Obituaries
Helena Wagner Chewelah, Wash.
Service for Helena Wagner, 92, will be at 9 a.m. today at the Chapel of the Valley Good Samaritan Nursing Home, E17121 Eighth, in Greenacres. Graveside service and burial will follow at 2 p.m. at the Chewelah (Wash.) Old City Cemetery.
Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Wagner died Saturday in Greenacres.
Born in Tuchin, Russia, she immigrated with her family to North Dakota when she was 4 years old. The family later moved to Grassy Lake, Alberta, and then to Blue Creek, Wash.
She later moved to Chewelah and graduated from Jenkins High School and Cheney Normal School.
Mrs. Wagner began teaching grades one through six in Orient, Wash., and then taught near Chewelah.
She married Jesse Hartill in 1928, and they farmed in Chewelah.
Mr. Hartill died in 1948.
She continued to farm after his death and also was employed as a domestic worker until she returned to college.
Mrs. Wagner graduated from Eastern Washington University with a degree in education in 1958. She taught in Addy and Coulee City, Wash.
She married Walter E. Wagner in 1959, and they made their home in Soap Lake, Wash.
The Wagners later moved to Chewelah.
She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday school for many years. She also served as Sunday school superintendent, Ladies Aid president, and choir member and often assisted with youth activities.
Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Roseanna Nielsen of Seattle; a sister, Caroline Fauser of Paradise, Calif.; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Spokane Valley Good Samaritan Nursing Home, E17121 Eighth, Greenacres, WA 99016.
Glenna Beach Spokane
Graveside committal service for Glenna Yvonne Beach, 74, is scheduled for 10 a.m. today at Riverside Memorial Park followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. at Unity Church of Truth.
Hazen & Jaeger Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Beach, who died Friday, was born on a farm in Stanberry, Mo.
She began a teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse and then moved to Spokane in 1951 with her husband, Curtis Murry.
Mr. Murry died in 1968.
She married Ralph Beach in 1972. He died in 1993.
Mrs. Beach taught school in District 81 for 25 years at Loma Vista, Arlington and Hamblen Elementary schools.
She was a member of Unity Church of Truth, the Spokane Area Retired Educators Association and the National Teachers’ Sorority - Alpha Delta Kappa.
Mrs. Beach was also a charter member of the Alpha Sigma Chapter.
Survivors include a daughter, Vicky Cavin of Mead; two stepdaughters, Sherry Johnson of Spokane and Diane Hershberger of Auburn, Wash.; a stepson, Richard Beach of Loon Lake, Wash.; three sisters, Virginia Slagle and Betty Holeman, both of King City, Mo., and Mary Lyerla of Olathe, Kan.; three brothers, Robert Walton of Oklahoma City, Okla., Judge Herbert Walton of Olathe, Kan., and Dr. W. Dean Walton of Shawnee Mission, Kan.; and five grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, N900 Maple, Spokane 99201 for breast-cancer research.
Verna Warner Spokane
Service for Verna Warner, 71, will be at 2 p.m. today at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home. Private inurnment is planned.
Mrs. Warner died Friday.
Born in Vernal, Utah, she moved to Spokane in 1971.
She worked as a receptionist for Eagles Aerie 2 for 10 years.
Mrs. Warner was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary to Eagles Aerie 2 and of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, Shiloh Hills Ward.
Survivors include two sons, Thomas Martin Warner of Post Falls and Lawrence Warner of West Lake Village, Calif.; two daughters, Tamara Thompson and Gail Warner both of Spokane; five brothers, Martin, Wayne and Marvin Hamaker, all of Utah, and Charles and Weston Hamaker, both of California; two sisters, Morna Winkleman of Utah and Ora Buckley of New Jersey; and six grandchildren.
Robert ‘Bob’ Klatt Garfield Bay, Idaho
Service for Robert “Bob” G. Klatt, 76, was Monday at First Lutheran Church in Sandpoint and was followed by burial at Pinecrest Memorial Park.
Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Klatt, who died Friday, was born in Spokane and graduated from West Valley High School in 1935.
He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, working at Fort George Wright and Sullivan Lake.
Mr. Klatt attended Washington State University and then served in the Army during World War II. He was a member of the Army Reserve, leaving with the rank of captain.
He married Genevieve Powers in 1947 in Ritzville, where he managed Big Bend Electric for eight years.
The family moved to Sandpoint in 1956, and he worked as an electrical engineer for Northern Lights before retiring in 1978.
He was elected to the Bonner County Commission in 1978 and served a four-year term.
Mr. Klatt was a member of First Lutheran Church, where he was a past board member. He was past president of the Sandpoint Kiwanis Club and the Ritzville Toastmasters.
He served on the boards of the Panhandle Health District and the Garfield Bay Sewer District.
Mr. Klatt, a pilot, was involved in local flying clubs and activities.
Survivors include his wife, Genevieve Klatt; five daughters, Mary Hokzema of Spokane, Teresa Leedy of Sagle, Idaho, Eileen Klatt of East Hope, Idaho, Colleen Klatt of Chicago Park, Calif., and Susan Rapp of Fresno, Calif.; four sons, Robert Klatt of Packwood, Wash., Steve Klatt of Sagle, Idaho, Phillip Klatt-Mogro of Emeryville, Calif., and Paul Klatt of Post Falls; a brother, Richard Klatt of Spokane; two sisters, Irene Steiger of Tacoma and Virginia Craig of Newberry Springs, Calif.; and nine grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church in Sandpoint.
Roy ‘Zip’ Gibbs Fairfield
Memorial service for Roy W. “Zip” Gibbs, 77, is planned for 2 p.m. today at the Presbyterian Church in Fairfield.
Mr. Gibbs died Friday of cancer.
He was born in Hartline, Wash., and was raised in Post Falls and Fairfield, where he attended school.
He graduated from high school in Fairfield and joined the Army, in which he served four years.
After his discharge, he attended a communication school in Spokane for two years.
Mr. Gibbs worked as an accountant for several businesses in Tekoa, Wash., and Fairfield and also worked as a small-appliance repairman for several years.
He was involved in various civic affairs in Fairfield.
After his retirement, he lived in Spokane for 10 years and recently moved to a care center to be near his family.
Survivors include a sister, Marian Reedy of Pullman; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Spokane.
James ‘Doug’ Lyons Moses Lake
Memorial service for James Douglas “Doug” Lyons, 53, will be at 2 p.m. today at Kayser’s Chapel of Memories in Moses Lake.
Mr. Lyons died Friday.
He was born and raised in Kellogg, where he attended school.
He served in the Navy from 1958 until 1962.
Following his honorable discharge, he made his home in Moses Lake, where he had resided since.
Survivors include his wife, Sherril Lyons; two daughters, Teresa Bernier of Moses Lake and Janet Watson of Lubbock, Texas; four stepchildren, Greg Rohrich of Walla Walla, Peggy Davis of Spokane, Kathy Lewis of Greenacres, and Shelly Carlson of Moses Lake; a sister, Gail Conklin of Spokane; three grandchildren and 12 stepgrandchildren.
Opal Houchin Spokane
Service for Opal J. Houchin, 83, will be at noon today at Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home followed by burial at Riverside Memorial Park.
Mrs. Houchin died Thursday. Born in Purcell, Mo., she moved to Spokane 40 years ago.
She was a homemaker and attended Covenant Christian Church for many years.
Survivors include a son, Ginger LeRoy Chambers of Moses Lake; and several nieces and nephews.
Johanna Stevens Post Falls
Rosary was said Monday for Johanna C. Stevens, 92, at Mary Immaculate Queen Church in Rathdrum, Idaho. Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. today at the church followed by burial at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Rathdrum.
Mrs. Stevens died Saturday.
Born in Maashees, Netherlands, she moved to Post Falls 20 years ago from Eagle River, Wis.
She had owned and operated the Cranberry Lake Resort in Eagle River.
Mrs. Stevens was a member of Mary Immaculate Queen Church in Rathdrum.
Her husband died in 1972.
Survivors include two sons, William Stevens of Wheeling, Ill., and John Stevens of McMurray, Penn.; a daughter, Mary Foeller of Post Falls; three sisters, Cora Vink of Thiensville, Wis., and Nel Vanderbeek and Cisca Janssen, both of the Netherlands; 17 grandchildren and 18 greatgrandchildren.
Edward Burkart Spokane
Vigil service for Edward J. Burkart, 86, is planned for 7 p.m. today at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church followed by entombment at Holy Cross Cemetery Mausoleum.
Mr. Burkart died Saturday.
Born in Galahad, Alberta, he moved to Spokane in 1923.
He was a millworker in the lumber industry.
Mr. Burkart was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
He married Ruth Shaffer in 1933. She died in 1989.
Survivors include a son, Francis Burkart of Spokane; three daughters, Carol Curry, Joyce Sylvester and Donna Burkart, all of Spokane; a sister, Dorothy Deasy of Spokane; 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to House of Charity, P.O. Box 1453, Spokane 99210.
Guy Swanson Spokane
Service for Guy E. Swanson, 78, is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday at Plymouth Congregational Church followed by burial at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Swanson, a lifetime Spokane resident, died Friday.
He served in the Army Corps of Engineers in the South Pacific from 1942 to 1945.
Mr. Swanson worked for the Bonneville Power Administration and the Postal Service from 1948 until 1974.
He married Frances Sim in 1947.
Mr. Swanson was a life member of the Spokane Elks Lodge and the Elks bowling team. He was also a member of N.A.R.F. and A.P.W.U.
Survivors include his wife of 47 years; a brother, Don Swanson of Post Falls; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the Union Gospel Mission, E1224 Trent, Spokane 99202.
Janie Pohle Kettle Falls, Wash.
Service for Janie E. Pohle, 86, is planned for 2 p.m. today at Danekas Funeral Chapel in Colville, Wash., followed by cremation.
Mrs. Pohle, who died Thursday, was born in Willow River, Minn. She attended school in Springdale, Wash., and graduated from Northport High School.
She married Julius Pohle in 1929, and they farmed along the Columbia River near Northport for nearly 50 years.
Mrs. Pohle was a member of the Northport Ladies Club, the Kettle Falls Senior Citizens, and the Colville United Methodist Church.
Mr. Pohle died in 1980.
Survivors include a sister, Myra Brothers of Colville; a brother, Arden Lockman of Fresno, Calif.; special friends Judy and Jerry Davis of Kettle Falls; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Dorothy Taschereau Spokane
Memorial service for Dorothy F. “Mother” Taschereau, 80, is scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home.
Mrs. Taschereau, who died Friday, was born in Spokane.
From 1976 to 1988 she lived in Coulee City, Wash., where she and her husband farmed.
Mrs. Taschereau later returned to Spokane.
Survivors include two daughters, Sandra Moore and Betty Smith; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to Cancer Patient Care.
Helen James Spokane
Service for Helen M. James, 81, is planned for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home North followed by burial at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mrs. James died Saturday.
Born in Armstrong Springs, Ark., she graduated from high school in Bozeman, Mont., in 1930.
During World War II, she worked in the motor pool at Gallon Field in Boise.
Mrs. James moved to Spokane in 1947. She worked for J.C. Penney as a fashion coordinator from 1948 to 1953.
For a short time she lived in Africa, where she was an accountant for the Corp of Engineers in Morocco.
Mrs. James then returned to Spokane.
She was a member of First Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Clifford G. James; a daughter, Barbara Bridge of Fontana, Calif.; a stepson, Clifford James of Spokane; a sister, Dorothy Gustafson of San Francisco, Calif.; 19 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Florence ‘Erma’ McFarling Spokane
Service for Florence “Erma” McFarling, 71, is planned for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Riplinger Funeral Home. Private burial will be at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
Mrs. McFarling, a lifetime Spokane resident, died Saturday.
She was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, James W. McFarling; a daughter, Beverly Sordahl of Spokane; a son, James McFarling of Spokane; her mother, Rose Walker of California; two sisters, Muriel Allison of California and Vivian Konkel of Spokane; four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Alva Young Spokane
Graveside service for Alva J. Young, 93, will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Woodland Cemetery in Deer Park.
Thornhill Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Young died Saturday.
Born in Sundsvall, Sweden, she moved to the Spokane area 65 years ago.
Her husband, Porter C. Young, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a sister, Freida Schonfeld of Spokane.
Vernon Healy Priest River, Idaho
Service for Vernon O. Healy, 64, was Saturday at Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Priest River. Burial will be at a later date at the Evergreen Cemetery in Priest River.
Mr. Healy, an Army veteran, died Wednesday.
Born in Caldwell, Idaho, he lived in California from 1952 to the mid-1960s.
He was a wine salesman in Napa Valley, Calif.
Mr. Healy later moved to the Priest River area, where he worked in the woods. He worked for many logging operations, including Bill Follmer’s and most recently, Doug Cook’s.
Mr. Healy was a member of the Cusick Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Survivors include two daughters, Rosalind Combley and Pamila Lerner, both of California; a son, Rick Healy of California; his mother, Thelma Clark of Priest River; and five grandchildren.
Dan Kelly Spokane
Service for Dan H. Kelly, 83, is planned for 1 p.m. Friday at Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home followed by burial at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
Mr. Kelly, a lifetime Spokane resident, died Friday.
He retired from the Spokane Fire Department in the 1960s.
Mr. Kelly was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans.
Survivors include a son, William Kelly of Spokane; a daughter, Danielle Sauerland of Folsom, Calif.; numerous brothers and sisters, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Olga ‘Ollie’ Kukuk Spokane
Memorial service for Olga M. “Ollie” Kukuk, 87, was Monday and was followed by a graveside service at Greenwood Memorial Terrace. Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Kukuk died Wednesday.
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, she moved to Spokane 37 years ago.
She was a member of the Pratt Avenue Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
She married Fred Kukuk in 1958. He preceded her in death.
Survivors include three stepchildren, Herb Kukuk of Four Lakes, Wash., and Dora Mathews and Erna Diemert, both of Spokane; and a brother, Michael Zailo of Vernon, British Columbia.