Martha Bassett

Age 32, formerly of Wapato, Washington, and later of Chicago, Illinois, passed away suddenly on September 28, 1968, in Wilmington, Illinois. Her identity remained unknown for more than fifty years until advances in forensic science and the perseverance of investigators finally restored her name, bringing long-awaited closure to her family.

Martha was born on January 3, 1936, in Wapato, Washington, the daughter of John and Ida (Haney) Bassett. She was raised on the Yakama Reservation and was a proud member of the Yakama Nation, with lineage to both the Wanapum and Rock Creek tribes. She graduated from Wapato High School and later attended Yakama Business College, where she studied English, shorthand, typing, office practice, and penmanship.

In 1957, she relocated to Chicago through the Bureau of Indian Affairs Relocation Program, a federal initiative established under the Indian Relocation Act of 1956. There she began her career as a teletype operator for the Western Union Telegraph Company, a position she held faithfully for more than a decade until her passing.

She enjoyed photography, was a skilled seamstress, and was an avid reader. These pursuits reflected her thoughtful nature and her love of learning.

Although Martha’s life ended tragically, her story did not fade. In 2009, the Will County Coroner’s Office established a cold case unit and exhumed her remains in order to take advantage of advances in forensic science. Analyses conducted at the University of North Texas, the Smithsonian Institution, and the University of Illinois Forensic Anthropology Department suggested her ancestry was Native American. This important detail allowed investigators to reach out to tribal communities across the Midwest, keeping her case active for years.

In 2024, with assistance from Othram Inc., a forensic genetic genealogy company, new DNA sequencing techniques identified her as Martha Bassett. Through the cooperation of family members, Native communities, and investigative teams, her identity was finally confirmed after decades of uncertainty.

The family will process from Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road, to Midway International Airport in Chicago, accompanied by family and representatives from the Will County Coroner’s Office, as we bid her a final farewell and return her to Washington State. After her return to Washington traditional services will be held at the Toppenish Creek Longhouse.  She will be laid to rest at Union Gap Cemetery in Yakama County, Washington.

Family and friends are encouraged to log onto www.BaskervilleFuneral.com to sign the guest book and share Martha’s memorial page online through social media.

Local arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Reeves, Fruland and Baskerville Funeral Homes and Crematory. (815/476-2181)