Grace Adeline (Reck) Kindell, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and respected friend, went to be with the Lord Aug. 7, 2023, a month before her 89th birthday.
Grace entered this world on Sept. 3, 1934, in Cavelier, North Dakota, the youngest of four children born to George Reck and Marian (Pettit) Reck.
She was born on a farm in North Dakota that her father had lived on since 1919. She grew up in Cavalier, where she loved to climb trees and often had to be rescued when her dress would get caught on a limb. Her three older brothers gave her rides on a one-horse cart. Cavalier was also where she learned to love the Lord as a member of the Methodist Church.
She attended the State College of Mayville, North Dakota, and received a degree in education. She taught two years in North Dakota before coming to Pe Ell High School to teach in 1958. She taught until 1960 when her first child was born. She then stayed at Pe Ell schools as a substitute teacher.
Grace met the love of her life, Edward W. Kindell, on a blind date at a football game in October 1958, and they were married on July 1, 1959, in Cavalier. They were married for 38 years.
They joined the Pe Ell Methodist Church in 1961 and served as active members through both their lives. She was among the women who weekly put on the Kiwanis dinners that helped pay the bills for the church to continue to prosper. Her late husband, Edward, served on the church’s board of trustees for many years. Grace and Ed also partially funded the church’s new roof for its centennial celebration. Grace was a steward of the Lord, and credited God for all she had accomplished in her life.
Grace found love in being a Sunday school teacher, gardening, sewing, quilting, canning, reading and spending time with her family. One of her favorite pastimes was attending sports and school events for her grandchildren.
Grace was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Kindell; brothers, Dick Reck, Del Reck and Clarence Reck; and parents, George and Marian Reck.
Grace is survived by her children: daughter Ramona and Marvin Keller of Adna, Washington, and their daughters, Denae and Eric Snow and Tonya Keller; son John and Sheri Kindell, of Woodland, Washington, and their sons: Andrew Kindell and Nathan Kindell; and son Mark and Jolene Kindell of Adna, Washington, and their son Trevor and Brittany Kindell and their daughters Hayley Kindell and Cheyenne and James Guy. She is survived collectively by seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2, at Sticklin Funeral Chapel in Centralia, Washington. Interment will take place privately. Memorial contributions may be made to Adna Fire Department (Lewis County Fire District 6), Station 62, in Adna.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sticklinsfuneralchapel.com for the Kindell family.
