Neva Shelton Wheelhouse, 85, a warm and welcoming soul, went home to Jesus on Friday, June 20, 2025 after a lifetime of loving kindness. A resident of Vancouver, Washington at the time of her death, Neva was a lifelong member of the Apostolic Lutheran Church. She enjoyed creating and giving teddy bears and quilts, and she loved serving others in clever ways. She once earned a beautician license for the sole purpose of traveling to style elderly ladies' hair, making them feel beautiful and important. She also had an uncanny knowledge of postal delivery times, and could drop a grandchild's birthday card in the mail so that it was received on the exact day, whether the child lived in town or across the country. She remembered important dates, showed up when people were in need, and welcomed all to her home with abundant coffee and big hugs. Her Christian faith was a verb, an action she practiced every day not just in prayer, but in acts of service. She lovingly, consistently demonstrated the power of kindness and the joy of serving others with the gifts God gave her.

Neva Mae Lehto was born in Battle Ground, Washington, on December 16, 1939, the fourteenth of Victor and Hulda Lehto's sixteen children. Neva grew up in Battle Ground and Hockinson, then moved to Goldendale, Washington when her parents relocated. There, in 1959, she met and later married a widower with three children, Joe Shelton. They went on to have two more daughters and were married for 48 years until his death in 2008. She was later married to Dick Wheelhouse for 12 years until his death in 2024. Over her lifetime, Neva had many different jobs including bank teller, homemaker, and secretary. She belonged to the Klickitat County Homemakers and volunteered at the Presby Museum and various other organizations.

In 2006, Neva fulfilled a lifelong dream when she traveled to Finland with a group of church friends to visit places connected to her family. Of course, she made new friends there, as she did wherever she went. SISU!

Neva was preceded in death by Joe Shelton, Dick Wheelhouse, and her 15 brothers and sisters. She leaves behind Jeff (Gail) Shelton, Jay (Jan) Shelton, Jennifer Anderson, Joelle (Jerry) Balcom, Jill (Roy) Ruland, 11 grandchildren,12 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held Thursday, July 10 at 11:00am at Centerville Cemetery in Centerville, Washington at the Lehto family plot. In addition, a memorial service is planned for Saturday, July 12 at 10:30am at the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Hockinson, Washington with a lunch reception following. There will be coffee and hugs.

The family would like to thank the staff at Highgate Senior Living, Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital and Ray Hickey Hospice House for their compassionate care of our beloved Neva.

Memorial contributions may be made to Presby Museum/Klickitat County Historical Society, 127 W. Broadway St., Goldendale, WA 98620.