Mabel Block

Mabel was born on Dec. 18, 1924, in Hettinger, ND, to Clyde and Marie Milliren, their second child of six. She died at age 99 on February 4, 2024, in Wenatchee, WA (in hospital) following a stroke. Mabel graduated from Hettinger High School in 1942, and soon thereafter bought a one-way train ticket west to Seattle. She enjoyed telling the story of arriving to the big city for the first time, checking into the YWCA, and getting a job offer at Frederick & Nelson (millinery dept.) all on the same day. Within a few months, she met and became engaged to a Navy sailor, William Block, her true love. Bill’s ship re-positioned to San Francisco before being deployed to The Pacific Theater. Once again Mabel bought yet another one-way train ticket to San Francisco. They were married on Aug. 27, 1944, in a small ceremony at First United Methodist Church of San Francisco just before he sailed off to war. Mabel remembered watching the historic VJ-Day celebrations on the streets of San Francisco one year later. They were married for 72 years! Bill’s electrical contract work moved their family to Merced, CA; Seattle and Issaquah, WA, and Langdon, ND, before settling in Cashmere, WA, in 1974. Mabel worked at Sea-First Bank in Wenatchee and The Eye and Ear Clinic for several years before her retirement. Mabel is survived by a daughter, Bev (Jeff) Johnson of Alexandria, MN; and son, Bart (Janice) Block of Wenatchee; four grandsons, Brian (Jen) Johnson; Eric (Kari) Johnson, Scott (Jana) Johnson; and Andrew (Brittney) Block; and nine great-grandchildren all who enjoyed her love and good humor. She enjoyed keeping in close contact with her nephews and nieces around the country. Mabel was predeceased by her husband, William Block, in 2016; her parents and all of her siblings: Bob Milliren, Ed Milliren, Helen Church, Ruth Elliott, and Verne Milliren. Mabel and Bill enjoyed traveling to Egypt and Greece plus cruise vacations to Alaska, Panama Canal, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. They put many miles on their motor home traveling around the USA. Mabel enjoyed all crafts, knitting, and sewing, and spent countless winter-evening hours shelling walnuts grown on their Cashmere orchard property. Bill and Mabel were members of The Wenatchee Free Methodist Church. They volunteered at The Cashmere Museum, and Mabel enjoyed membership and community service within The Dryden Improvement Club. Her family wants to acknowledge the excellent Confluence Health Hospital staff; the kind staff members of River West Assisted Living (where she moved in October 2023); Pastor Andrew Thompson and the ministry team of Columbia Grove Covenant Church (providing church services to Bonaventure retirement home residents each Sunday afternoon); and her long-time friends, Nita Thornton; Annie Buchanan; and Mary Beth and Dominick Ferraro. Arrangements are by Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee. There will be a private family-memorial gathering this summer. Memorial contributions may be made to Columbia Grove Covenant Church, 19 McElmurry Ln., East Wenatchee, WA 98802.

Mabel Block

December 18, 1924 - February 4, 2024