Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Sue Koester passed away peacefully at her Hood River, Oregon, home on Dec. 22, 2025, at the age of 90. All of her children and grandchildren were able to visit with her during her final days.
Born in 1935 to parents Alta and Melvin, Sue grew up in Kirkland, Washington, with her older brother, De, and younger sister, Linda. She graduated from Lake Washington High School in 1953 and then attended Washington State College in Pullman, where she joined the Alpha Phi Sorority. While at WSC, Sue met Edward Koester. (He had spotted her from a second-story dorm window and told his friend, “That’s the girl I’m going to marry!”) Sue and Ed’s idea of a perfect date was cutting a rug at one of the school’s many dances. Sure enough, Ed’s prediction came true — the couple married in 1956. They had three children, Kiira, Janelle and Ken, and raised their family in southwest Washington.
Sue stayed at home with her kids during their early years. She supplemented the family’s income by creating clothing accessories and selling them through local stores. When Sue decided the time was right, she went to work in retail part time. Her favorite job was serving as a personal shopper at Nordstrom, where she delighted in putting together “the perfect outfit” for her customers. Sue’s magnum opus was a four-inch-thick binder with her clients’ clothing preferences. (Periwinkle or peach? Loose or fitted?) She sent her customers thank-you notes, and even birthday cards.
An artistic person, Sue enjoyed quilting, painting, sewing, cooking and baking. Her specialties were her pies (lemon meringue, if you ask her son) and watercolors (but not so much her paintings of cats and cruise ships, as her family liked to tease). Sue’s favorite gifts to both give and receive were those that were handmade. She was a fan of bright colors, flowers and laughter, which earned her the name “Sunflower Sue.” She also relished singing and dancing, especially tap.
At the age of 66, Sue finally became a grandmother. She doted on her two grandchildren, Davis and Brenna. “Nana” delighted in being a grandmother, and it showed. She baked special treats for her grandkids, led them through fun craft projects and joined in all their silly games. Although Sue got a later start than most, she still managed to out-brag all her grandma friends.
When she and Ed retired, Sue agreed to move to Trout Lake, Washington. She had always enjoyed being a “city girl” and wasn’t sure about living in such a small town. But Ed was smitten with the area for its snow-covered peak, forests, hiking trails and quiet beauty, and Sue knew he would be happy there. As it turned out, she herself quickly grew to love Trout Lake. The community embraced them, and the couple soon had many new friends. Helping with the cabin remodel soon after the move to Trout Lake, Sue and Ed’s kids noted that projects came to an abrupt halt for pie and coffee whenever neighbors dropped by–which was often!
Sue is survived by her daughters, Kiira and Janelle, her son, Ken, her daughter-in-law, Christine, and her grandchildren, Davis and Brenna. She is deeply missed.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.