In loving memory of Rose ‘Arlene’ Rand Yinger: 1947 - 2021

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Rose "Arlene" Rand Yinger was born Jan. 15, 1947 in Portland, Oregon, to Harold and Maxine Rand, the second of four children. The family relocated to Payette, Idaho, around 1954. Following her parents’ divorce, she and her siblings went to live for a time at the Christian Children’s Home in Boise. Lifelong friendships were made during these years where she became grounded in her faith in Christ.

After graduating from Boise High School in 1965, where she played percussion in the marching band, Arlene briefly attended Boise Bible College. She and her sister Karen moved to San Jose, where she met and married her first husband, Jim Reames. He was drafted into the service and relocated to Fort Hood, Texas, where their first child, Becky, was born. After his service term, they moved back to the Christian Children’s Home in Boise and became group home foster parents there, where Steven, their second child, was born.

After a divorce, Arlene returned to Portland with Becky and Steve and began working at Good Samaritan Hospital, first as a nurse’s aide and then as a mail clerk. It was there she met the love of her life, John Yinger, a hospital maintenance worker. They married in 1977 and moved to Vancouver. John’s children, Eric and Amy, visited many weekends and vacations were often spent fishing, waterskiing and camping in the Washington or Oregon mountains or at the coast.

Arlene worked for a time as a Clark County government mail clerk, an Avon sales lady, an assistant for the Citizens for a Drug Free Oregon PAC, the Vancouver School District and at ASB Meditest. In 1990, Arlene and John built a new home in northern Vancouver and lived there for 23 years. In 2013, they relocated to Woodland. They bought a cabin retreat near Mount St. Helens where they enjoyed remodeling it, riding ATVs and hunting. It was also a special hangout for their extended family. She served as secretary/treasurer for the Marble Mountain HOA. She and John developed many friendships there and in the churches they attended: New Hope Center in Vancouver and later, Landmark Church in Battle Ground.

Arlene and John loved to travel, visiting many places with their favorite destination being Hawaii. She enjoyed playing card and board games, hosting family get-togethers, cooking, swimming, knitting and family history. One of her greatest legacies is her keen and silly sense of humor. But most of all, Arlene will be remembered for her deep and vibrant faith in Jesus Christ.

Arlene passed peacefully at home two days after her 75th birthday. She was preceded in death by her mother and father; sister Karen; and sister-in-law Shauna. Arlene is survived by her husband, John; her brothers, David (Shauna) Rand, and Jon (Melva) Rand; her children, Becky (Mike) Jackson, Steve (Tamara) Reames, Eric Yinger and Amy Yinger. She has 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Landmark Church in Battle Ground on Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. Video streaming of the service will be available with details made known by the family on Facebook.