Obituaries
Joshua Weick-Fazzino Cocolalla, Idaho
Memorial service for Joshua Michael Weick-Fazzino, 6, will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Coffelt’s Moon Chapel in Sandpoint.
Joshua died Saturday from injuries suffered in a two-vehicle collision.
He was born in Kingman, Ariz., and moved to Cocolalla in 1990. He attended Southside Kindergarten.
He was a member of the Sandpoint North Congregation of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Survivors include his mother, Pam Weick of Cocolalla, and his father, Jace Fazzino of Clark Fork, Idaho; one sister, Sarah Fazzino of Clark Fork; and his grandparents .
Fern Biersdorff St. Maries, Idaho
Private family service for Fern P. Biersdorff, 78, was held Wednesday. Burial followed at Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Maries. Yates-Hodge Funeral Home of St. Maries was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Biersdorff, who was born in Phillips, Wis., died Tuesday.
She later moved to St. Maries, where she worked as a bookkeeper and served as Benewah County election clerk and judge for 25 years.
Mrs. Biersdorff enjoyed gardening, cooking and sewing.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 36 years, George. Survivors include one daughter, Priscilla Derry of St. Maries; one grandson and two great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Bettercare, c/o Benewah Community Hospital, 229 S. Seventh St., St. Maries, ID 83861.
Jack Buckner Kellogg, Idaho
Service for Jack A. Buckner, 75, will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at the American Lutheran Church in Kellogg. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Kellogg. Shoshone Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Buckner, a lifelong resident of Kellogg, died Monday.
He graduated from Kellogg High School and worked underground at the Bunker Hill Mining Co.
Mr. Buckner was a member of the Kellogg Elks Lodge, the Wardner Industrial Union, the Steelworkers Union, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Bunker Hill 20-Year Club.
His wife, Elizabeth, died in 1991. Survivors include three sons, Robert of Camas, Wash., and Ronald and Steven, both of Bothell, Wash.; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Elmer Henson Spokane
Service for Elmer Isaac Henson, 77, is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at the Sunset Chapel at Fairmount Cemetery. The Cremation Society Of Washington is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Henson, a lifetime Spokane resident, died Dec. 31.
He served in the Army during World War II in both Germany and Japan and received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
After the war, Mr. Henson worked for the U.S. government in Korea, closing down base post exchanges.
He also served as a missionary in Japan.
Mr. Henson worked for the Milwaukee Railroad in Spokane and for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service on the Canadian border.
He owned and operated a floral shop in Spokane and then sold it and started a custom drapery and installation service.
Survivors include his sister, LaVina Henson Swietzer of Twin Lakes, Idaho; and one brother Isaac Henson of Veradale.
Paul Nelson Spokane
A Memorial Service for Paul T. Nelson, 89, is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today at First Covenant Church. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-South is in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Nelson, who was born in Wausa, Neb., died Saturday.
He served during World War II as an Army chaplain.
He had been the manager of Bethany Home from 1965 to 1977. He was a retired minister in the Evangelical Covenant Church of America.
Mr. Nelson’s first wife, Hildur Backlund, preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Hilde Mare Nelson; four daughters, Eleanor Claus of Anchorage, Alaska, Elaine Know of Black River Falls, Wis., Pauline Pearson of Fircrest, Wash., and Cardyn Carlson of Mountlake Terrace, Wash.; one son, James Nelson of Spokane; 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Frances Smestead Spokane
Graveside service for Frances Ilene Smestead, 67, is scheduled for 1 p.m. today at Riverside Cemetery. Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Smestead, who was born at Loon Lake, Wash., died Sunday.
She was a member of the Ione (Wash.) Assembly of God Church and was a volunteer at the Ione Senior Citizens Club.
Her first husband, Max Steffan, died in 1965, and her second husband, Jack Smestead, died in 1986.
Survivors include one son, Joseph Steffan of Newport; two daughters, Annette Porter and Lorraine Smestead, both of Spokane; one stepson, Terry Smestead of Walla Walla; two sisters, Hazel Casper and Vivan Marek, both of St. Maries, Idaho; 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Wallace Luther Colfax, Wash.
Service for Wallace Luther, 81, is scheduled for 10 a.m. today at the Chapel of Bruning Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Colfax Cemetery.
Mr. Luther, a lifetime resident of Whitman County, died Tuesday.
He was a graduate of Colfax High School.
He was a weather forecaster on KCLX radio.
Mr. Luther was a member of United Methodist Church, the Wilcox Grange and the Northwest Tri-State Ham Radio Operators Club.
Survivors include his wife, Maxine Luther; two stepdaughters, Mary Perry of Spokane and Dixie Hopkins of Everett; two brothers, Bernard Luther of Colfax and Clyde Luther of Lacrosse, Wash.; nine stepgrandchildren and six stepgreat-grandchildren.
Glenn Jordan Spokane
Private memorial service for Glenn R. Jordan, 65, is scheduled for today. Hazen and Jaeger Valley is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Jordan, who was born in Tekoa, Wash., died Tuesday.
He was a 48-year Spokane resident.
He was a superintendent for 22 years with Lester N. Johnson Construction Co.
Survivors include his wife, Jean; four daughters, Nancy Roberts of Spokane, Jody Ball and Sandy Rees, both of Kennewick, and Tracy Fletcher of Ephrata; four sons, Jeff Jordan and Bruce Jordan, both of Spokane, Jay Jordan of Spartanburg, S.C., and Denny Jordan of Chewelah, Wash.; two sisters, Joyce Weightman of Tekoa and Gloria Tyler of Bellingham; 23 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Claudia Mietzner Spokane
Memorial service for Claudia K. Mietzner, 42, is scheduled for 3 p.m. today at the Salem Lutheran Church. Ball & Dodd Funeral Home-North is in charge of cremation and arrangements.
Mrs. Mietzner, a lifetime resident of Spokane died Sunday.
She was a graduate of Spokane Falls Community College with an associate of arts degree in nursing.
She had been employed the past 15 years at Sacred Heart Medical Center as a nurse.
She was a member of the Spokane Mountaineers.
Mrs. Mietzner’s survivors include two daughters, Jennifer Mietzner and Angela Mietzner, her mother, Bonnie Birchill, and one sister, Colleen Lochhead, all of Spokane.
Elizabeth Rekofke Spokane
Funeral Mass for Elizabeth Rekofke, 97, will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Hennessey-Smith Funeral home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Rekofke, born in Schoenchen, Kan., died Monday.
She had been a homemaker.
She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Sacred Heart Altar Society.
Survivors include three sons, Joseph Rekofke of Spokane, Robert Rekofke of Tacoma and Ed Rekofke of Missoula; two daughters, Armella Roberg and Sally Olstad, both of Spokane; two brothers, Louis Bieker and Bill Bieker, both of Kansas; 24 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Sharon Adams Spokane
Service for Sharon Lee Adams, 52, is scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Westminster Presbyterian Church. The Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements and cremation.
Ms. Adams, a lifelong residents of Spokane, died Tuesday.
She graduated from North Central High School and worked for a number of years at Eastern State Hospital as a nurses aide.
She served as a deacon at the Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include her mother, Margaret Esslinger of Spokane; and one brother, Bruce Pringle of Medical Lake.
Eva Brannon Colfax, Wash.
Service for Eva Brannon, 82, is scheduled for 2 p.m. today at the First Baptist Church of Colfax. Burial will follow at the Colfax Cemetery. Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Brannon, born in Pendleton, Ore., died Sunday.
She was raised and educated near Hay, Wash., and graduated from Hay High School.
Her husband, Merle Brannon, died in 1994.
Survivors include two sons, Alvin Brannon of Colfax and Douglas Brannon of Seattle; one sister, Ivy Brannon of Colfax; and one brother, Floyd Luper of Lewiston.
Virginia Merritt Spokane
At her request no service has been scheduled for Virginia Merritt, 80. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of the cremation and arrangements.
Mrs. Merritt, who was born in Eugene, Ore., died last Thursday.
She graduated from Cheney High School and Kinman Business College.
She retired from the Small Business Administration.
Mrs. Merritt was a member of the Ladies Oriental Shrine, Eiram Court; the American Association of Retired Persons; the Corbin Community Center; and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, Chapter 32.
Her husband, Earle Merritt, died in 1968.
Survivors include two sisters, Cynthia Tuininga of Grayland, Wash., and Catherine Curtis of Bangor, Calif.
Dorothy Thompson Spokane
At her request, no service will be held for Dorothy E. Thompson, 72. Hazen And Jaeger Funeral Home is handling arrangements for cremation, followed by interment at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mrs.Thompson, born in Maysdorf, Wyo., died Monday.
Survivors include her husband, Harold Thompson; two daughters, Sharon Dawson Gruenhagen and Catherine Rice, both of Spokane; four grandchildren and one great-grandson.
John Mercer Spokane
Memorial service for John Patrick Mercer, 35, is scheduled for 2 pm today at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-North.
Mr. Mercer, born in Spokane, died Tuesday after an illness.
He was a graduate of Interface Computer School.
He had been employed by Sterling Savings as a systems support coordinator.
Survivors, all of Spokane, include his wife, Tammy Mercer; a daughter, Brittany Mercer; a son, Eric Mercer; his parents, John Mercer and Marjorie Goodman; two sisters, Sue Barnett, Linda Wilson; and one brother, Scott Mercer.
Irene Willcocks Spokane
No service was held for Irene A. Willcocks, 77, at her request. Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Willcocks, a lifetime resident of Spokane, died Jan. 2.
She was a homemaker. She lived more than three years in Pakistan as a nurse.
She was a member of the Eagles Travel Club.
Her husband, Robert Willcocks, died in 1969.
Survivors include one son, Thomas Koon of Kennewick; one sister, Clara Coffin of Spokane; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Victor Rosa Spokane
At his request, no service will be held for Victor Rosa, 80. The Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of cremation.
Mr. Rosa, born in Charlo, Mont., died Saturday.
He had worked as a farmer for many years before retiring in 1980.
Survivors include his wife, Rose Rosa; a stepdaughter, Donna Stanek of Spokane; two sisters, Anne Allen and Sylvia Jensen, both of Spokane; and one brother, Izzy Rosa of Arizona.
Kathryn Rice Spokane
Private graveside service was held for Kathryn E. Rice, 82. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Rice, a lifetime resident of Spokane, died last Thursday.
She was a member of the Downriver Ladies Golf Group.
Survivors include her husband, Howard Rice; a daughter, Joan Bulmer of Spokane; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
, DataTimes