Leone Glee Stellmon Rinehart

Leone Glee Stellmon Rinehart died Sunday, April 16, with family members by her side. She was born November 8, 1928, in Cedaredge, Colorado. Her parents were Carey Ivan Stellmon and Glee Lorraine Moomey Stellmon. Leone mostly grew up in Nez Perce, Idaho, where her father was an electrician and handyman. She was a child of the Great Depression and World War II, moving with her family as they found work during tough times. Leone graduated from Nez Perce High School in 1947 and soon after met a young red-haired veteran from Wisconsin named Frederick Richard Rinehart. They married on January 31, 1948, and moved to Wisconsin to live near Fred’s family.

Leone and Fred loved the idea of a large family, so they had six children: Cynthia Leone was born in 1949 and Louise Frieda in 1950. Fred and Leone moved back to Idaho in 1951, where Beth Adell was born in 1952 and Judith Nell in 1954. James Frederick was born in 1957 and Robert Ivan in 1959. Fred worked for the Singer Sewing Machine Company in several towns in Idaho and Washington, so they moved frequently, Leone always making a cozy home for the family and becoming active in the local Lutheran church. Fred and Leone helped build and were charter members of Concordia Lutheran Church in Pullman, Washington. The family found a more permanent home in Port Orchard, Washington, in 1960 when Leone refused to move again.

Leone was a loving wife and an amazing mother, a devoted Christian and, with her family, a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Port Orchard. She was also a natural teacher who longed to continue her education. This dream came true in 1964 when she began classes at Olympic Junior College and then continued at the University of Washington. There she earned her geography degree and teaching license in 1970. Leone taught fourth and sixth grades at Orchard Heights Elementary School for 20 years. In addition to the usual curriculum, she enjoyed introducing her students to exciting subjects like paleontology and geology, instilling in many of them a lasting curiosity about the world around them. Through Leone’s teaching she became involved in exchange programs to Ecuador and Britain, developing a love of travel that led to many exciting adventures. Leone helped formulate and write the Bethany Lutheran Elementary School’s charter in 1976.

In 1990 Leone retired from teaching in Port Orchard and moved to Centerville, Washington, where Fred had built a small cabin on acreage near the Klickitat River. Fred farmed and did tractor work while Leone returned to teaching as a substitute – enjoying the challenge of working with multiple age groups in every subject area imaginable. She also enjoyed hiking, birding, wildflower gazing, poetry, gardening, and painting. After her second retirement at age 70 Leone founded a small after-school program at Grace Lutheran Church in Klickitat where she continued to share her love of learning.

Eventually Fred developed medical problems that led to a move for them to Kennewick, Washington, to live with their son Bob. When Fred died in 2010 Leone continued to live with Bob and his wife Lucy, eventually relocating back to her beloved farm near Centerville. She took great joy in observing the natural world, travel, and visiting her many children and grandchildren. She loved sharing the pleasures of travel with her grandchildren, taking them on individual trips to far places and hiking - and even climbing mountains - with them.

When Leone needed more care, she moved back to Port Orchard to be near several of her children and became a resident of Retsil Veterans’ Home. She continued to teach, inspire, and share her love of God with those around her.

Leone is survived by her beloved sister Eunice Stellmon Covert Gilliland and husband John, her six children – Cyndee Steussy and husband Denny, Louise Brantley and husband Chris, Beth Riebli and husband John, Judith Rinehart-Nelson and husband David, Jim Rinehart and wife Charlotte, and Bob Rinehart and wife Lucy. Leone is also survived by twelve grandchildren – Gudrun, Jake, Peter, Lela, Kristin, Michael, Rachel, Evan, David, Josh, Jessie, and Tim – and 17 great grandchildren - with another on the way in June.

A service of remembrance will be held for Leone at the chapel of Retsil Veterans’ Home in June. All who knew her are welcome.

Contributions honoring Leone Rinehart can be made to the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition an organization that funds projects throughout Washington, including many in Klickitat County, or Donors’ Choose , a site where teachers list specific programs in need and then lets donors pick which programs they want to fund.