Phyllis Louraine Busse, lifelong Washingtonian, died on December 4th, 2025 at the age of 99.
Phyllis was born in Spokane, Washington on March 11, 1926 the daughter of the Frank and Alice Provorse. Her family moved to Yakima, then Tacoma, and within a few years moved to Seattle. Phyllis graduated from Roosevelt High School. Shortly after WWII ended, while working at Stetson Ross Machine Co. she met a recent Navy veteran, William (Bill) Busse. They were married on November 8th 1946. They went on to raise a family of four children; Jeneyne, George, John and Deanne in the Bellevue neighborhood, Robinswood. She reentered the working world in the 1960s first as a proofreader for the Bellevue American. Her paycheck helped fuel her penchant for generosity. In 1969 she was hired to support secretarial needs at Strand Inc. - Commercial Construction. Her Strand paycheck was earmarked for the college tuition of all 4 of her children. Before long Phyllis had become Ray Strand's executive Secretary. While at Strand she proudly served as President of the National Association of Women in Construction - Greater Bellevue Chapter #207 1985 - 1986. Her avocation was cooking and helped organize her first of many Cookbook fund raising projects. After retiring from Strand, Phyllis and Bill moved to Leavenworth, Washington where they quickly got involved with the local community. They both joined the Royal Bavarians who serve as the official host and Ambassadors for the city of Leavenworth. Phyllis was President of the Washington State Autumn Leaf Festival Association in 1993 and Bill assumed the Autumn Leaf leadership as president in 1994. Phyllis proudly served as the Royal Lady of the Autumn Leaves Festival 1998, representing The Royal Bavarians in their support of the Northwest Festival Hosting parades. Cookbooks continued to be her passion including one created as a fundraiser for The Royal Bavarians. In 2015, for her Family and Friends, Phyllis created her very own cookbook titled Phyllis Busse's Family Recipes. This was her last of 7 or 8 cookbooks where she was a large part of putting them together, she self-admittingly described herself as a Cookbook-aholic and Recipe-aholic.
Phyllis is predeceased by husband Bill Busse in 2005, and brother Jerry Provorse (2011). She will be deeply missed by her children; Jeneyne Williams (Gary), George (Carol), John (Nancy) and Deanne Warr (Lon); grandchildren Rand, Erin, Shannon, Mike, Anna, Katie, Jarett, Brooke, Kara, Drew and Gabrielle; additionally, Phyllis was super proud to have been responsible for the creation of 23 great grandchildren. She will also be missed by her "little" brother Barry (Molly) Provorse.
Phyllis's wish was to be placed next to Bill, alongside her parents, amongst her uncle in the Spring Creek Cemetery near Reardan, Washington, across the road from her great grandparents homestead.
A celebration of life will occur at a later date in 2026.
Phyllis was born in Spokane, Washington on March 11, 1926 the daughter of the Frank and Alice Provorse. Her family moved to Yakima, then Tacoma, and within a few years moved to Seattle. Phyllis graduated from Roosevelt High School. Shortly after WWII ended, while working at Stetson Ross Machine Co. she met a recent Navy veteran, William (Bill) Busse. They were married on November 8th 1946. They went on to raise a family of four children; Jeneyne, George, John and Deanne in the Bellevue neighborhood, Robinswood. She reentered the working world in the 1960s first as a proofreader for the Bellevue American. Her paycheck helped fuel her penchant for generosity. In 1969 she was hired to support secretarial needs at Strand Inc. - Commercial Construction. Her Strand paycheck was earmarked for the college tuition of all 4 of her children. Before long Phyllis had become Ray Strand's executive Secretary. While at Strand she proudly served as President of the National Association of Women in Construction - Greater Bellevue Chapter #207 1985 - 1986. Her avocation was cooking and helped organize her first of many Cookbook fund raising projects. After retiring from Strand, Phyllis and Bill moved to Leavenworth, Washington where they quickly got involved with the local community. They both joined the Royal Bavarians who serve as the official host and Ambassadors for the city of Leavenworth. Phyllis was President of the Washington State Autumn Leaf Festival Association in 1993 and Bill assumed the Autumn Leaf leadership as president in 1994. Phyllis proudly served as the Royal Lady of the Autumn Leaves Festival 1998, representing The Royal Bavarians in their support of the Northwest Festival Hosting parades. Cookbooks continued to be her passion including one created as a fundraiser for The Royal Bavarians. In 2015, for her Family and Friends, Phyllis created her very own cookbook titled Phyllis Busse's Family Recipes. This was her last of 7 or 8 cookbooks where she was a large part of putting them together, she self-admittingly described herself as a Cookbook-aholic and Recipe-aholic.
Phyllis is predeceased by husband Bill Busse in 2005, and brother Jerry Provorse (2011). She will be deeply missed by her children; Jeneyne Williams (Gary), George (Carol), John (Nancy) and Deanne Warr (Lon); grandchildren Rand, Erin, Shannon, Mike, Anna, Katie, Jarett, Brooke, Kara, Drew and Gabrielle; additionally, Phyllis was super proud to have been responsible for the creation of 23 great grandchildren. She will also be missed by her "little" brother Barry (Molly) Provorse.
Phyllis's wish was to be placed next to Bill, alongside her parents, amongst her uncle in the Spring Creek Cemetery near Reardan, Washington, across the road from her great grandparents homestead.
A celebration of life will occur at a later date in 2026.
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