Rhonda Lynn Montross, age 58, longtime Oak Harbor resident, entered into the presence of her Lord and savior Jesus Christ at Harborview Medical Center on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015, following a sudden illness. She was surrounded by her loving family.
Rhonda was born in Myrtle Point, Ore., May 27, 1956, to Curtis and Barbara (Brinkman) Sabin. She lived in the Myrtle Point-Gold Beach area until her teen years. She moved with her family to Kent at the age of 16. She attended Kent-Meridian High School and graduated in 1975. Rhonda met Bill Montross in 1973, and they became high school sweethearts. The couple was married Nov. 29, 1975, in Port Orford, Ore. They moved where the U.S. Navy sent them, living for one year in Japan and initially coming to NAS Whidbey in December 1979. From June 1989 to May 1992, they lived in Lemoore, Calif., returning to Oak Harbor in 1992, where they have since resided.
Rhonda was employed from 1980 to 1989 at Island Drug. She was involved as a volunteer at Crescent Harbor Elementary School. Rhonda was especially active as a member of Oak Harbor Church of the Nazarene. She diligently cared for the church kitchen and was widely known for her expertise at baking goodies for church functions and other events. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister and aunt.
Rhonda is survived by her husband of 39 years, William P. “Bill” Montross, at home in Oak Harbor; her three daughters, Shanna Courson and husband Josh of Anchorage, Alaska, Michelle Montross and partner Christopher Hawkins of Oak Harbor, and Rianna Montross and her boyfriend AJ Scheftner of Oak Harbor; five grandchildren, Nathan and twins Laura and Emma Courson and Taylor Montross and Blaike Hawkins; her mother, Barbara Hamilton, of Powers, Ore.; grandmother, Beth Magneson, of Canyonville, Ore.; her brother, Randy Sabin and partner Sharon Montgomery of Powers, Ore.; and her two sisters, Rebecca Flaherty and partner Dave Vigoren of Maple Valley and Linda McDaniel and husband Bill of Troutdale, Ore. She was preceded in death by her father, Curtis Sabin, in 2014.
A memorial service was held at 1 p.m. Friday, April 10, 2015, at Oak Harbor Church of the Nazarene with Dr. Benjamin Norris officiating. Memorials are suggested to the Pregnancy Care Clinic, 670 SE Midway Blvd., Oak Harbor, WA 98277, or to Habitat for Humanity, PO Box 2279, Oak Harbor, WA 98277. Family and friends are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.whidbeymemorial.com
