Dorothy Aleene Bush left Richland, Washington, and was welcomed into the arms of her loving Lord, Jesus Christ, on Monday, February 4, 2008, after a courageous and graceful battle with numerous ailments. Aleene was born in her grandma Mills’ home in Shoshone, Idaho, on July 18, 1925, to Alla Lee and Beatrice Mills Richardson.

For several years, the family lived in Minidoka, Idaho, before settling at 209 North Washington in Twin Falls, Idaho, in 1935, where they lived and had a small truck farm. In her senior year at Twin Falls High School, during the manpower shortage due to WWII, Aleene tested for a civil service secretarial position and was proficient enough that she was eligible for a position in Washington, D.C. However, she decided to stay in Idaho where she worked afternoons as the secretary to the Executive for the Snake River Area Council - Boy Scouts of America before graduating in 1943 from Twin Falls High School, and continued full time in the Scout office.

On November 17, 1943, she married Robert E. Bob Bush in the base chapel at Truax Army Airfield, Madison, Wisconsin. Seven months later, when Bob shipped out to serve overseas, she returned to work in Twin Falls at the Scout office for the duration of WWII. She gracefully endured the tough and long separation.

In 1944, Aleene joined the Twin Falls Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi. During the early years with Beta Sigma Phi, she was awarded the Order of the Rose, an honor that she cherished.

When the war ended, Aleene & Bob moved into their first home in Twin Falls, Idaho, where their first child, Gary Robert, was born 1948. One day short of two years later, their second child, Earl Lee, was born 1950. A year and a half later, the family left Twin Falls, saying good-bye to family and many dear friends before moving to Pasco, Washington. When government housing became available, the family moved to Richland, Washington, where they have lived for more than 56 years. Their daughter, Dorothy Anne, was born in 1954, in the old government-built Kadlec Hospital. After living in several places in Richland Gribble, Haupt, Atkins & Log Lane, they finally settled into their current home on Pullen Street.

Aleene and Bob loved to travel together, including their children in many memorable and fun trips that continued through their retirement years. Wherever they went, they made a point of visiting or at least contacting relatives and friends in the travel areas. Their travels included many family trips: tons of camping, to Chicago and back, Yellowstone, California, and, most importantly, the Oregon Coast! Aleene & Bob also enjoyed nearly 40 years of square dance travel and more than 20 years of condo time-share exchanges throughout the United States and Canada.

Aleene inherited her father’s “green thumb” and loved maintaining her beautifully landscaped yard. She loved having family and friends in her home and made these times fun and memorable events. This included learning how to bake her famous cinnamon rolls & devil’s float, cooking her biscuits and hamburger meat pie, taffy pulling, decorating sugar cookies, making cinnamon pie sticks from left over pie crust dough, popcorn evenings, and her favorite event of churning home made ice cream.
She was an excellent seamstress who made Dorothy’s wedding gown and trailing veil. She hand sewed the imported, handmade Italian lace that surrounded the veil. She also embroidered personalized Christmas stockings, crocheted afghans for all of her immediate family, and made all of her many square dance dresses.

In her ailing years, mom painstakingly pieced together a queen size coverlet for Dorothy & Chris’s bed. First, she crocheted small, intricate patterns. Then, she crocheted the patterns together to make the coverlet. Working diligently, it took a year to complete. No words can say how loving efforts like this touched all of us. Mom’s hands were always busy with something. If she wasn’t landscaping, cooking, or sewing, it was a craft project, solving a word gram, or reading a good book. Whether sitting in her home or on the road, she was always busy.

Aleene was always the most loving and caring woman who lived by a written budget. Her love and caring extended beyond her immediate family to friends and people she didn’t know. She was a proponent of “loving your neighbor” and “doing to others as you’d like them do for you” and instilled that in her children. Her projects included helping those in need: migrant workers, the homeless, victims of domestic violence, and many others in need.

Since 1952, Aleene has been a member of Central United Protestant Church. She and Bob instilled the love of God in their children’s hearts.

Aleene and Bob were avid square and round dancers, having been members of the Prairie Shufflers Square Dance Club for the past 45 years. It was in the early years that they were honored with the Square & Folk Dance Federation of Washington, MacGregor Award. They danced at many locations throughout the United States and Canada that included State and National conventions as well as the 1974 World’s Fair in Spokane.

She was a member of the Hanford Retirees Association and the Richland Seniors Association since their founding. Aleene worked on committees that saw successful passage of funding for the new Richland Community Center. She humbly served as Secretary for many years on the Prairie Land Company Board of Directors until poor health compelled her to resign.

Aleene worked for the Hanford Federal Credit Union before going to work for Rockwell as an administrative clerk in the Material Department until her retirement in August 1987.

In her final months at home, three angels assisted Aleene and Bob: Lupe Hernandez, Barbara Rodriguez, and Carol Walker. With their loving and faithful service, daily life was made easier. They both were grateful for the loving friendship and service of these three women.

Aleene was preceded in death by her parents, Alla Lee and Beatrice Mills Richardson and nephew, Dave Bush.

She is survived by  Her best friend and husband of 64 years, Robert Eaton Bob Bush  Sons o Gary Bush & wife, Carol o Lee  Daughter: Dorothy Anne Vowels & husband, Chris  Granddaughters o Kendra Kinlock & husband, Jeremy o Kristin Sargent & husband, Eric o Leslie Brock & husband, Jeremy o Erin Casch & husband, Lucas o Jessica Aleene Vowels o Lisa Bush  Great granddaughter, Mackenzie Kinlock  All from the Tri-Cities, Washington area. Aleene’s siblings are  Alton Richardson & wife, Leona, Richland, WA  Beverly Richardson, Twin Falls, Idaho  Stanley Richardson & wife, Barbe, Romeoville, Illinois  Barbara Parker & husband, Boyd, Shady Cove, Oregon. She also leaves behind her brother-in-law, Dean Bush & wife, Marge, Hermiston, Oregon. She leaves behind  One niece o Laura  8 nephews o Larry Bush o Randy Bush o Doug Parker o Kevin Richardson o Rick Richardson o Dan Richardson o Reid Richardson o Brad Richardson  Two aunts o Maude Mills o Nellie Henning. She is also survived by many other relatives and friends.

Except for 2 years during WWII and three brief occasions since, Aleene and Bob were always together like two peas in a pod, never saying good-bye to each other, only saying “See Ya.”

A brief graveside service will follow immediately after this service at Sunset Memorial Gardens, 915 The By-Pass Highway SR 240, Richland, WA. A police escort for the funeral procession will be provided to the graveside service. Following the graveside service, a reception will be held back here in the Fellowship Hall. If you’d rather, you may wait here for the reception until people return from the graveside service. There will be people to help direct you. Your bulletin should contain a map, should you find that helpful.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions to be made in her memory to the Domestic Violence Services, PO Box 668, Richland, WA, 99352, or charity of your choice.