Obituary of Elda Esther Plett

Elda Esther Plett, 87, passed away on August 18 at Life Manor Assisted Living. She was born in rural Lehigh, Kansas on September 21, 1918 to Karl and Tena Winter. As a young child, she moved with her family to Oklahoma where, at the age of six, she suffered through the sudden death of her father. After moving to Hillsboro, Kansas, her widowed mother raised the four children by taking in laundry and serving as church janitress. As a child of the depression, Elda left school after the eighth grade to work to help support her family. When she was 14, Elda accepted Christ and was baptized at the Mennonite Brethren Church. In 1939, she married Victor Plett with whom she recently celebrated their 67th anniversary. In 1950, the couple and their three boys moved from Kansas to Walla Walla and then to Dayton, Washington before finally settling in Parkland in 1954. Elda, as a loving wife and homemaker, was also active in church activities, teaching Sunday School and working in Child Evangelism Fellowship. In her simple way, she set an effective Christian example as well for her own children. Even though she quit school early, she encouraged her boys to develop a love of learning which led them to careers as a minister/chaplain, a college professor/administrator, and a corporate bank vice president. Every Saturday, she kept the family Mennonite tradition alive by baking zwieback, a double layered yeast roll. Her grandchildren will also never forget the ever-present chocolate cake. Elda’s leisure activities included gardening, crocheting, and quilting. After her husband Victor retired, Elda spent many days with him in their boat fishing for salmon at Anderson Island. Three brothers preceded Elda in death. She is survived by her husband, Victor; three sons and daughters-in-law, Weldon and Janice Plett of Puyallup, James and Linda Plett of Maple Valley, and Larry and Linda Plett of Kirkland; nine grandchildren; and twelve great-grandchildren. A life celebration service will be held at Central Baptist Church in Tacoma at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 25, followed by a luncheon. Memorial gifts may be designated to Central Baptist Church or to Lake Retreat Camp and Conference Center. Arrangements by Edwards Memorial Center 253-566-1008