Cheri Dee Gjesvold

Our beautiful Cheri Dee (Stamper) Gjesvold, Beloved, Mother, Stepmother, Grandmother, Sister and Friend passed away peacefully on December 14th, 2024, at the age of 81. She was born to Francis and Cora Stamper on May 18, 1943, in Bell, California. They then moved to Walla Walla, WA where she and her older brother Darrell Stamper were raised. 

Cheri was very active all through high school. During her senior year at Walla Walla High, she was a Dean’s-Office Assistant, she was in Walla Walla High’s Pep Club called the "Devilettes" (Cheer/Songleader) and was in the Girls League in which she was Treasurer and Cabinet Head. As a Senior, Cheri was crowned Queen of the Senior Ball. 

Cheri worked at Ma Bell also known later as Pacific NW bell for 20 plus years. Her job led us all over WA State, we lived in Tri-Cities, Yakima, Omak, Moses Lake, Redmond and we then landed again in Omak. She then worked at a local bank as an Investment Counselor. Soon after, she and her husband, Dr James A. Gjesvold built their Veterinary Clinic, Alpine Vet Clinic. She was the Office Manager throughout their time there.

Cheri loved animals. She and Dr. Gjesvold always had dogs and cats at the ranch, along with a couple of pet pigs. Their ranch was named Lone Pine Ranch, they grew alfalfa to help feed the many cows and horses they raised on the ranch. Cheri was very active and always riding horses. She helped start the first Team Penning club in Omak/Okanogan. She started Reigning and spent quite a few years in the local Reigning club and entering reigning shows around Washington State. We as a family did a lot of horse camping, we had a yearly campout at Banks Lake, where we gathered cattle and went boating on their yellow boat for a long weekend of fun, such great memories. She loved being either on the water, or next to a river, lake or being at the ocean. She also loved snow skiing. After Cheri’s Beloved Husband, Dr James A Gjesvold passed away in 2004, she moved back to Moses Lake where she lived on the water. She then moved to Florida a few years later, as she was ready for full time warm weather. She loved it there. Cheri moved back to Washington State to be with her family in 2022. 

Cheri is survived by her two daughters, Lynn Lonneker and Keri Lonneker (Jay Hiebert). Her stepsons, Scott Gjesvold, Todd Gjesvold and Jeff Gjesvold as well as stepdaughter Ann Marie Gjesvold. Her Grandchildren Andrea Tonasket (Joe Tonasket) and Justin Sam, along with her Great Grandchildren, Tayauna Tonasket, Malani Tonasket, Jordan Tonasket, and an adopted Great Grandson, Ezekiel Tonasket. Many, many wonderful friends including her very best friend of 50 plus years, Lynne Gascoigne.

She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Dr James A Gjesvold, both of her parents Francis and Cora Stamper and her brother Darrell Stamper, whom she loved dearly. 

Cheri, Mom, Grandma, is now an angel in the Heavens, dancing among the stars, shining brighter than any has shined before her. Her beautiful spirit intoxicating the universe. We are truly thankful for the time we had with her, and she will forever be in our hearts.

“God Bless you, Mom”