OBITUARY Almeda E. Santee April 27, 1939 – November 14, 2018 Almeda and her twin brother were born at home on a farm in Marsh, Montana on April 27, 1939. They were born to Russian immigrants Bertha (Knopp) Gaub and Jacob Gaub. No one really knows who was born first, but it is believed it was Almeda.
They were the youngest children of Bertha and Jacob, with 4 siblings preceding them. Almeda attended a one room school house for her first two years of school in Marsh. Around 1946, the family moved to the town of Terry, Montana.
She graduated from Terry High School in 1957 along with her brother and 16 other students. After high school Almeda went to North Dakota to attend nursing school. She matriculated for one year and was contacted by her sister, Esther, who was now living with her family in Woodinville, Washington.
The chance and opportunity to move out to the big city was just too inviting. She packed up her 1957 Chevy and moved to Woodinville, Washington to live and help her sister out with her young family until she obtained a job. Around 1960 or 1961 she got a job at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle as an admittance nurse.
While working at Harborview, the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on routinely came by because he was an ambulance driver. His name was Rodney Santee. They were married in early 1962.
Their family began shortly thereafter, with Ilona (Lonnie) Kay born in September 1962, Lisa Almeda arriving in July 1963 and Rodney Jr. born in December 1964. Almeda was a mother and housewife for the first ten years of the marriage. After the kids were in school full time, she began working as a CNA in Bothell, Washington.
The family had moved to the little town of Bothell in February 1970. Almeda loved her morning cup of coffee and reading the Seattle Times from cover to cover. She enjoyed bowling and any chance to go camping with Rod in their RV.
She was an avid Seahawks fan and regularly attended home games. Almeda loved her family and grandchildren. She enjoyed the holidays and any family get together.
She was very close with all of her siblings. She leaves behind her twin brother, Albert, and sister Esther. Preceded in death are her sister Helen, brothers Ruben and William, parents Bertha and Jacob, and husband Rod.
Almeda retired in 2001 and was looking forward to spending time with Rodney. Unfortunately, Rodney passed away from lung cancer in June 2001. Almeda leaves behind children, Lonnie Kaul (Bert), Lisa Ockerman (Jeff) and Rodney Santee.
She also leaves behind 9 grandchildren, Kyle and Megan Ockerman; Janel Kaul; and Mitchell, Jacob, Tabitha, Misty, Angel and Lacy Santee. She has two great-grandchildren and another on the way. Almeda was a woman of faith and is at peace now.
A private family service is set for December 15, 2018.
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