Entiat Women We Have Loved

The Entiat community recently lost two beautiful and beloved Entiat women - Dorothy Vradenburg and Linda Olin.

Dorothy Vradenburg will be remembered in services held on

Saturday, September 26, 2026 at the Entiat Valley Church at 1 PM

Linda Olin's Celebration of Life will be held on

Oct. 3, 2026 at the Entiat School at 1 PM

We will be hosting an Open House at the Museum on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 1:00 PM to both honor LInda Olin - the best Museum Hostess ever. and to celebrate the 101st Birthday of Albert "Shorty" Long. Ally Pittsinger will be playing her special style of easy listening music, and we can share stories and a little cake and coffee. All are welcome. Please join us!!

A memory of mine of Dorothy - one snowy night in the early '90's I was driving home after work from the Wenatchee Public LIbrary. I was a fairly new driver, and snow was beginniing to cover the highway. Halfway to Entiat, I slowed for stopped cars and flashing lights on the opposite side. My big old station wagon started to slide, I lost control, and it glided on, landing in the ditch. The officer at the scene slipped and fell as he approached my car. He was very kind and professional, and guided me to the police car to wait with the other couple who had also slid off the road, while he got my car out of the ditch, I was so glad to see Dorothy and Lyle in the police car! We shared a greeting, commiserated and laughed about our predicament! The officer got my car back on the road and gave me advice to drive the rest of the way really slow, along the gravelly righthand edge. I was so thankful for his help and for the companionship of neighbors from Entiat . A scary drive became a good memory. once I was home. I think I went to a basketball game at the school that night.

I first met Linda when we were new to Entiat. I was a young mom, and she was a teacher's assistant at the school. Her genuine warmth made her a favorite among all the kids who grew up in Entiat. In later years, when I was the town librarian, I got to know Linda as a fellow reader and lover of history. I especially cherish the Preschool Storytimes at the Entiat Library for which Linda and grandson Grey were frequent visitors. Grey would invariably arrive dressed and fully in character of his neighbors and heroes - Farmer Jack, Fireman Small and many others. Linda and I were so entertained, and we both adored Grey.

We are all so very lucky for the circumstances that brought LInda to Entiat when she was just a small child.

Linda was born in Melbourn, Arkansas in 1941. When she was just 2 years old, times were hard and work was scarce for young families. Linda's parents, Cecil and Cassie McCuistion, like many others picked up roots and moved to Washington State to find work and new adventure in the orchards of the Columbia Valley. They made the journey in the back of a 2.5 ton truck. Although the family settled in Entiat, their ties to family and friends back in Arkansas were never forgotten, and regular calls to friends and visits by train or airplane were made to Melbourn. One of Linda's good friends from Melbourn, Alice Lytle, remembers her visits attending and enjoying Pioneer Days in Melbourn. Linda's love of history was contagious. I remember how much fun we had when she and the members of the ECHS put on Pioneer Days of our own in Entiat Park by the Museum. No doubt the idea to host them came from Linda's generous heart.

Alice also commented, when I spoke to her on the phone, of how fond Linda was of horses. Linda and I once drove up to Bruce Wick's corrals to just gaze at the beautiful new colt at the ranch. She was an intrepid outdoors woman and loved the thrill of being in the hills with the Icicle Outfitters. I heard only of the wonders of the rides, even after painful falls. The Tack Room was her favorite in Entiat's Museum.

The following beautiful narrative about Linda's young life in Washington was lovingly written and is included here with permission by Linda's lifelong friend, Sharon Van Winkle Harnden, who currently lives in Olympia, Washington.

Linda is a star in my earliest memories. Our parents first met while working on a ranch in East Wenatchee in the 1940s. Both families  moved to a small apple ranch at Olalla  Canyon near Cashmere. Back in the day - without little league teams and kindergarten optional -It was just Linda, my brother Virgil and me until my brother Jerry was born in 1946.

In 1950 our families moved to an apple orchard on the Columbia River 5 miles south of Entiat. The Railroad crossing sign was Wagnersburg. .  Linda and Virgil started school in Entiat as 4th graders and I was in 2nd grade , Linda looked out for me on the school bus and on the playground,    Brother Don was born soon after our move to Entiat, and our family was complete. 

Among my treasured memories of the McCuistion's, were Saturday nights, gathered around the radio in their living room listening to The Grand Old Opry the birth of my love for country music.  Another picture in my head is of Cassie and Cecil, dancing together as they chaperoned our school dances in the school cafeteria. They would be winners of Dancing with the Stars! 

During those 10 years we had many fun times, sleeping over, sharing relatives ‘hers and ours, playing outside and down by the river. So happy that for a time, the Franklin family and Gojenola family also lived on the ranch expanding our lives. Cassie and Cecil watched over my brothers and me just as my parents loved Linda.  with Rocky Reach Dam about to flood the ranch Linda’s family moved to Entiat and we moved to Monitor. 

As years went by, distance took it’s toll but we never lost touch. Linda would check on her Van Winkle siblings and at times of celebrations, or sadness, she was there.  We caught up often with long phone calls  rich with remembering.  - Linda and I worked similar jobs in schools. Linda often bragged about her wonderful commute / and how she  enjoyed hearing the joyful noise of kids on the playground or pulling up a chair to watch a sports event out back. 

Linda found her forever Prince Charming in Donald. Their wedding was beautiful and the blessing of forever began. Linda was   a wonderful boy Mom. On one visit to their home, we saw the mountain of dirt in the front yard with the classic big yellow dump truck and other vehicles for earth moving where the boys played. No worries about getting dirty.  Linda - an artist herself encouraged creativity. 

 Linda was a big sister to me. She was an encourager and a keeper of secrets and a very special friend. The pride and love she held for family and friends was inspiring. Linda’s grace and warmth and her sense of humor made the world a better place. 

LInda was a faithful friend, loved by all who knew her. She and Don were truly "Mr and Mrs Entiat". They loved the community, their dear family, the school children and the beautiful place we call home. As her health grew difficult, she continued to be a model of how to live life fully and to love those around you. She told me how her limited abilities in her older years had convinced her that people are all mostly kind and helpful, and all you need to do is ask.

We will be hosting an Open House at the Museum on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 1:00 PM to both honor LInda Olin - the best Museum Hostess ever. and to celebrate the 101st Birthday of Albert "Shorty" Long. Ally Pittsinger will be playing her special style of easy listening music, and we can share stories and a little cake and coffee. All are welcome. Please join us!!