Georgia (Monte) Gainan Wickenhagen
EAST WENATCHEE, WASH. — Monte Gainan Wickenhagen passed away on Oct. 3, 2013, after a short and courageous fight with cancer. Her son James and his fiancé Stephanie Michael were constant and loving caregivers at the hospital and at home.
Monte was born May 5, 1939, to George Melvin and Myrtle Montana Gainan in Sheridan, Mont. She grew up on ranches in Sheridan, Laurin and Melrose. The family moved to Ronan in 1945. She worked for Stanley Scearce and at the Gaiety Theatre in Ronan. While in high school she was a cheerleader and homecoming queen. She graduated from Ronan High School in 1957.
After graduation, she went with her friend Faye Morris to Spokane to attend secretary school. Monte then moved to Albany, Ore. where she met and married Donald Wickenhagen. Don worked as a welder on ships and she worked and managed an apple shed. In later years, before she became very ill, she worked at Ross.
She was a wonderful sister and mother, very kind, gentle and caring. She loved her family, flowers and her yard.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by: husband Don Wickenhagen, who passed away Jan. 8, 2010; brothers Wayne Gainan, Elwood (Woody) Gainan, and Louis Gainan.
She is survived by her son James Wickenhagen, sisters Wilma (Herb) Bick of Ronan and Virginia (Tom) Williams of Butte; brothers Joe (Jan) Gainan of Charlo and Walter Gainan of Pablo; and many nieces and nephews. Memorial services in Ronan are pending.
