Wilma Doris Weeks

Wilma Banaka Weeks, 89, of La Grande, died Feb. 4 at her home. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Valley Fellowship, 507 Palmer St., La Grande. A viewing will run from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. prior to the service at Loveland Funeral Chapel.

Wilma was born Sept. 9, 1920, to Lou and Vera (Kimble) Hiatt in Chase, Neb. She married Kenneth Banaka of Wray, Colo., Dec. 14, 1941. Three children - Larry, Pat and Ilene - were born to this union. The family moved to Hoquiam, Wash., in the fall of 1948. She worked at the Grays Harbor Veneer Plant for many years. In 1964 they moved to La Grande. Wilma was employed at the truck stop, Long Branch and Corner Lunch.

She was widowed in 1969.

On Jan. 13, 1979, she married Richard Weeks of Union.

She was a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary No. 4060 and of the American Legion Auxiliary No. 43, where she held offices of president, treasurer and historian. She had the honor to be co-grand marshal of the 2004 Veterans Day Parade.

She was a member and treasurer of the Eastern Oregon Singles for many years, and a 35-year member of The Eagles. She said some of her most pleasurable times were spent with her Thursday Girls.

Surviving Wilma are her children, Larry Banaka, Pat (Jack) Baker and Ilene Sloan; stepson, Russell (Louise) Weeks; sister, Ida Ryan; five sisters-in-law; one brother-in-law; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Wilma was preceded in death by her husbands Kenneth Banaka (1969) and Richard Weeks (1986); a grandson, Kenneth Dee Banaka; parents in Imperial, Neb.; sisters, Velma McGaughey of Wray, Lela Edwards of Redding, Calif., Leta White of Caldwell, Idaho; brothers, Richard of Benkleman, Neb., Claire (Babe) of Hillsboro, Leonard of Wray; three nieces, three nephews; and other relatives.

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