Belle Rogers

Belle Clay Spencer Rogers passed away after a long illness on November 30, 2025 in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 87 years, surrounded by her loving family. She was born December 29, 1937 in Charlottesville, Virginia. She was a long-time resident of Pullman, Washington.

Belle was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Dr. Jack Rogers; parents Dr. Hugh and Thomasia (Hancock) Spencer; and brother Hugh Spencer Jr. She is survived by her sister Martha Saavedra; children Rebecca (Warren) Hines, and Barbara (Bradley) Cooper; grandchildren Ethan (AnnaRose) Hines and Gareth (Morgan) Hines; great-grandson Jack Hines; and nieces, nephews, and other family.

Belle was a wonderful and talented woman, an amazing and determined wife, and a deeply caring parent and friend. Her love for her family, quiet strength, kindness, and dignity no matter what life brought her way were her guiding lights throughout her life. A true Belle from old Virginia, her husband Jack—a native son of West Virginia—was eternally appreciative that Belle ignored that wryly cautionary old bluegrass song about Virginia girls courtin’ those West Virginia boys.

She deeply and unselfishly supported her husband Jack’s long academic career at Washington State University. Over the decades, in addition to accompanying Jack on countless fungi collecting trips across the northwest, Belle hosted many graduate students as well as Jack’s Plant Path colleagues—and visiting international faculty—for gourmet dinners she prepared at their house. Belle and Jack often became informal parents to Jack’s students and some of the visiting faculty during their time at WSU, and kept in touch with them as well as traveling to visit many of them worldwide.

An enthusiastic decades-long member of the Fortnightly Book Club of key Pullman women, she treasured the many friendships she made there. She was a consulted expert in English silver spoons and early American coin silver spoons. Additionally, she loved to fish (especially for steelhead), and for decades shared the results of her skills in sewing, knitting, and cooking with Pullman residents and those in need far beyond the Palouse. She especially delighted in knitting hundreds of warm hats for the “Warm, Fuzzy Knit Christmas Tree” at Pullman Presbyterian Church, as well as for every student in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes her daughter Becky taught in Omaha Nebraska.

Her caring extended far beyond our shores, reaching to the Maasai people in Kenya. When one of their villages was facing starvation due to a drought, she gifted those families the resources they needed. She also funded an apartment house for school teachers visiting the village.

Belle will be remembered for her devotion to her family and friends, her generosity and loving kindness, her smile which could light up any room, and for her love of Pullman as well as her neighbors on Kenny Drive. She was a true gem, and made this weary world a better and more beautiful place for us all.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers please direct donations in her memory to the Whitman County Humane Society   https://www.whitmanpets.org   1340 SE Old Moscow Road, Pullman WA 99163 / 509-332-3422). Belle treasured the many cats she shared her life with!

A private memorial gathering is being planned for next year in Pullman.