Earline Faye Couture

On September 11, 2019, Earline Tenas Couture (73) passed away in the comfort of her home. She was a quick-witted and brutally honest wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She was known and loved for her ornery and blunt comments to those she loved most.

Earline was born October 30, 1945 to Carla and Earl Goss and raised by her mom and Dennis “Jiggs” Harrington. She was born in Spokane, Washington and raised in Ronan where she graduated from high school. She married Gene Johnson and later divorced, to that marriage she had sons Jerry and Denny Wayne. She then married Danny Tenas and to this marriage, she had three daughters: Dana, Danette and Danelle. Although this marriage ended in divorce, they remained friends until Danny’s death. In 1976, she married Eddie Couture and gained his children, Crystal and Darrin Couture. The family moved to Portland, Oregon and remained there until they retired in 2006. Upon retirement, they returned to Elmo to enjoy their retirement. In her early years, Earline tended bar. She later stayed home to care for the girls. As the girls grew older, Earline reentered the workforce. First at Kandel Knitting Mills for several years until the mill closed and then at Nordstroms Distribution Center until her retirement. She enjoyed playing Bingo and gambling at the casino but her all-time favorite pastime was roasting friends and family and laughing at them. It was always in good humor and said with love.

In her death, she has been reunited with her parents, infant son Denny Wayne, brother Gary Harrington, daughter Danelle “Babygirl” Tenas Paul, step son Darrin Couture, and granddaughter Lela Perez.

She is survived by her husband Ed Couture, her sister-in-law Kathy and family, her children Dana (Adrian) Hewankorn, Danette Tenas, Jerry Johnson (Trisha White), son in law Harold Paul, her grandchildren Jennifer, Todd, Derek, Nisa (Artie), Jordan, Alicia, Su-san (Eddie), Caitlin, Alyza, Trevor, Kiana, Kristan (Bub), Drey, Isaak, and Trinity; 33 great-grandchildren, and her fur-babies Boss, Chewy, Snookie, and Buddy.

Services were held at the Elmo Community Center with interment at the Elmo Cemetery. Pallbearers were Kenny Lozeau, Marlin “Bub” Burke Jr., Artie Mendoza III, Eldon Big Beaver, Mark and Craige Couture. In lieu of flowers, to honor Earline’s memory and her love for animals, the family requests donations to be sent to an animal charity of your choice—or do as she would do and go to your nearest animal shelter and adopt a dog no one else would.