Delva E Kroeger

July 18, 1936 - May 13, 2018

Delva Electa (Hess) Kroeger, R.N. (Age 81) - Delva passed away on Mother's Day, May 13, 2018. She was born July 18, 1936 in Sacramento, CA, the youngest child of Leslie Rollin Hess and Lydia Henrietta Meier. She grew up in Sacramento in a close-knit group of “9th Ave kids” who walked to school together from 2nd grade onward. She graduated from Sacramento Senior High School, home of the Dragons, in 1954. She then attended San Joaquin County School of Nursing, graduating in 1957 as an R.N. While working at San Joaquin County Hospital, she met and married Dr. Robert Henry Kroeger in 1959. After their wedding in Sacramento, Delva worked as an RN while moving with her growing family around the Pacific Northwest with a short stay in Florida, before settling in Spokane in 1969. She loved caring for her family, garden and cats. Her favorite pastimes were needlepoint her whole life, puzzles, knitting and watching nature programs. She enjoyed driving fast sports cars and traveling with her family in VW campers throughout western North America, especially along the Oregon Coast. Delva loved her family dearly, and showed it every day, with boundless devotion and patience. She was predeased by her husband of nearly 57 years, Robert (whom also passed away on May 13th two years ago), her parents, both brothers Claude (and wife Jeanne) and Alexander Hess. She is survived by daughter Lisa Kroeger of Cheney, WA; sons Michael (Kate) of Poulsbo, WA, and Eric (Lori) Kroeger of Rochester, WA; grandchildren, Freya and Beorn Kroeger, of Poulsbo, and sister-in-laws Donna Hess of Citrus Heights, CA and Sheralyn Weller of Elgin, OR, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Many thanks to the wonderful staff of Family First Senior Care and Providence Visiting Nurses for their care over the past several years, and to Horizon Hospice for her care in her final days. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: KSPS Public Television (https://www.ksps.org “Give Now” button, 3911 S. Regal St., Spokane, WA 99223), Eastern Washington University, College of Arts, Letters and Education, Special Education program (by calling Christina Blum with the EWU Foundation at (509) 359-6349, 102 Hargreaves Hall, Cheney, WA 99004). A Memorial Service will be held in the Sunset Chapel at Fairmount Memorial Park, 5200 W. Wellesley, Spokane, WA 99205, on June 3, 2018 at 1:30 pm.