Thursday, April 18, 2024
Barbara Fort Hisel
July 18, 1924 - July 1, 2019
Barbara Fort Hisel was born on July 18, 1924, in Chelan, Wash. to Opal and Harold Fort of Manson. She died July 1, 2019, in Moscow, Idaho.Barbara graduated from Manson High School in 1943, where she also reigned as Manson Apple Blossom Queen. Unfortunately she came down with mumps and was not able to serve. A grade school student, Sandra Hubbard, was crowned as her proxy.
During her younger years, Barbara, along with her sisters, helped with jobs on the family orchards. Driven by sibling rivalry, she became an accomplished wooden apple box maker, reaching over one thousand on several days.
Barbara attended the Wenatchee Business College with a degree in secretarial studies and accounting, and later Washington State College with a degree in Home Economics. She worked in Washington and Idaho demonstrating new appliances in owners’ homes before her marriage. Later she worked in the office of the Dean of the University of Idaho until her retirement.
Barbara and Ken Hisel were married in Manson August 10, 1952. They had two sons, Mark and Jay. She enjoyed spending time at their cabin on Lake Pend d’Oreille, where she could fish, pick huckleberries, hunt for mushrooms, knit and do other handiwork. She will be remembered for her homemade specialties, including root beer, horseradish, smoked meat and fish.
She was preceded in death by son, Jay in 1993, husband Ken in 1996 and sisters Nila Koenig and Helen Louise England.
She is survived by her son, Mark Hisel of Deary, Idaho, sisters Corrine Cockburn in New Mexico and Carolyn Alice Killian in Manson, Wash. She will also be missed by many nieces and nephews who loved to hear her tell jokes and stories while sampling her cooking and visiting from nearby Washington State University.
Graveside services will be held Tuesday, July 9 at 10 a.m. at the Moscow Cemetery. Donations in Barbara’s name may be made to the Moscow Volunteer Fire Department or local Habitat for Humanity.
