Christmas Fund 1995 Friends Rally To Woman’s Side With Donations

For 17 years, Eva Walch and her brothers remembered their mother, Myrtle Kendall Raschka, with a contribution to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund.

This year, however, she wants to thank those who gave to the fund in her name - “and I’m still alive,” Walch wrote with her $125 gift.

When she was hospitalized recently, she asked her friends to give to the Christmas Fund rather than send her flowers.

“Wow, did they ever respond,” she wrote. “What a thrill to read the Christmas Fund report and watch to see the dollars rack up in my name.”

Giving gifts of $100 was Dick and Karen Steele, 1325 E. 20th; William and Heather Beeman, 16603 N. Cincinnati; Edward Kelly; Mr. and Mrs. Thor Kiilsgaard, 4604 S. Napa; Hoover Mortgage Co., 9213 Mission; the Dantis Club of Spokane.

Each year the family-oriented Lilac City Wings, Chapter G, Gold Wing Touring Association, sponsors Motorcycle Awareness Days to raise money for charity. “Again this year we are sending ($100) in hopes it will help someone have a Merry Christmas,” wrote Nancy Erickson, treasurer.

Also sending $100 contributions was The Sons of Norway Foundation with Tordenskjold Lodge 2-005, 6710 N. Country Homes Blvd.; the Argonne Montgomery Self Service Storage, 8915 E. Montgomery; Thelma Kolbar, 12912 E. 12th; Bruce and Mary Ann Snow, Cheney; Bert and Janine Carlson, 2115 E. 48th; Randall and Leesa Braun, with this note: “We hope this small amount helps you reach your goal.”

Other $100 gifts came from Rosemary Bottjer 1017 E. Rockwell, in memory of her husband, Donald; Edward and Marjorie Peterson, 4301 S. Helena; Eleanor Dittner, 3013 E. Houston; Gary and Andrea Gunning, 925 E. 28th; Mrs. Alex Repp, 3120 S. Raymond Circle; Alma Pearson of R.A. Pearson Co., 8120 W. Sunset Highway.

“My family has so much to be thankful for,” wrote a member of the Chandler and Brown family, 1318 E. 36th, with its $100 gift; Gordon and Anne Schoedel, Spokane, also sent $100, as did Richard and Alice Hayes, 603 W. Shoshone; Scoty’s Electric, 5805 S. Lochsa Drive; Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Soehren, 514 W. Hastings Road.

Other $100 gifts came from Mrs. Carl Eckhart, Almira; Ron and Marcia Yep, 1622 S. Ridge Drive; Coronet Industries, Ind., Dalton Ga.; Steve Carr, 10023 N. Larchwood; Caroline Delaney, 3414 E. 30th, “in loving memory of Henry and Laura Holling of Spangle”; the Spokane Association of Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors.

The Hewlett-Packard Sales Office Gang sent $100; Jack and Claudette Sayles, 3660 W. Rosamond; Jeanne Gunn, 302 W. Indiana; W.A. “Red” Joern, 6024 N. Stevens, in memory of Dorothy; Mr. and Mrs. F.E. Gonder, 11021 E. 33rd; Elizabeth T. Pierce, 2929 S. Waterford Drive; D.J. and K.J. Merritt, 6816 E. 11th.

Others sending $100 was Kay and Tony Kamel, 811 W. 59th, “in loving memory of our son, Jim, who died in 1988”; H.L. Hoffman, 451 W. Shoshone Place; the Watchers, 4617 N. Elton; F.A., 2614 E. 40th; Ardell Wallat, 1119 W. 22nd; the Shields, 4404 S. St. Andrews Lane; the Houffs, 417 W. 29th; Jerry and Joan White, 2221 E. Rockwood Blvd., first-time donors giving “in appreciation for blessings received.”

There were 12 anonymous $100 donations, including one on behalf of a woman whose husband died last March.

Susanne Tuson’s Spanish class at Mead contributed $90.

Matt, 11, and Kellen, 9, Russoniello, 1714 S. Lincoln, donated $75 from their savings.

Other gifts of $75 came from C.F. Hanneman, Seattle, in the name of his mother, Eleanor Hanneman; Ruth E. Pearce, 1733 S. Southeast Blvd.; and two anonymous gifts.

Oweta Floyd’s fifth-grade students at Lincoln Heights Elementary elected to cut the size of their winter party to do a service project. They collected food for the Spokane Food Bank and coins for the Christmas Fund and brought in $72.10.

Giving $50 gifts were Wayne and Pamela McLaughlin, 15206 E. 22nd Court; Stanley and Leonamay Smolkowski; Linda and Jim Kane, 1812 E. South Riverton, in celebration of her dad’s marriage; Ray and Lois Snider; Veterans of Foreign Wars Ensign John Monaghan Post 51 Ladies Auxiliary; L.V. Walton, 1710 S. Bannen Road. Bob and Lucy Kumpon, 3811 E. 15th; Steve and Jane Rettig, 4815 S. Madelia; Ronald Jamieson, 3107 W. Dalton.

Cathi Lundberg, Elk, gave $50 in honor of an unemployed couple who donated $25 to the Christmas Fund a few weeks ago; Neil and Nyla Stoughton, 9919 N. Fircrest Court.

Also giving $50 was John and Elizabeth Mertens, 14111 E. Sharp; Richard and Clay Kent, Juneau, Alaska; Thomas and Lorene Walsh, Colbert; Annette Lacombe, 3132 W. Grace; Spokane Valley Good Sams; Karyl L. Brantner, 7315 E. Owens Road, Chattaroy, in memory of Kara Claypool and in honor of Joyce Claypool.

Other $50 gifts came from Jim and Kay Charbonneau, 12404 E. Shawnee Drive, in memory of Jerry Camp Sr.; James Elsensohn, 1013 E. Hawthorne; Kent and Jackie Richardson, 3720 W. Rutter Parkway; Dolores and Claude Shaffer, Inchelium, Wash.; Curt, Mary Jo and Curt, Colleen and Bill Lorenz, Chattaroy; N.W.T.H.C., 3908 W. Heroy; Bill and Helen Yokum, 4017 N. Calispel; Dolan and Jacobsen, Attorneys at Law, Coeur d’Alene.

Also giving $50 was Joyce Kinne, 3322 W. Lacrosse, as a Christmas gift to Mary Anne Fritchie; Spokane Chapter of the Chevron Retirees Association; Lindsey Construction Inc.; Karol A. Price, CPA, 1710 N. Calispel; the Rev. Canon Charles and Ann Wood, 221 E. Rockwood Blvd.; Jim and Morag Stewart, Cheney.

Also giving $50 was Marjorie Thorpe, 101 E. Hawthorne, who wrote she is “touched by the generosity and sacrifice of so many people” who give to the Christmas Fund.

Other $50 gifts came from Suzanne and Donald Capstick, 625 W. 27th; Donald and Dorothy Skinner, 1100 N. Superior; Mr. and Mrs. Horton Herman, 2317 N. Crestline, in memory of Jerry Camp Sr.; Brian and Mary Hirschkorn, 5902 W. TomTom Court; L. Fernan, 5810 W. Lonewolf; Elmer and Fern Hessdorfer, 5823 N. Drumheller; 10 anonymous donations, including one in memory of Lisa Portrey; and another with this note:

“We … need to be reminded every day that there are many people who do not have a warm place to sleep, enough food to feed the very hungry mouths in their family or (have) warm clothing or a toy for the innocent child who can’t possibly understand ‘why.”’ There was also an anonymous gift of $45.

Those making contributions of $40 are W. Duffey, 118 N. Browne; Richard and Sheri Sapone, 7306 N. Foxpoint Drive; Northwood Presbyterian Church youth group parents on behalf of youth leader Carolyn Roy, and her husband, Leo, in memory of Nathan Roy, their son who died nearly two years ago, when he was 6.

Other $40 gifts came from Rebecca Cady, Spokane; Norm and Marjie Moss, 6327 N. Stevens; Richard C. Wands, 1115 E. 16th; and two anonymous donations. The Kingma family, 2514 E. Heroy, gave $38.01; George, Nancy, Brad and Chris Beeman, 8514 N. Antietam Drive, gave $36.

Those contributing $35 were Pat and Matt Spencer, 2610 S. McCabe; Bill and Dolores DePell, 308 E. Bridlewood Lane; and two anonymous gifts. One anonymous donation of $32.84. Gifts of $30 came from William and Phyllis Vaughan, 10407 E. Main; Mr. and Mrs. Roger Cole, 412 E. Fairview, “in memory of all our loved ones who can’t be with us this holiday season”; Stan and Peggy Cowin, 9304 N. Washington, in memory of Mildred Hughes; Dean Hubbard, Colfax; Evelyn Hickman, Colfax; and two anonymous donations.

Tom and Karen Dorsey gave $25 in memory of Jerry Camp Sr.; Hester V, Brown, 2119 S. Scenic Blvd., gave $25 as did R.E. and Marie Nesbitt, 8702 N. Scott Road; Charleene and Arlen Ristuben, 3215 W. Holyoke; William and Wendy Budge, 606 W. 16th; Robert and Dr. Betty Malmstad, 1714 W. Fairway Drive; Rita Metler, 1653-A W. Jordan.

Other $25 gifts came from Stephen A. Van DeBogert of Koch Materials Co.; Bob Washburn, Colville; Bill Benge, 7052 N. G; Grant Shipley and Lynne Vassar-Shipley, 407 E. 16th; James Rogers, 2011 E. Providence; Lorraine Distad, 2807 N. Smith; Mr. and Mrs. E.L. Wilson, 726 W. Sixth; Robert and Helen Towne, 1010 S. Rockwood; Dorothy Warren, 627 E. Providence.

Also giving $25 was Norman and Joan Severson, Loon Lake, “in loving memory of my daughter, Pearlyne Gimeno”; Pat and Roger French, 823 S. Park; Bob and Sharon Mellis, 3208 W. Queen Place; Dennis Frey, 1503 E. 58th; Tracy Howe, 6525 N. Austin Road; Boake and Barb Carter, 7206 N. Hamilton; the Mills, Rockford; Norman Logan, 13221 E. Boone.

Lucille Hinch, 7306 N. Standard, gave a second time because she feared the fund would not meet its goal. Her second contribution was “in lieu of buying gifts for my two great-grandchildren” who will receive more presents than they need and “will never miss some trinket from me. When they are old enough, I will explain to them how they, perhaps, made Christmas a little brighter for a needy child.”

What a wonderful grandma. Thank you.

Other $25 gifts came from Norman Logan, 13221 E. Boone; Beverly Schierman, 2025 E. North Crescent; Charles and Ruth Miller, 1713 E. Morris Court; Robert G. and Jeanette Johnson, 11710 N. Madison; Julia Chapman, Deer Park; Ann Thornburg, 1915 S. Hatch; Earl O’Connor, 5121 N. Ash; Alvida Williams, 928 E. 37th.

More $25 donations were made by Jim and Jackie Vroman, 1202 E. Newark; Gary and Donna Smith, 11823 N. Madison Court; Max Snyder, Spokane; Donald Fairburn, 920 W. Bellwood Drive; the Prairie Riders Saddle Club; Daniel Mahoney, 10720 E. 19th; Glenn and Helen Lynam, Medical Lake; the Sybouts, 6516 S. Waneta; Orzella Hartford, 8820 E. South Riverway, “in loving memory of my husband, John Hartford, who passed away in July.”

There were 13 anonymous gifts of $25, including one in “memory of the baby we lost in November. We have been so blessed to have one wonderful child; we wanted to share our blessings with other.” Another anonymous couple wished “all the children get a visit from Santa.”

Giving $20 was Richard and Jeanne Jahnke; Shirley Dicus; Randy and Peggy Czikall, 9502 N. Woodridge Drive; Allen Vicars, 527 S. Lincoln; Bruno Costa, 930 N. Washington; Brian and Judie Mitchell, 1006 N. Locust; Heide Gohlert, Cheney; Dorothy Schwab, 420 W. Brita.

The Mosgars, 4205 W. Wellesley; M.J. McCullough, Hay, Wash. Seven anonymous gifts of $20, including one from Keller, Wash.; another “thanking God for our love and many blessings”; and one “given in honor of the Lord Jesus.”

Jacob, Lucas and Alizabeth Green brought in $18 worth of coins. Thanks, kids. Gifts of $15 came from Debbie, Jay, Zack and Jenna Humphrey, Spokane, in memory of Vera Romero; Margaret Deviny 17021 E. Broadway; and an anonymous donor “in hopes it will bring a little happiness to some child’s heart.”

Donations of $10 came from Judith Andrews; Dorothea Nelson, 1623 E. Illinois; Mildred Beaudreau, 1230 E. Heroy; and two anonymous givers; John Goodearl, 419 S. Washington; and an anonymous gift of $4.

, DataTimes