Tuesday, July 2, 2024
Verona “Ronni” Maurine Schnibbe passed away at the age of 100 on May 15, 2024 in College Place, Washington. Ronni was born on December 7, 1923 in College Place, Washington to Keith Montanye and Violet Thompson Montanye. Her childhood was spent in Goldendale, Washington, then on a ranch in north central Washington’s Aeneas Valley, where the Montanye family moved in the 1930s. Ronni attended a year of high school at PUC Prep, and graduated from Auburn Adventist Academy, then attended Walla Walla College (now University), where she worked in the registrar’s office, was on staff at the Collegian, was the girls’ club president, and finished her bachelor’s degree in English (though journalism was what she really loved). While in college, Ronni met Fred Schnibbe, who she went on to marry right after her graduation, on June 20, 1948. Fred and Ronni spent the majority of their lives in the Brewster area in Washington’s north Cascades, where they raised their three boys, and Fred was a family practice doctor. Over the course of her life, Ronni volunteered at many places, including the WWU Havstad Alumni Center, WWU Church, WW General Hospital, hospice, and Hosts Program at Brewster Elementary School, and other places in the Brewster area, but her family, friends, and horses brought her the most joy.
Ronni is survived by her son Dale (Ann), daughters-in-law Winnie Wied and DeeAnn Schnibbe (Rob Gohl), and her sister-in-law Florence Montanye, along with grandchildren Liesl Schnibbe (Stephen Richmond), Heidi Schnibbe Hayes, Eric Schnibbe (Shannon), Tonya Burnham (Jared), and Jacob Schnibbe. Her great-grandchildren are Koen and Addison Hayes, Cole and Oliver Burnham, and Poppy and James Schnibbe. Ronni is preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Fred; sons Robert and Richard; parents, Keith and Violet; and all three siblings, Virginia “Ginger”, Ted, and Mike.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at Walla Walla University Church in Heubach Chapel on June 9th, 2024, at 11:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Brewster Adventist Christian School at 115 Valley Rd. Brewster, Washington. Family and friends are invited to share memories of Ronni and sign the online guestbook at mountainview-colonialdewitt.com.
