Obituaries
Susan Sheets Pullman
Service for Susan Marie Sheets, 37, is planned for 1 p.m. today at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Pullman followed by burial at the Garfield (Wash.) Cemetery. Kramer Funeral Home in Palouse is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Sheets died Wednesday of cancer. Born in Moscow, Idaho, she graduated from high school in West Hartford, Conn., in 1975.
She married Roy McDonald in 1976. They later divorced.
In 1977, Ms. Sheets moved to Pullman, where she attended Washington State University and studied office administration and political science. She worked for attorney Irwin Myklebust from 1979 to 1980.
Ms. Sheets began her professional career at Washington State University in 1980 as a secretary and last worked as an administrative assistant for the director of human resources. She represented the university with high schools and with visiting dignitaries.
Ms. Sheets was voted Outstanding WSU Secretary of 1992 by her coworkers.
She married Dwaine Sheets in 1986 and they made their home in Pullman. They later divorced.
Ms. Sheets was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Palouse Empire Saddle Club. She was active in the 4-H Club and Future Farmers of America during her youth.
She was a member of the Office Automation Computer Users Group and also volunteered at her children’s schools.
Survivors include three children, Angie, Amanda and Bradley Sheets, at the home; her parents, Donald and Janice Backus of Milton, Wash.; three brothers, Samuel Backus of Portland, Gary Backus of Montgomery, Ala., and Abraham Backus of Tacoma; four sisters, Connie Gilbert-Day of Conway, Wash., Shirley Johnson of Mount Vernon, Wash., Marjorie Powell of Pasco and Sarah Strang of Soldotna, Alaska; and her grandmother.
Memorial gifts may be given to trust accounts for her children at Washington Mutual Savings Bank in Pullman; to the WSU Foundation for Single Working Parent of the Year; or to Hospice of the Palouse, S803 Jefferson, Moscow, ID.
Charles Morris Spokane
Memorial service for Charles G. Morris, 60, is scheduled for 10 a.m. today at Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home.
Mr. Morris, who died Wednesday, was born in Pomeroy, Wash. and moved to Spokane as an infant.
He served on the USS Kearsarge during the Korean War.
Mr. Morris worked as a union carpenter specializing in finishing work.
His wife, Annette Morris, preceded him in death.
Survivors include his mother, Martha Gregory of Spokane; two sisters, Elizabeth Richardson of Wenatchee and Helen Herndon of Spokane; and numerous nieces and nephews.
R.T. ‘Monty’ Montague Spokane
Service for R.T. “Monty” Montague, 83, is scheduled for 1 p.m. today at Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home followed by burial at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mr. Montague, a lifetime Spokane area resident, died Tuesday.
He worked for the Spokane Fire Department before retiring in 1964 as captain after 25 years of service.
Mr. Montague was a member of the Spokane Eagles Aerie No. 2, American Legion Post 9 and the Senior Bowling League.
Survivors include his friend, Alice Lamphier of Spokane; and several nieces and nephews.
The family suggests memorials to the charity or organization of one’s choice.
George Wilkins Deer Park
Service for George W. Wilkins, 96, is planned for 10 a.m. today at the Lauer Funeral Home in Deer Park followed by burial at the Woodland Cemetery in Deer Park.
Mr. Wilkins died last Saturday. Born in Michigan, he moved to the Deer Park area in the 1920s.
He served in the Army during World War II and then worked as a logger.
Survivors include numerous nieces and nephews.
Raymond Loran Spokane
Vigil service for Raymond M. Loran, 69, was Friday at St. John Vianney Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today at St. John Vianney Catholic Church followed by burial at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Thornhill Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Loran, who died Thursday, was born in Richardton, N.D., and moved to Spokane 40 years ago.
He worked for Kaiser AluminumTrentwood for four years and then worked for Pacific Northwest Bell for 17 years as a mail carrier. He retired in 1977.
Mr. Loran was a member of the Happy Wheels Campers Club, the Spokane Valley Eagles Club and St. John Vianney Catholic Church. He was a former member of the Knights of Columbus.
Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Ruth M. Loran; two daughters, Nancy Gerber and Anita Jo Brooks, both of Spokane; two sons, Mike Loran of Federal Way, Wash., and John Loran of Auburn, Wash.; two brothers, George Loran of Yakima and Ted Loran of Kennewick; a sister, Tillie Richards of Bowman, N.D.; 19 grandchildren and 10 greatgrandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association Northeast Chapter, S9 Washington, Suite 215, Spokane 99204.
Ruth Coffman Spokane
Service for Ruth Coffman, 70, will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home North followed by burial at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mrs. Coffman died Monday.
Born in Belmont, Mont., she moved to Spokane in 1947.
She worked as a payroll clerk for Kaiser Aluminum-Trentwood for 35 years before retiring in 1982.
Survivors include her husband of 46 years, Gilbert Coffman; a daughter, Shelley Holcomb of Spokane; three brothers, Conrad Rue of Portland, Ernest Rue of Polson, Mont., and Carl Rue of Portland; two sisters, Evelyn Lawrence of Billings, Mont., and Mabel Cross of Roundup, Mont.; and three grandchildren.
A. Matilda Raisio Spokane
Service for A. Matilda Raisio, 89, is planned for 1 p.m. Monday at Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home, followed by burial at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Miss Raisio, a lifetime Spokane resident, died Thursday.
She graduated from Eastern Washington University and worked as a teacher and personal assistant for Spokane School District 81 from 1945 to 1967.
Miss Raisio was a member of the Women of the Moose, the Spokane Business and Professional Women’s Club and the Spokane Retired Teachers Association. She was also a member of the St. Luke’s Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and the Corbin Senior Center.
Survivors include a sister, Aune Maki of Spokane; a brother, Vaino Raisio of Northport, Wash.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Freda Jacob Spokane
Service for Freda E. Jacob, 98, is planned for 1 p.m. today at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. Private committal will be at Greenwood Memorial Terrace. Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Jacob died Monday. Born in Lincoln, Mont., she moved to Spokane 51 years ago.
A homemaker, she was a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and was formerly active on the building committee.
She was a former member of the American Legion Post 136 Auxiliary and had been a volunteer at the Veterans Affairs Hospital for many years.
Her husband of 54 years, Loyd Jacob, died in 1974.
Survivors include three daughters, Ann Vandiver of Spokane, Hazel Pace of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and Bette Neff of Deer Park; a son, Loyd Jacob of Spokane; a sister, Burnetta Toner of Bremerton; 13 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
The family suggest memorials to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, N2404 Howard, Spokane 99205, or to the charity or organization of one’s choice.
Harold Kelset Colville, Wash.
Service for Harold W. Kelset, 85, is planned for 10 a.m. today at the Danekas Funeral Chapel in Colville. Private burial will follow at the Mountain View Park Cemetery.
Mr. Kelset died Wednesday. Born in Blue Creek, Wash., he graduated from Chewelah High School in 1927. He attended business college in Spokane for three years and became a certified public accountant.
He married Elvera “Bea” Miller in 1931.
The Kelsets started a dairy in 1946 in the Greenwood area near Kettle Falls, Wash., and operated it until retirement in 1969.
They moved to Kettle Falls and then later moved to Colville.
Mr. Kelset was a member of the Greenwood Grange.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Pat Mayhugh of Ephrata, Wash., and Jacqueline Elliott of Apple Valley, Minn.; two brothers, Frank Kjolseth of Chewelah and George Kjolseth of Colville; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Jean Whitney Spokane
No service is planned for Jean E. Whitney, 76, at her request.
Hazen & Jaeger Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Whitney died Thursday.
Born in Sheridan, Wyo., she moved to Spokane 43 years ago from Butte, Mont.
She worked in retail sales for Carnation Co., Darigold and Early Dawn Dairy.
Mrs. Whitney retired from the Sheraton Hotel as assistant manager.
Survivors include her husband of 43 years, Bob Whitney; two sons, Harry Beal and John Beal, both of Seattle; a daughter, Harriet Sherburne of Portland; and four grandchildren.
Thyra Hansen Spokane
Graveside service for Thyra I. Hansen, 88, is planned for 10 a.m. today at the Wilbur (Wash.) Cemetery. A family memorial service will be held at a later date. Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Hansen died Jan. 9.
She was born in Wilbur, where she attended grade school and high school.
She attended business school in Spokane and then returned to Wilbur, where she began her 40-year career with the Washington Water Power Co.
Ms. Hansen moved to Spokane 20 years ago to be with her twin sister, Helga Bossler.
She was a 51-year member of the Washington Water Power Trail Blazers, a 50-year member of the Order of Eastern Star, and a 30-year member of Beta Sigma Pi.
Survivors include a brother, Sigvard Hansen of Pasco; four nephews and five nieces.
Jay Naccarato Spokane
Vigil service for Jay Naccarato, 82, is planned for 7 p.m. Sunday at St. John Vianney Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. John Vianney Catholic Church followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Naccarato, a lifetime Spokane resident, died Thursday. He graduated from West Valley High School.
He bought Farmer’s Market in 1947 and operated it until the time of his death.
Mr. Naccarato was a member of St. John Vianney Parish.
Survivors include his wife, Dena Rinaldi Naccarato; three sons, Peter Naccarato of Coeur d’Alene, Charles Naccarato of Greenaces and Michael Naccarato of Spokane; 13 grandchildren and seven greatgrandchildren.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Morning Star Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 8087, Spokane 99203.
Gary Fleming Fernwood, Idaho
Memorial service for Gary R. Fleming, 64, is planned for 1 p.m. Monday at the Riverside Cemetery in Santa, Idaho, with military rites by the Fairchild Air Force Base Honor Guard. Yates-Hodge Funeral Home in St. Maries is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Fleming died Monday. He was born and raised in St. Maries, where he attended school.
He enlisted in the Air Force in 1947 and worked as a transportation specialist. Mr. Fleming served two years in Korea and one year in Vietnam. He retired in 1973 and returned to St. Maries.
He married Helma Edinger in 1959.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Kelly Fleming of Ohio; a daughter, Patty Fleming of Colorado; two sisters, Audra Swofford of St. Maries and Marie Dorvork of Portland; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the Fernwood Emergency Medical Technicians.