Irene Mary McKinney

IRENE MARY FRIES was born March 30, 1918 on the family farm northwest of Mott, ND to Jacob and Katherine (Meins) Fries. She attended school in Mott and then moved out west to Washington State where she worked in a veteran’s hospital treating wounded soldiers. While in Walla Walla, she met Edwin L. McKinney and they were united in marriage on September 29, 1951 in Walla Walla. They lived in Wenatchee, WA where together they raised their family. Her husband passed away on July 5, 1980 while visiting relatives in North Dakota. In the late 1990’s, Irene returned to Mott where she continued to live in her home. In December of 2011, she entered the Mott Good Samaritan Society. She passed from this life there on Friday, January 27, 2012 at the age of 93 years, 9 months, and 21 days. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Wenatchee, and St. Vincent’s Catholic Church in Mott and the Catholic Daughters. She was also a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 4-H, and was selected as the Foresters Mother of the Year in May of 1980. She loved playing cards and baking, especially chocolate chip cookies. Later in life she loved to travel and visited many places including Japan, Rome, Mexico, and a Carribean cruise. Surviving family members include her 4 sons and daughters-in-law, Linden and Molly McKinney, Lake Tapps, WA, Donald and Sandy McKinney, Stanwood, WA; Paul McKinney, East Wenatchee, WA; and Cecil and Amy McKinney, Wenatchee, WA; 1 daughter and son-in-law, Cathy and Leland Ebert, Mott, ND; 13 grandchildren, Michelle (John) Damon, Christie (Pat) King, Rebecka McKinney, Margaret McKinney, Eric McKinney, Heather (Russ) Hamilton, Bryan McKinney, Sarah (Glen) Richardson, Jamie (Regina) McKinney, Geoffrey McKinney, Peyton McKinney, Samantha Ebert, and Lindsey Ebert; 18 great grandchildren; and a sister, Emmie Lutz, Mott, ND; 1 brother and 2 sisters-in-law, Norbert and Francis Fries, and Marge Fries, all of Mott, ND. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, 2 sisters, Helen Lutz and Vernie Friedt, and 2 brothers, Jake and Donald Fries. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com. A funeral service will be held at a later date in Wenatchee, WA with arrangements by the Jones & Jones-Betts Funeral Home, 302 9th Street, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

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Irene Mary McKinney

March 30, 1918 - January 27, 2012