BOMBER MEMORIAL
DEBORAH LYNN "DEBBIE" WETHERALD ALAEI ~ Class of 1969
March 20, 1951 - July 4, 1982
Deborah Lynn Wetherald was born on March 20, 1951 in Richland to Robert Linwood and Frieda Elsie Wetherald. She passed away at the age of 31 on July 4, 1982 in an accidental fall while hiking on Mt. Rainier.
Debbie graduated with the Class of 1969 from Richland's Columbia High School.
Her sister was Beverly ('63RIP).
She was a self-employed physical therapist.
Burial was in the Riverview Cemetery in Portland, OR. The Arbor Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.
"HIKER DIES IN SLIDE DOWN MOUNTAIN".
Longmire, WA -- A San Diego, CA woman was fatally injured when she and her husband slid 300 feet down a steep snow and rock slope on Mt. Rainier during the Independence Day Holiday, Mt. Rainier National Park officials reported.
The victim was identified as Deborah Wetherald, 31. Her husband, Kambiz Alaei, 28, was rescued by park rangers in the Sunday afternoon incident and was reported in serious condition Monday evening in St. Joseph Hospital in Tacoma with multiple injuries.
Park officials said the two were on a day hike and began sliding down a slope on the mountain between Panorama Point and Alta Vista.
"They were sliding on the snow without assistance of any equipment when they went out of control, tumbling and falling," said Jim Monheiser, a park spokesman.
"They fell approximately 25 feet through a hole in the snow and continued to tumble down a rocky surface, coming to a stop at the base of the slope," Monheiser said.
Alaei called for help, alerting other hikers in the area, who contacted rangers at the Paradise Ranger Station.
The body of Ms. Wetherald was recovered.
Published in the Statesman Journal in Salem, OR on Tuesday, July 8, 1982.
Bomber Memorial put together by Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66).