Obituaries
Maj. Vera May Longbottom Cheney
Memorial service for Vera May Longbottom, 68, is planned for 1 p.m. today at the Barnes Chapel in Okanogan, Wash. Inurnment will be at the Omak (Wash.) City Memorial Cemetery.
Ms. Longbottom died Dec. 24. Born in Tonasket, Wash., she graduated from high school there in 1945. She received a bachelor’s degree from Whitworth College in 1951 and received a master’s degree from the University of Colorado in 1967.
She joined the Air Force in 1951 as a first lieutenant and served as a registered nurse at McChord Air Force Base.
Ms. Longbottom then attended a flight nurse course at Gunter Air Force Base and was assigned to Travis Air Force Base for air evacuation duty.
She served at various other duty stations including Fairchild Air Force Base, retiring as major in 1971.
She moved to Anchorage, Alaska, and then to Cheney in 1977.
Ms. Longbottom was active in the Alaska Heart Association and was a member of the Alaska Nurses Association.
She was a member of the Okanogan Methodist Church, the Society of Retired Air Force Nurses and was a charter member of the Women in Military Service for America.
Survivors include her mother, Myrtle Knight of Cheney; a sister, Eileen Showalter of Cheney; and one nephew.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Spokane, P.O. Box 2215, Spokane, 99210-2215, or to a charity of one’s choice.
Curtis Mansell Sanford, Fla.
Memorial service for Curtis Marion Mansell, 64, is planned for 11 a.m. today at Valley Fourth Memorial Church.
Mr. Mansell, a missionary, died Dec. 18. Born in Caldwell, Idaho, he attended college in Idaho and served in the Navy for seven years.
He married Donna Mae Thomas in 1950. She preceded him in death.
They moved to Spokane in 1973 and he worked for Farmer Brothers Restaurant supply and American Republic Insurance.
Mr. Mansell also served many years as treasurer at Valley Fourth Memorial Church which equipped him for the Missionary career that he and Donna embarked on in 1986 when they became missionaries with New Tribes Mission.
Survivors include his wife, Marguerite “Mickey” Mansell, at the home; three sons, Ken Mansell of Japan, Jerry Mansell of Chicago and Mark Mansell of Omak, Wash.; a daughter, Lyn Sears of Papua, New Guinea; a stepdaughter, Ruth McWeeney of Florida; a stepson, Dan Crilly of Florida; his mother of Boise; a sister, Shirlene Baker of Weiser; and 14 grandchildren.
H.L. ‘Bud’ Archer Grand Coulee
Memorial service for H.L. “Bud” Archer, 65, is planned for 1 p.m. today at the Strate Funeral Home in Grand Coulee.
Mr. Archer, who died Monday, was born in Pine Island, Minn. He served in the Army during the Korean War.
He married Dolly Clure in 1963 and they made their home in Colville, Wash.
The Archers moved to the Nespelem-Grand Coulee area in 1972 and he retired from the Grand Coulee School District in 1991.
Mr. Archer was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Cooties.
Mrs. Archer preceded him in death. Survivors include a daughter, Virginia Archer of Spokane; three brothers, John Archer, Howard Archer and Paul Archer, all of Minnesota; and five sisters, Lillian Durby, Evelyn Lunde, Darlene Dickinson, Virginia Zwartz and Elvira Wilson, all of Minnesota.
Arena Kimmell Tacoma
Service for Arena Kimmell was Tuesday at Mountain View Funeral Home in Tacoma.
Mrs. Kimmell, 85, died Dec. 28. Born in St. Joseph, Mo., she moved to Medical Lake many years ago and to Tacoma four years ago.
She was a Sunday school superintendent in Medical Lake and was a member of the Loyal Chapter No. 143, Order of Eastern Star.
Survivors include her husband of 62 years, John Kimmell, at the home; two sons, John Adam Kimmell II and Michael Kimmell; a daughter, Sarah Hill; four brothers, John Kurtright, Ralph Kurtright, Joe Kurtright and Jim Kurtright; two sisters, Josephine Gould and Dollie Davison; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Dorothy ‘Dot’ Purvis Coeur d’Alene
Service for Dorothy E. “Dot” Purvis, 64, is planned for 11 a.m. Monday at Riplinger Funeral Home followed by burial at Spokane Memorial Gardens. A reception will follow the graveside service at 1 p.m. at Casey’s Restaurant on North Monroe. Mrs. Purvis died Wednesday. Born in Austinville, Va., she attended college for two years in Michigan.
In 1949 She married Bob Clouse and they operated a motel in Michigan. In 1956 the Clouses moved to Spokane and operated a motel in the Spokane Valley. In 1958 they divorced and she moved to California.
Mrs. Purvis moved to Lewiston a short time later and married Pat Purvis. In 1965 they moved to Hayden Lake, Idaho.
In 1968 Mrs. Purvis opened an upscale women’s dress store, The Rag Bag, in Coeur d’Alene. In 1974 she closed the store and began working with her husband in the wholesale clothing and jewelry business until 1989.
She was a member of the Spokane Club, the Coeur d’Alene Business Women’s Club and American Association of Retired Persons.
Survivors include her husband, at the home; two sons, Woodward Clouse of Post Falls and Jon Purvis of Coeur d’Alene; a stepson, James Purvis of Coeur d’Alene; two stepdaughters, Ilene Carlson of California and Patti Peterson of Everett; a sister, Florida Goodson of Cheney; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Carl Roberts Spokane
No service is planned for Carl E. Roberts, 96, at his request. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home South is in charge of cremation and arrangements.
Mr. Roberts, who died Thursday, was born in Cleveland and moved to Spokane 12 years ago.
He was a volunteer for the Union Gospel Mission.
His wife, Catherine Roberts, died 50 years ago.
There are no surviving family members.
Friends who wish may make memorial contributions to Anna Ogden Hall for Women, W2825 Dean, Spokane, WA 99201.
Cherrie (Wall) Hessler Hayden Lake, Idaho
Private family memorial service will be held for Cherrie Lee (Wall) Hessler. Private inurnment will be at the Pines Cemetery.
Thornhill Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Hessler, 72, died Sunday. She was born and raised in Spokane and graduated from North Central High School. She attended Washington State University and worked as a travel agent for 20 years, before retiring in 1988.
She was a volunteer for the Women’s Shelter in Coeur d’Alene for several years.
Mrs. Hessler moved to Hayden Lake in 1988.
Survivors include three daughters, Sharon Browning, Everett and Rashel Browning and Susan Browning, both of Spokane; a son, Sean Hessler of Hayden Lake; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
George ‘Ray’ Kimmel Diamond Lake, Wash.
Service for George “Ray” Kimmel was Tuesday at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Newport, Wash., and was followed by burial at the Newport Cemetery.
Mr. Kimmel, 77, died Dec. 30. Born in Spokane, he moved to Diamond Lake in 1977, after retiring as the district manager for Arrow Transportation.
He served in the 116th Observation Squad in the Army Air Corp. during World War II.
Mr. Kimmel served as water commissioner for the Diamond Lake Water District and was a member of the Diamond Lake Improvement Association. He was a volunteer for the remedial reading program at the Newport Elementary School and was a past member of the Big Brother Program in Spokane.
He started the Junior Golf Program at the Ranch Club Golf Course in Priest River, Idaho, and was a member of the “Old Goats”.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Frances Kimmel, at the home; two sons, Larry Kimmel of Bend, Ore., and George Kimmel of Mead; two daughters, Jean Busan of Evansville, Ind., and Margaret Melampy of Ellensburg; a brother, Jack Kimmel of Spokane; two sisters, Kathryn Barbiri of Spokane and “Babe” Lee of Yakima; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
The family suggest memorials be made to the Junior Golf Program at the Ranch Club.
Elda Reneau Rose Lake, Idaho
A private family graveside service will be held for Elda Ada Reneau at Rose Lake Cemetery. Shoshone Funeral Service in Kellogg is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Reneau, 91, died Sunday. Born in Salmon, Idaho, she moved to the Shoshone County area in 1941 from Polson, Mont.
She was a homemaker and a member of the Rose Lake Senior Citizens and the Rose Lake Historical Society.
She married Harold Reneau in 1922.
Survivors include three daughters, Theda Edmondson of Norfolk, Va., Ruby Rose McDaniel of Rose Lake and Hazel Gransbury of Billings, Mont.; a sister, Ruby Hixon of Salmon; nine grandchildren, 21 greatgrandchildren and numerous greatgreat-grandchildren.
The family suggests that memorials be made to the Rose Lake Historical Society or to the Rose Lake Senior Citizens.
Beth Pasby Spokane
Funeral Mass for Beth Pasby, 90, will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the Jesuit House Chapel, Boone and Astor. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Pasby, who died Wednesday, was born in Canada and moved to Spokane 60 years ago.
She played organized hockey as a youth in Canada.
Mrs. Pasby was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Parish and was a former member of St. Aloysius Catholic Parish and Alter Society.
Survivors include two sons, Larry Pasby of Spokane and Robert Pasby of Palm Springs, Calif.; seven grandchildren and nine greatgrandchildren.
Clarence Stillar Veradale
Memorial service for Clarence B. Stillar, 65, is scheduled for 2 p.m. today at Good Sheperd Lutheran Church. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home South is in charge of cremation and arrangements.
Mr. Stillar died Tuesday. Born in International Falls, Minn., he moved as a teen to Medical Lake, where he attended Medical Lake High School.
He was a maintenance foreman for the city of Medical Lake for 25 years. He retired in 1983.
Mr. Stillar moved to Sequim, Wash., and returned to Veradale in 1993.
He was a member of Good Shephard Lutheran Church in the Valley and was a former volunteer fireman for the City of Medical Lake.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy E. (McBain) Stillar, at the home; two sons, Clifford Stillar of Medical Lake and Burton Stillar of Encino, Calif.; a daughter, Patricia Baggenstoss of Boise; a sister, Oneta Sipp of Spokane; and three brothers, John Bickell of Alberta, Canada, Zene Stillar of Spokane and Patrick Stillar of International Falls.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association of Washington, Inland Empire Chapter, S9 Washington No. 215, Spokane, WA 99204 or to the American Lung Association of Washington, N1322 Ash, Spokane, WA 99201.
Emil Gutschmidt Warden, Wash.
Service for Emil W. Gutschmidt, a lifetime Warden resident, was Tuesday at the Warden Community Church and was followed by burial at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Kayser’s Chapel of Memories in Moses Lake was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Gutschmidt, 87, died Dec. 28. He was born to pioneer parents, Christian and Rosina (Getzinger) Gutschmidt, and was raised in Warden where he attended school.
He worked for the Milwaukee Railroad until the late 1930s and then farmed with horses. He later helped open up the Basin area to irrigation. After retiring from farming he drove school bus for the Warden School District.
Mr. Gutschmidt was a member of the Warden Community Church.
He married Ella I. Burkholz in 1929.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, at the home; a daughter, Rosemary Powers of Kennewick; a sister, Laura Smuckal of Umapine, Ore.; five grandchildren and eight greatgrandchildren.
Ann Stephen Phoenix, Ariz.
Memorial service for Ann Stephen, 77, will be held later.
Mrs. Stephen, who died Dec. 22, was born in Davenport, Wash., and graduated from Central Valley High School and Kinman Business University.
She worked for the Central Valley School District as a secretary for 20 years and moved to Phoenix a few years ago.
Mrs. Stephen’s survivors include two daughters, Marcia Sands of Issaquah, Wash., and Jinae Carr of Phoenix; a sister, Bernadine Parrill of the Spokane Valley; three grandchildren and one niece.