Obituaries
Laura Goodwin Kettle Falls, Wash.
No service is planned for Laura May Goodwin, 71, at her request. Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of cremation and arrangements.
Mrs. Goodwin, who died Jan. 18 from complications of asthma and emphysema, was born in Portland. She was raised in Spokane and attended Lewis and Clark High School.
She and her husband, George E. Goodwin, moved to Kentucky for two years and then returned to the Spokane area.
The Goodwins moved to Kettle Falls two years ago.
She was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post No. 1434.
Survivors include her husband of more than 55 years, George E. Goodwin; two sons, Laddy Goodwin of Tennessee and Robert Goodwin of Yelm, Wash.; a daughter, Sharon Dearing of Spokane; two brothers, Dick Barker and Jim Barker, both of Colville, Wash.; four sisters, Mickey “Virginia” VanGrimbergen of Wilbur, Wash., Marguret Reed of Spokane, Agnes Back of Staunton, Va., and Pat Wessling of Deer Park; two very special friends, Lala and Richard Gurske of Sandy, Utah; 14 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and three greatgreat-grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to the American Lung Association.
Melvin Hubert Spokane
Service for Melvin K. Hubert, 83, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Riplinger Funeral Home followed by burial at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mr. Hubert died Tuesday. Born in Addy, Wash., he graduated from Jenkins High School in Chewelah, Wash.
He moved to Spokane 55 years ago and worked as a foreman for Kaiser Aluminum-Mead.
Mr. Hubert was a member of the Retired Kaiser’s Employees.
Survivors include his wife of more than 60 years, Gertie M. (Perlans) Hubert; two sons, Ron Hubert and Kenneth Hubert, both of Spokane; a daughter, Janice Crandall of Spokane; a brother, Albert Hubert of Chewelah; 11 grandchildren and 12 greatgrandchildren.
Memorial Contributions may be given to the Alzheimer’s Association.
John ‘Ever’ Falk Sr. Spokane
Service for John “Ever” Falk Sr., 93, is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday at Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport, Wash., followed by burial at the Newport Cemetery.
Mr. Falk died Monday. Born in Sweden, he immigrated to Avery, Wis. He later moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and then settled on a ranch near Usk, Wash.
He worked in the lumber industry in Bonners Ferry, Lewiston, Cusick, Wash., and Superior, Mont. He moved to Spokane three years ago.
He married Ann “Nancy” Boucher in 1933. She died in 1970.
Survivors include two sons, John Falk Jr. of Spokane and Arthur Yngve Falk of Canoga Park, Calif.; a brother, Ed Falk of California; a sister, Dorothy Gallager of California; seven grandchildren and seven greatgrandchildren.
Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Nilles Medical Lake
Vigil service for Elizabeth A. “Betty” Nilles, 81, is planned for 7 p.m. Friday at St. Anne Catholic Church in Medical Lake. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church followed by a 2 p.m. committal service at Holy Cross Cemetery. HennesseySmith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Nilles died Tuesday. Born in Spokane, she moved to Medical Lake in 1947.
She worked for Eastern State Hospital for 13 years in the housekeeping department
Mrs. Nilles was a member of St. Anne Parish in Medical Lake and the Espanola Grange.
She married Peter Nilles in 1935. He died in 1993.
Survivors include three sons, Michael Nilles and Clifford Nilles, both of Medical Lake, and Daniel Nilles of Spokane; a daughter, Terry Rice of Othello, Wash.; a sister, Margaret Emry of Bayview, Idaho; a brother, Michael Mahoney of Phoenix, Ariz.; 17 grandchildren and 21 greatgrandchildren.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Cheney Care Center, N2219 Sixth, Cheney, WA 99004.
Ruby Hoagland Spokane
Memorial service for Ruby E. Hoagland, 83, is planned for 2 p.m. Friday at Hillyard Baptist Church. Private graveside service will precede the service at Fairmount Memorial Park. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Hoagland died Monday. Born in Caldwell, Idaho, she moved to Spokane 50 years ago.
She was a homemaker and a member of the Hillyard Baptist Church.
Mrs. Hoagland was a member of the Peone Homemakers and the Deer Creek Homemakers Clubs. She was a former Spokane County treasurer for the Homemakers organizations.
She was also a member of the Inland Grange in Elk and attended the Pillars Society.
Her husband of 55 years, Louis A. Hoagland, died in 1984.
Survivors include two sons, Bud Hoagland of Priest Lake, Idaho, and Dan Hoagland of Spokane; two sisters, Thelma Bish of Marsing, Idaho, and Ila Lewis of Baker, Ore.; five grandchildren and 10 greatgrandchildren.
The family suggests memorials to Hillyard Baptist Church, E2121 Wabash, Spokane 99207 or to the American Cancer Society, N900 Maple, Spokane 99201.
Sylvia Perry Spokane
Service and burial for Sylvia I. Perry, 71, will be at 1 p.m. today at the Pines Cemetery. Hazen & Jaeger Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Perry died Monday. Born in Rosewood, Minn., she moved to Spokane 10 years ago. She was a homemaker and a member of the Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband of 51 years, William Perry; a son, Richard Perry of Spokane; a daughter, Cheryl Hayes of Otis Orchards; a brother, Chester Mellem of Spokane; a sister, Alice Poler of Spokane; and two grandchildren.
Patricia Higbee Kellogg
Rosary was said Wednesday for Patricia Marie Higbee, 56. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today at St. Rita’s Catholic Church followed by burial at Greenwood Cemetery in Kellogg. Shoshone Funeral Service in Kellogg is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Higbee, a lifetime Kellogg resident, died Monday.
She graduated from Kellogg High School in 1956 and worked as a legal secretary for Evan’s & Keane for 10 years and as a secretary for Bunker Hill Co. for 18 years.
Mrs. Higbee was a member of St. Rita’s Catholic Church, the Catholic Daughters and the Idaho Association of Legal Secretaries.
Survivors include her husband, Glenn Higbee; two daughters, Connie Jones of Seattle and Carolyn Wiebe of Spokane; a brother, Joe Rinaldi of Kellogg; two sisters, Barbara Absec of Kellogg and Andrea McCrimmon of Escondido, Calif.; and two grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of North Idaho.
Edward Mellon Spokane
Funeral Mass for Edward John Mellon, 78, will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Aloysius Catholic Church followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Mellon died Tuesday. Born in Kenare, N.D., he moved to Spokane 47 years ago.
He worked as a crane operator.
Mr. Mellon was a member of St. Aloysius Parish and was a past member of the Knights of Columbus. He was also a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.
His first wife, Mary Mellon, died in 1967.
Survivors include his wife, Pauline (McKee) Mellon; two sons, Ron Mellon of Poulsbo, Wash., and Terry Mellon of Post Falls; two daughters, Rhonda Barnes of Osborn, Idaho, and Kaysey Orlowski of Kent, Wash.; two stepsons and two stepdaughters; seven grandchildren, 14 stepgrandchildren and 13 stepgreat-grandchildren.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Merlin Wilson St. Maries
Memorial service for Merlin R. Wilson, 70, is planned for 11 a.m. today at Yates-Hodge Funeral Home in St. Maries.
Mr. Wilson died Monday. He was born in Addy, Wash., and graduated from high school in Coeur d’Alene.
He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He returned to Coeur d’Alene and married Pauline Conley. They later divorced.
Mr. Wilson moved to San Francisco in 1950. He moved to St. Maries in 1968 and worked as an engineer for the Forest Service before retiring in 1982.
He married Marge Adams in 1978. They later divorced.
Survivors include two sons, Michael Wilson of Napa, Calif., Randy Wilson of Medimont, Idaho, and Pat Wilson of Livermore, Calif.; his mother, Mildred Heald of Otis, Ore.; and two grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the St. Maries Babe Ruth Baseball program in care of Jim Griesser of St. Maries.
Donald Denison Sr. Post Falls
No service is planned for Donald Irwin Denison Sr., 71, at his request. English Funeral Chapel in Post Falls is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Denison died Sunday. Born in Potlatch, Idaho, he moved to Hayden Lake, Idaho, in 1964. He worked as a miner at the Sunshine Silver Mine in Kellogg, retiring in the early 1980s. He moved to Post Falls in 1980.
Survivors include his wife, Georgia May Denison; three daughters, Joan Christmann of Kellogg, Donna Cody of Oklahoma and Tina Sanborn of Cataldo, Idaho; two stepsons, Michael Hyndman of Pinehurst, Idaho, and Leonard Harrison of St. Maries; a brother, Walter Denison of Spokane; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Halo Spedden Chewelah, Wash.
Memorial service for Halo Jane Spedden, 96, will be at 3 p.m. today at the United Church of Christ in Chewelah. Schanzenbach Funeral Home in Chewelah is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Spedden died Tuesday. Born in Octavia, Neb., she moved to Chewelah with her family in 1906.
Her husband, Richard Spedden, preceded her in death. Survivors include several nephews and nieces.
Nick Ressa Spokane
No service is planned for Nick J. Ressa, 73, at his request. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery. Thornhill Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Ressa, a lifetime Spokane resident, died Sunday.
He graduated from Gonzaga Preparatory School and served in the Navy during World War II.
Mr. Ressa worked for W.P. Fuller, City Glass, Acme Glass and Glass Inc. for 40 years before retiring in 1981.
He was a member of the Spokane Valley Eagles Aerie.
Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Ressa; a son, Don Ressa of Spokane; a daughter, Laurie Yarber of Spokane; three brothers, Jim Ressa of Colville, Wash., and Bert Ressa and John Ressa, both of Spokane; and three grandchildren.
Frank St. Jeor Beaverton, Ore.
Graveside service for Frank St. Jeor, 78, was Monday in Portland.
Mr. St. Jeor died last Thursday of cancer. Born in Clover, Utah, he worked in California in construction and in the shipyards.
He moved to Lewiston in 1946 and worked in construction. In 1954 he moved to Spokane, where he owned a construction business. After retiring from that, he worked as a building inspector.
Mr. St. Jeor moved to Oregon in 1990.
Survivors include his wife, Marylyn; three daughters, Cheryl Krochmal of Tigard, Ore., Janice Corder of Gresham, Ore., and Stacey Budrow of Beaverton; and four grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Claudia Morse Spokane
Private cremation service was held for Claudia Morse. Riplinger Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Morse, 96, died Monday. Born in Mobile, Ala., she moved to Spokane 19 years ago. She worked in alterations at various dry cleaners.
Survivors include two daughters, Phyllis Yockey and Barbara Tester, both of Spokane; five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, five greatgreat-grandchildren and three greatgreat-great-grandchildren.