Ramona Louise (Heaton) Robb

June 11, 1928 – November 5, 2023

Ramona Robb of Sequim, Wash., passed away at age 95. Born in Sequim, she was the fifth of 13 children born to William and Alice Sutherby Heaton, who moved from Canada in 1923. Ramona was the last of her siblings (William, Doris, Max, Victor, Ramona, Norma, Jack, Joe, Roy, Beverly, Sharon, Lester, Dixie) to pass.

Ramona was always a spirited, energetic, enthusiastic and independent person. She worked hard from a very young age caring for younger siblings, milking cows, picking rocks and doing many other farm chores. As a girl, she rode her horse, Nick, to school and raced him in annual Irrigation Festival contests. As a teen she worked at the Sequim Bakery.

After graduating from Sequim High School, Ramona fell in love with Alfred Whitten Robb, Jr. Alfie was a quiet, hard-working Sequim farm boy who was also an outstanding dancer. Their courtship took place in Sequim’s many dance venues, including the Chicken Coop. They married in 1949, on Ramona’s 21st birthday, then settled on the Robb family’s large dairy farm just west of Sequim, where Walmart sits today. They took over the farm, which became known as the AlMona Dairy Farm. There, they raised five children: Royden, William, Debra, Brian and Scott.

Ramona and Alfie made AlMona one of the most beautiful farms on the Peninsula, with its white fences and distinctive green-and-white shamrock shutters on the house and outbuildings. When Ramona wasn’t in the fields changing sprinklers or helping get the summer hay in, she cared for the roses and other flowers surrounding the farmyard. Ramona and Alfie were close friends of Catherine and Lloyd Beebe, owners of the Olympic Game Farm. So in addition to raising their five children, they also hand-raised cougars, wolves and bears for the Game Farm — animals who would later be featured in movies from the 1960s to the 1980s.

After decades of hard work, Ramona and Alfie sold the farm in the early 1970s and built their dream home across Priest Road, where Blue Sky Realty is today. A generous hostess, Ramona always had the coffee pot on, and the new home often felt like Grand Central Station with friends and family stopping in for a cup of brew, baked goodies and a chat. Ramona tended even larger flower beds and lovingly cared for her grandchildren plus the children of friends who needed childcare.

Ramona’s favorite pastime was bowling; she was well known among different leagues in Sequim and Port Angeles. She enjoyed many trips over the years to tournaments along the West Coast, plus Reno and Las Vegas. Always industrious, Ramona earned extra spending money by working for several years at the Sequim West Motel cleaning rooms. She and a few girlfriends also traveled to Alaska and for two summers worked in fishing canneries in Ketchikan. Ramona also worked two spring-through-fall seasons cleaning rooms at a Westmark Tours hotel in Tok, Alaska.

After 49 years of marriage, Alfie passed away in 1996. In 2000, Ramona was in Alaska visiting former coworkers when she met Albert Stapp, who was caring for his sick brother in a small mountain cabin about 80 miles outside of Tok. Ramona and Al soon became partners, and when his brother passed, Al inherited this homestead property.

For the next 15 years, Ramona and Al lived in a two-room cabin amidst beautiful mountains that Ramona considered “God’s country.” A tough and adventurous woman, she was well-suited for life in remote Alaska. Amazingly, though both in their 70s, Ramona and Al lived their first eight years together with no running water or electricity, except for a gas-powered generator. An outhouse stood about 40 yards from the cabin’s front door. Nearby wildlife included moose, caribou, wolves, foxes, black bears, grizzly bears and other critters, including a friendly mink who lived under the cabin. Neighbors helped neighbors survive harsh winters, during which the snow could get 6 feet or higher — true mountain folk! Ramona civilized things by making their cabin the go-to spot for fresh coffee, baked treats and long visits. Life became more tolerable in their final seven years in the cabin, when power lines were brought to the area. Water wells were drilled, and Ramona and Al added a bathroom and a laundry room to the cabin. Finally, in their 80s, they didn’t have to trudge out to the outhouse or trek into town to wash their clothes at the laundromat. Al built hundreds of birdhouses and placed them all around the property to attract migrating swallows. Each year in early spring the swallows would arrive and build their nests, hatch out their young and teach them to fly before heading south in the fall. Ramona loved this annual ritual, and it was wonderful to have mosquito-free summers thanks to so many hungry swallows feeding their families.

Al died of cancer in the summer of 2015. At age 87, Ramona moved back to Sequim to be close to family; she lived at The Fifth Avenue senior apartments for five years. There, her special niece Christine (Heaton) McBride and Christine’s husband, Jim, checked in on her almost daily. In June of 2020, Ramona moved to Highland Court Memory Care in Port Angeles.

In addition to her husband Alfie and her partner Al, Ramona was preceded in death by her son Royden “Jason” (1950–1993) and daughter Debra Robb (1954–2014). She is survived by her children William “Bill” (Rhonda) of Pasco, Brian of Port Angeles and Scott (Katrina) of Sequim. She is also survived by grandson Brady Robb of Seattle and Brady’s mother Shelli (Teitzel) Robb-Kahler of Sequim; grandchildren Derek Robb of Forks, Amber Robb of Sequim, Christopher Robb (Savanha) of Port Angeles; and great-granddaughter Maddilyn “Maddy” Robb of Port Angeles. Ramona is also remembered by many nieces and nephews throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Thanks to the staff at Fifth Avenue and Highland Court for the loving care and comfort they provided. Thanks also to the folks at Assured Hospice for Ramona’s final days of care. A huge, special, loving thanks goes to Christine “Chrissy” McBride, who was Ramona’s angel in life.

Leif Protze

May 29, 1973 – November 9, 2023

Photo courtesy of Leif Protze family / Leif Protze

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Leif Erik Protze. Leif passed on November 9th, 2023, at the age of 50 after an intense, brief, and valiant battle with cancer. Leif was a devoted son, brother, uncle, partner, stepfather, friend, serviceman, and combat veteran.

Leif was born and raised in California. He joined the military at the age of 18 and faithfully served 15 years in the Army, traveling the world. He was immensely proud of his country and considered it a great honor to serve his country. Through multiple combat deployments to Iraq, he was exposed to the hazardous chemicals that ultimately led to his all-too-early death. He was diagnosed the day after his 50th birthday and fought valiantly with his partner by his side to the end, a brief 6 months later.

Leif was loyal, gentle, and kind with a quiet but wry sense of humor. He always greeted others with an affable smile. Leif loved trying exotic foods, traveling, gardening, farming, and his dogs who would accompany him on long hikes and outdoor adventures. He was passionate about fitness and ran and won many marathons and even several ultra-marathons.

Leif is survived by his parents, Olaf and Charlotte Protze, partner Jennifer Laska, stepsons Michael and Nicholas, and sisters Katherine Peters and Jennifer Boehlert. Leif cared deeply for his parents, helping them run their business before their retirement and always taking care of them. He was a great older brother who would always have a funny face or silent glare to either make his sisters laugh or share his disapproval. Leif was an amazing uncle. His nieces and nephew will always remember special times together, especially at Christmas.

Leif was a loving and devoted partner to Jennifer and a fervent mentor and exemplar to her boys. He was a man of impeccable character and was known and loved by many as a loyal, genuine, and kind man. As an athlete and soldier, he valued health and always made a healthy lifestyle a priority. He was an inspiration to others in that way as well.

In lieu of flowers, Leif’s loved ones ask that you please make donations to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation and/or write your local Congress members and Senators to advocate for so many of our veterans who are still fighting battles with their health because of their service in the Middle East.