Lorene Videl Spencer
Aug. 12, 1935 – April 4, 2020
Lorene Videl Spencer passed away at her home surrounded by loved ones on April 4, 2020.
A private dressing was conducted at Burns Mortuary on April 5. The viewing at Burns Mortuary was followed by burial at Tutuilla Church Cemetery on April 6.
Lorene Videl Minthorn was born on August 12, 1935 to the late Wilbur and Lucy Minthorn. She was delivered by the late Annie Wannasee (midwife/aunt) at the family home. She was an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation.
She was married to Roland L. “Jack” Spencer and resided in Satus, Washington until the time of her death. Lorene worked in canneries for 30 years until she retired. She enjoyed traveling with Jack while he fished.
She was one of eight children. As a young child Lorene traveled with her family to camp at Mt. Adams to pick huckleberries every year. Lorene attended and graduated from Pendleton High School and attended Haskell Indian College. She learned to cook traditional foods from her mother and enjoyed salmon, deer, eels, roots, etc. She was an excellent canner and preserved foods throughout the year.
She enjoyed watching all sports and traveled to watch her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren play. She loved watching football, volleyball, basketball, baseball and many other sports. She traveled and attended powwows every year.
Bingo was something she was very passionate about. She enjoyed traveling to play bingo in different areas as well as meeting up with her bingo partners at Saint Joe’s Bingo in Union Gap.
She was faithful to the Washat and the Longhouse beliefs. She was a very loving and caring wife, sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and aunt. Lorene was very supportive to all her family and traveled many miles in her lifetime to remain connected to her family and community.
She is survived by her husband Roland L “Jack” Spencer; siblings Leslie Minthorn of McKay Creek and Roger Minthorn of Warm Springs; children Vernita Lee Van Pelt of Mission, Jue Jue Withers-Lyons of Mission, Michelle Spencer of Mission, Jacqueline Smartlowit, and Debbie Hoptowit; sons Dirk Spencer of Satus, Jake Spencer, Nick Spencer, and Jack Spencer; 15 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and extended family.
She was preceded in death by her mother Lucy Peeps Minthorn, her father Wilbur Minthorn, her brothers Burt “Buddy” Jones, Sylvester “Sully” Minthorn, Alvin “Chipmunk” Minthorn, Phillip “Poots” Minthorn; sister Eulalia “Eullie” Minthorn; son John Withers Jr. and grandson Wilber Withers.
