SPENCE-IVES HOMESTEAD RANCH BURNS IN WILDFIRE
Donation protected
Monday September 7th COLD SPRINGS WILDFIRE (Cameron Lake Road area Okanogan WA) ripped through the Spence-Ives Homestead ranch. The family (Mel, Marion, Claire (17), Cooper (14) were on vacation for the 3 day weekend. After receiving a call they rushed home in the middle of the night, only to find out their home and ranch had already burned. They did not make it in time to save anything. Her sister and niece heroically to try to save animals, barely getting out safely themselves. They lost the house, barn, crops, straw, pasture land, vehicles, and a very heartbreaking loss of animals. Mel lost over 20 quarter horse mares and babies. Some of their cows have made it home, and a few saddle horses saved. Claire's loved rodeo horse also did not survive. This family loves their animals so much that even the cows have names on the eartags instead of a number. They have been living in a motel and camping in a tent (in the smoke) at the fairgrounds.
Mel's sister Chris also lost everything along with her house up the road, she also has a go fundme page under Chris Spence. This fire raged from Omak, Okanogan, Bridgeport, Lehey..just to name a few of the surrounding areas...
A little back history on this ranch...It used to be the Timentwa Post, where all homesteaders got their mail!! Sadly the old desk from the post office was still in the house as it burned. This place has been in the family for a few generations. Lots of history here on the reservation. The barn was built first on the homestead property before the house. The Schnieder family built the barn and house, and years later it was left to Mel's mom Pat as an inheritance . Pat and her husband Bud Spence raised thier 3 girls here. It became the Spence Ranch for 50 years. Now Mel is Married to Marion Ives and together with their children Claire and Cooper, they run the ranch now as the Spence - Ives Ranch. This family is hard working and loves ranching... keeping on with family traditions. They rodeo, play sports and enjoy the outdoors.
The money from this fund is needed to help them in so many ways. They need to have a place to stay until they can figure out if they can rebuild, ...animals that survived still need to be feed and winter will be here soon, (pasture land is burnt) the animals will need shelter...and the family has all the same needs we all have...food, bills, clothes...and most of all help to rebuild on the family ranch.
Please find it in your heart to send some love and prayers for this family and Mel's sister Chris (and their animals) If you would like to contribute to this fund, you will know that it is going to a family that is forever grateful. Thank you so much!
Mel's sister Chris also lost everything along with her house up the road, she also has a go fundme page under Chris Spence. This fire raged from Omak, Okanogan, Bridgeport, Lehey..just to name a few of the surrounding areas...
A little back history on this ranch...It used to be the Timentwa Post, where all homesteaders got their mail!! Sadly the old desk from the post office was still in the house as it burned. This place has been in the family for a few generations. Lots of history here on the reservation. The barn was built first on the homestead property before the house. The Schnieder family built the barn and house, and years later it was left to Mel's mom Pat as an inheritance . Pat and her husband Bud Spence raised thier 3 girls here. It became the Spence Ranch for 50 years. Now Mel is Married to Marion Ives and together with their children Claire and Cooper, they run the ranch now as the Spence - Ives Ranch. This family is hard working and loves ranching... keeping on with family traditions. They rodeo, play sports and enjoy the outdoors.
The money from this fund is needed to help them in so many ways. They need to have a place to stay until they can figure out if they can rebuild, ...animals that survived still need to be feed and winter will be here soon, (pasture land is burnt) the animals will need shelter...and the family has all the same needs we all have...food, bills, clothes...and most of all help to rebuild on the family ranch.
Please find it in your heart to send some love and prayers for this family and Mel's sister Chris (and their animals) If you would like to contribute to this fund, you will know that it is going to a family that is forever grateful. Thank you so much!
Organizer and beneficiary
Jennifer Tollefson Benson
Organizer
Brewster, WA
Melinda Spence Ives
Beneficiary