Obituaries
Catherine Thompson Spokane
Service for Catherine R. Thompson, 81, is set for noon Wednesday at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Burial will be at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mrs. Thompson, who died Saturday, was born in Uniontown, Wash.
She had lived in Spokane for 55 years and was a hospital housekeeper.
Mrs. Thompson is survived by three sisters, Barbara McGrew of Beeville, Texas, Roberta Bacon of Kent, Wash., and Darlien Holl of Valley, Wash.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
LaVerle Peltier Spokane
Rosary service for LaVerle C. Peltier, 76, is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday at St. Paschal’s Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be at 9 a.m. Thursday at the church. Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Peltier, who was born in Garden, Mich., died Saturday at home.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Jerome “Jerry” Peltier; two sons, Charles and Frank Peltier; one daughter, Joan Rheinschmidt; two granddaughters and two great-grandchildren.
Marie Kuesterman Spokane
Graveside service for Marie J. Kuesterman, 93, was Monday at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
Mrs. Kuesterman, who was born in Hamilton, Mont., died Wednesday.
She had lived in Spokane for 89 years and was a homemaker.
She is survived by one daughter, Ramona Parsons, and one son, Donald Kuesterman, both of Spokane; and two granddaughters.
Louise Farley Pinehurst, Idaho
Mass for Louise J. Farley, 68, will be today at 10 a.m. at St. Rita’s Catholic Church, Kellogg. Shoshone Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Farley, who was born in Lisbon, N.D., died Thursday. She moved to the area in the 1940s from North Dakota.
She worked as a dental assistant and also was a bank teller for First Security Bank. She also had worked for the Idaho Employment Service and retired from West Shoshone Hospital, where she had worked as a licensed practical nurse.
Mrs. Farley was a member of the W.B.A. and the Kellogg Country Club.
She loved nursing and caring for people.
Survivors include her husband, William Farley; a son, Michael Farley of Kingston, Idaho; a daughter, Kathleen Connor of Coeur d’Alene; her mother, Gertrude Erwin of Hermiston, Ore.; a sister, Gloria Schiffner of Hermiston, Ore.; five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Memorials may be sent to Hospice of North Idaho.
Edward Hoh Post Falls
Mass for Edward L. Hoh, 64, will be at 10 a.m. today at the Immaculate Conception Church in Post Falls. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Post Falls. English Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Hoh, who was born in Chicago, died Friday. He came to the area in 1973 and was a maintenance person for the Holiday Inn and North Idaho College.
He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church in Post Falls.
Survivors include his two sisters, Sister Mary Edward and Sister Mary Joseph, both of Post Falls.
Esther Smiley Kellogg
Service for Esther Irene Smiley, 96, will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Shoshone Funeral Service Chapel, Kellogg.
Mrs. Smiley, who was born in Finland, died Wednesday.
She immigrated to the United States in 1912 and spent most of her life in Kellogg before moving to Pasco in 1968.
While living in Kellogg, Mrs. Smiley was employed at the Union Legion Hall, Hughes Laundry and Shoshone Medical Center.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ellis L. Smiley.
Survivors include two sons, Neal Smiley of Pasco and Jack Smiley of Walnut Creek, Calif.; a brother, Robert Matson of Spokane; a sister, Charlotte Graves of Kellogg; four grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
George ‘Bud’ Verdel Deer Park
Graveside service for George Martin “Bud” Verdel, 74, was Monday at Woodland Cemetery in Deer Park.
Mr. Verdel, who was born in Spokane, died Wednesday.
He served in the Army during World War II.
A miner, he had worked in the Coeur d’Alene area and in Nevada.
Mr. Verdel is survived by two sisters, Gertrude McLeod of Deer Park and Ramona Letson of Ellensburg.
William Tonasket Keller, Wash.
Service for William A. Tonasket, 45, is set for 10 a.m. today at Keller Community Center. Burial will be at San Poil Cemetery in Keller. Strate Funeral Home of Grand Coulee is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Tonasket, who died Friday at Sacred Heart Medical Center, was born in Nespelem, Wash.
He served with the Marine Corps from 1969 until 1972 and worked for the Colville Confederated Tribes as a logger.
Survivors include his companion, Jean Toulou of Keller; his mother, Mary Arnold of Keller; two sons, Patrick and Damon Tonasket, and two daughters, Billie Jean and Risa Antoinette Tonasket, all of Spokane; six brothers, Tony Tonasket of Spokane, Lawrence “Frenchy” Tonasket of Inchelium, Wash., Randy Tonasket of Coulee Dam, and Robert, David and Rick Tonasket, all of Keller; seven sisters, Lucille Tonasket of Tacoma, Anita Tonasket of Coulee Dam, Marilyn Tonasket, Sheri “Bear” Johnson and Karen Hoffman, all of Keller, Patty Hix of Danville, Wash., and Martina Kempf of Elmer City, Wash.; and three grandchildren.
Robert Bernard Davenport, Wash.
Memorial service for Robert Bernard, 80, will be at 7:30 p.m. today at Strate Funeral Home in Davenport. Service is planned for 11 a.m Wednesday at Gideon Lutheran Church in Connell, Wash. Graveside service is set for 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Desert Lawn Cemetery in Kennewick.
Mr. Bernard, who died Thursday, was born in Chickasha, Okla.
He moved to Davenport from Connell in 1970.
His wife, Bennie Bernard, died in 1992.
He is survived by one son, Bert Bernard of Pasco; four daughters, Dorothy Pruett of Connell, Jean Williams of Spokane, Joan Prchal of Royal City, Wash., and Leola Bagley of Pasco; one sister, Ellen Cupp of Denison, Texas; 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Brian O’Neil Spokane
Service for Brian M. O’Neil, 52, will be at 1 p.m. today at Riplinger Funeral Home. Cremation will follow.
Born in Minneapolis, Mr. O’Neil, died Thursday.
He had lived in Spokane for 18 years. He was a social worker for the Pre-Vocational Training Center.
Mr. O’Neil was a member of the Roman Catholic Church.
He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Samantha O’Neil; two brothers, Jeff McLaughlin of New Jersey and Sean McLaughlin of Minnesota; his mother, Helen Blodgett of Minnesota; and three sons, Timothy and Brian O’Neil Jr., both of Spokane, and Devin O’Neil of Minneapolis.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Morning Star Boys Ranch.
Michael Hecker Williamsburg, Ohio
Funeral Mass for Michael N. Hecker, 79, will be at 10 a.m. today at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Hecker died Saturday in Williamsburg, where he had recently moved.
He was born in The Dalles, Ore. He was a master carpenter and builder and retired from Gonzaga University’s cabinet shop.
Mr. Hecker previously had lived in Spokane and Twin Lakes, Idaho.
He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and the Eagles Lodge
He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen.
Mr. Hecker is survived by one son, Dick Hecker of Spokane; one daughter, Carol Louallen of Williamsburg; six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, two foster grandsons, three stepgranddaughters and five stepgreat-grandchildren.
Gertrude Golden Spokane
Funeral Mass for Gertrude Golden, 97, is set for 11 a.m. today at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Golden, who died Friday, was born in Fort Mcleod, Alberta.
She moved to Spokane in 1900 and graduated from Holy Names Academy.
She had worked as a traffic staff assistant for Pacific Northwest Bell and was a member of Telephone Pioneers. She was also a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Third Order of St. Francis.
Mrs. Golden’s husband, Earl Golden, died in 1954.
She is survived by two brothers, Matthew Kelly of Ritzville, Wash., and Bernard Kelly of Spokane.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church or the Poor Clare Nuns.
Harry Starner Spokane
Graveside memorial service for Harry B. Starner, 60, will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Woodland Cemetery in Deer Park. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-North, is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Starner, who died Thursday, was born on the family farm near Edgemont, S.D.
He had lived at Lakeland Village, Latah Manor and most recently in the Howard Group Home.
Mr. Starner worked for Career Connections in Spokane.
He was a 50-year Spokane resident and had participated in the Special Olympics for six years.
He is survived by one sister, Edith Collins of Tum Tum, Wash.; and one brother, A.E. Starner of Clackamas, Ore.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Adult Family Home Special Olympics, 1607 S. Pierce, Spokane, WA 99206.
Frank Paggett Spokane
No service will be held for Frank L. Paggett, 62, at his request. Private burial will be at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mr. Paggett, who died Thursday, was a lifetime Spokane resident.
He graduated from North Central High School and worked for Safeway Grocery Stores for 35 years. He retired in 1991 as a district manager.
He served in the Air Force during the Korean War.
Mr. Paggett is survived by his wife of 39 years, Pat; one son, Steve Paggett at home; one daughter, Pam Pierce of Spokane; four brothers, Arthur Paggett of Vancouver, Wash., Don and Jon Paggett, both of Spokane, and David Paggett of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and one sister, Jeannette Oldfather of Cedar Rapids.
Albin Sonderen Spokane
Funeral Mass for Albin M. Sonderen, 82, will be at 10 a.m. today at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. Burial will be at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
Mr. Sonderen, a 44-year Spokane resident, died Friday.
He was born in O’Fallon, Mo., and worked in the paper box industry for 60 years. He founded Rose City Paper Box in Portland in 1941 and Sonderen Packaging of Spokane in 1963.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Mary Sonderen; two sons, Ted Sonderen of Ilwaco, Wash., and Mark Sonderen of Spokane; four daughters, Clara Fox of Toutle, Wash.; and Anita Hamilton, Kristina Gibbs and Karen Bart, all of Spokane; one brother, John Sonderen of Portland; two sisters, Marcella Halonen of Seaside, Ore., and Mary Thompson of Milwaukie, Ore.; 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Alvin Schierman St. John, Wash.
Service for Alvin R. Schierman, 83, is planned for 11 a.m. Thursday at St. John Christian Church. Burial will follow at Spokane Memorial Gardens. Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Schierman, a lifetime St. John resident, died Saturday.
He was a farmer and operated the family farm with his wife, Phyllis, until 1959, when they moved into St. John.
His wife died last year.
Mr. Schierman was a member of the Wheatland Grange and the St. John Grain Growers Association.
Survivors include one daughter, Jody Eisenman of Spokane; three sisters Jessie Bafus of LaCrosse, Wash., Freda Tidd of Twin Falls, Idaho, and Dorothy Hollenbeck of Lewiston; and two grandsons.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Whitman County Rural Library.
John Massett Bellingham
Service for John “Johnny” Massett, 80, is planned for 11 a.m today at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ferndale, Wash. Burial will be at the Enterprise Cemetery in Ferndale. Moles Funeral Chapel of Ferndale is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Massett, a former 48-year Spokane resident, died Friday.
He was born in Winona, North Dakota.
Mr. Massett retired from Spokane Sash and Door in 1976. He had moved to Bellingham six months ago after his wife, Cecilia died.
He is survived by three sons, Joe Massett of Ferndale, Wash., Bob Massett of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Don Massett of Bellingham; three sisters, Ann Iback of Yakima, Katie Haeger of Spokane and Mary Trebilcock of Spokane; and one brother, Charles Massett of Toppenish, Wash.
Marie Jones Spokane
No service will be held for Marie Eva Jones, 71, at her request.
Mrs. Jones, a homemaker, died Friday.
She was born in San Pedro, Calif., and had lived in Spokane since 1979.
She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Charles Jones; two daughters, Diana Mayabb and Jan Hampson, both of Spokane; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane.
Sanders Shank Spokane
Graveside service for Sanders Shank, 92, was Monday at the Mount Nebo Cemetery.
Mr. Shank, who died Saturday, was born in Portland.
He had lived in Spokane for 80 years.
He is survived by three nephews and one niece.
, DataTimes