Alice Barlass

Alice Barlass, Colfax resident, passed away of natural causes on January 4, 2022 at the Trios Health Hospital in Kennewick, Wash., where she had been taken following a recent hospitalization. She was 79. A viewing for family and friends will be Friday from 9 to 4 and Saturday from Noon to 4 at the Corbeill Funeral Home (formerly Bruning) in Colfax. A Memorial Service will be Monday, January 17th, at 11:00 AM at Peace Lutheran Church in Colfax with Pastor Ian McMichael officiating.

Alice was born May 13, 1942 in St. Edward, Nebraska to Theodore and Frieda Sander Enquist who were farmers there. She was their only child. Living on the farm was fairly primitive while she was growing up. She attended a small school near their home and then moved into town so she could attend the St. Edward High School where she graduated in 1959. She attended a Technical College in Minneapolis, Minnesota where she became certified as a medical lab technologist in 1961. She met Thomas Barlass in Grantsburg, Wisconsin a short time later where both were working in their respective fields.

Tom and Alice were married on December 12, 1964 in St. Edward, Nebraska. They lived briefly in Sandpoint, Idaho, before moving to Colfax, Wash., in 1968. Alice started work right away in the St. Ignatius Hospital as a medical lab tech and Tom worked for Arrow Machinery. They moved to their current place near Colfax where they transformed the old Risbeck School House into their home. Alice and Tom raised two children in their home and she continued working at the hospital for many years taking only a few years off when the kids were little.

She was very active in the Peace Lutheran Church and helped in the kitchen with many meals and receptions. She loved to cook as her huge library of cookbooks can attest and she was an excellent baker. Her fresh baked bread brought many Blue Ribbons at the Palouse Empire Fair. She preferred "home-made". She was active in Campfire Girls when her daughter was involved and even stayed on as a counselor long after. She enjoyed quilting and was an avid seamstress; sewing many of their own clothes. She contributed many hours of time and many quilt projects to the Lutheran World Relief organization. Alice and Tom operated a farm at their home and she was always eager to help drive truck, move equipment, or fix a hearty meal for the crew. She kept track of all the bookkeeping for her family. Alice also found time to garden and canned many of her own vegetables and fruits, she raised beautiful flowers and had the best peonies. Alice was a member of the Beta group in Colfax for many years.

She is survived by her husband, Tom, at their home; her children, Melinda (Jason) Bowman of Cheney and Michael (Ashley) Barlass of Colfax; her four grandchildren of whom she was so proud, Lily and Zack Barlass and Quinn and Liesl Bowman. Alice was preceded in death by her parents. The family suggests memorial gifts in her memory be made to the Peace Lutheran Church. On-line guest book is at http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com

Corbeill Funeral Home in Colfax is in charge of the arrangements.