Nazarene, with Pastors Dan Lewis and David Knittel officiating, and a graveside service officiated by son, Stephen.

Memorials may be given to the Pomeroy Church of the Nazarene youth group. Richardson-Brown Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Barbara Lee (Parris) Christopherson

Barbara Lee Christopherson, 71, resident of Montesano and former cook at Grays Harbor Convalescent Center in Aberdeen, died Wednesday evening, September 14, 2011, at her home in Montesano. Barbara was born in Pomeroy on July 29, 1940, to Elmer and Marjorie (Bowles) Parris. Her family moved to Ocean City when she was young and then to Hoquiam at age 12.

On March 23, 1956, Barbara married Ronald Christopherson in Aberdeen, WA. He resides at the family home. She worked for Dairy Queen as a cook for four years retiring in 1991. Before that she had worked at several nursing homes including Grays Harbor Convalescent Center in Aberdeen as a cook for many years. Barbara and Ron had been Foster Parents for many years, having taken care of dozens of children during that time.

Barbara liked to cook and try different recipes, collecting roosters and at one time Beanie Babies and Salt & Pepper Shakers. She also enjoyed going to Woman’s Bible Studies at Immanuel Baptist Church in Hoquiam. Barbara is survived by her husband of 55 years, Ronald Christopherson of Montesano; three sons: Ken and his companion Patty of Aberdeen, Phil and wife Maria of Hoquiam and Ron and wife Stacy also of Hoquiam; daughters: Candice and husband Lyndon Cozzutto of Aberdeen and Rhonda and husband Byron Anderson of Hoquiam; Mother: Marjorie Parris of Pomeroy; Brothers Larry and wife Linda Parris of Vernonia, OR and Tom Parris of Pomeroy, WA; Ten grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Barbara was preceded in death by a sister, Betty Gonvick.

There was a celebration of life held for Barbara on Tuesday, September 20th, 2011, at Immanuel Baptist Church in Hoquiam.