Obituaries
Lavurne ‘Jackie’ Blessing Spokane
Funeral Mass for Lavurne “Jackie” Blessing, 77, will be at 10 a.m. today at St. Mary Catholic Church. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery. HennesseyValley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Blessing, who was born in Hubbard, Texas, died Friday.
She moved to Spokane in 1948 and worked as a registered nurse at Sacred Heart Medical Center, and then for 22 years at Rockwood Clinic.
She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Francis Blessing; two daughters, Julie Foster of Federal Way, Wash., and Mary Grimes of Greenacres; and four grandchildren.
Memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society.
Debra (Mattox) Sewall Harrington, Wash.
Service for Debra (Mattox) Sewall, 38, is planned for 1 p.m. today at Harrington Community Congregational Church. Burial will be at Hillcrest Cemetery in Harrington. Strate Funeral Home in Davenport, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Sewall died Thursday.
She was born in Grangeville, Idaho, and graduated from Reardan (Wash.) High School.
In 1977, she married Tim Sewall in Spokane.
She worked as an accountant for the Washington Association of Wheat Growers and the Ritzville/Reardan Grain Growers.
She is survived by her husband; a son, Jeremy Sewall of Davenport; a daughter, Samantha Sewall of Harrington; her parents, John and Ester Mattox of Spokane; two brothers, Gary Mattox of Spokane and Steve Mattox of Warden, Wash.; and a sister, JoAnne Krupke of Edwall, Wash.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Harrington We Love Kids Fund, c/o Wheatland Bank, Davenport, WA 99122.
Mary Hamilton Liberty Lake
Memorial service for Mary Loanne Hamilton, 49, will be at 2 p.m. today at Liberty Park United Methodist Church. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-South is in charge of arrangements.
Miss Hamilton died Friday.
She was born in Spokane.
She graduated from Lewis and Clark High School and from the University of Puget Sound with a bachelor’s degree in education. She later received a master’s degree in administration from Gonzaga University.
She taught in Port Orchard, Wash., and returned to Spokane in 1972 and taught grade school in the Central Valley School District.
She was a member of Liberty Park United Methodist Church, P.E.O., a philanthropic educational organization, Phi Delta Kappa and the Washington and Central Valley Education Associations.
She is survived by her mother, Hettie Hamilton and a brother, Dick Hamilton.
Memorial contributions may be made to Liberty Park United Methodist Church or Hospice of Spokane.
Steven Knudtson Spokane
Service for Steven K. Knudtson, 37, will be at 11 a.m. today at Riplinger Funeral Home. Cremation will follow.
Mr. Knudtson died Saturday from renal failure.
He was born in Spokane.
He graduated from North Central High School and worked as a meat cutter at Rosauers on 29th Avenue.
He is survived by two sons, Kyle and Jason Knudtson, both of Spokane; his mother and stepfather, Bonnie and Jerry Tripp of Spokane; his father and stepmother, Albert and Myrna Knudtson of Deer Park; a brother, Michael Knudtson of Spokane; a stepbrother, Greg Richards of Spokane; a sister, Leslie Hurley of Spokane; and his grandmother, Jean Knudtson of Spokane.
Virginia Cline Chattaroy
No service will be held for Virginia M. Cline, 77, at her request. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of cremation.
Born in Detroit, Mrs. Cline died Saturday.
She was a homemaker and had lived in Chattaroy for 50 years.
She is survived by two sons; Leslie and Bruce Cline, both of Chattaroy; a daughter, DeMaris Lee of Rathdrum, Idaho; a sister, Helen Rank of Spokane; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Arthur Gerdes Spokane
Graveside service for Arthur F. Gerdes, 93, will be at 2 p.m. today at Holy Cross Mausoleum at Holy Cross Cemetery. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Born in Germany, Mr. Gerdes died Friday.
He immigrated to Galveston, Texas, in 1923. He owned several businesses in Chicago before he moved to Spokane 47 years ago.
He was the former owner of the Swiss Village Motel in the Spokane Valley.
He was a member of the Lutheran faith.
His wife of 63 years, Anna, died in 1988. He is survived by two nieces and a nephew, all of Germany.
Lillian Lahaie Spokane
Visitation for Lillian P. Lahaie, 94, is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Hillyard Baptist Church. Her son, the Rev. Lynn Lahaie, will officiate. Burial will be at Spokane Memorial Gardens.
Born in Clarks Grove, Minn., Mrs. Lahaie died Saturday.
She graduated from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and from nursing school in St. Paul, Minn.
She worked as a nurse and moved to Spokane 59 years ago.
She was a member of Hillyard Baptist Church.
Her husband, of 63 years, Alphonse Lahaie, died in 1994.
Survivors include three sons, Arley Lahaie of Hurst, Texas, Lynn Lahaie of Indianapolis and Jan Lahaie of Spokane; a sister, Mary Hansen of Albert Lea, Minn.; a brother, Harry Nelson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the church.
Virgil Quinton Spokane
Visitation for Virgil B. Quinton, 87, is scheduled from 10 to 11 a.m. today at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Liberty Lake Eighth Ward Chapel. Service will be at 11 a.m. at the church. Burial will be at Greenwood Memorial Terrace. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-South is in charge of arrangements.
Born in Cardston, Alberta, Mr. Quinton died Friday.
He moved to Spokane in 1946 and worked in construction with his brother, D.G. Quinton.
He is survived by four sons, Dorrel Quinton of Oak Harbor, Wash., Bryce Quinton of Tucson, Ariz., Deloy Quinton of Spokane and Tracy Quinton of Twin Falls, Idaho; three daughters, Judith Rigby of Spokane, Linda Hawkins of Salmon, Idaho, and Virgena Fowlkes of Coeur d’Alene; a brother, DaVoe Quinton of Post Falls; a sister, LaVeve Kiely of San Francisco; 44 grandchildren, 65 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Arthur Dykeman Clayton, Wash.
Service for Arthur L. Dykeman, 76, will be at 11 a.m. today at the Church of Christ in the Wildwood in Deer Park. Burial will be at Woodland Cemetery in Deer Park. Lauer Funeral Home in Deer Park is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Dykeman, who was born in Kenesaw, Neb., died Saturday.
He was a longtime resident of the Deer Park and Clayton areas, and a former Spokane resident.
He worked at Kaiser Aluminum in Mead for 34 years and retired in 1982.
He was a World War II Army Air Corps veteran.
He was a member of the Church of Christ in the Wildwoods in Deer Park, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3067, and the United Steelworkers of America Local 329.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Opal Dykeman; two daughters, Linda Simundson of Clayton, and Judith Bly of Spokane; three sons, Larry Dykeman of Clayton Jerry and Jon Dykeman, both of Spokane; a brother, Clifford Dykeman of Richland; 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of Christ in the Wildwood, PO Box 1068, Deer Park, WA 99006, or Colville Christian Church, PO Box 305, Colville, WA 99114.
Mary Cruger Spokane
Visitation for Mary E. Cruger, 93, is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Riverside Memorial Park.
Mrs. Cruger, who was born in Corbin, Ky., died Thursday.
She was a 47-year Spokane resident, and had previously lived in Rosalia, Wash.
She was a member of the First Assembly of God Church and was active in church ministry with her husband, Glen Cruger. They served as missionaries throughout the Northwest.
She is survived by her husband of 74 years; a son, Mel Cruger of Spokane; a sister, Mabel Cruger; two grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to New Tribes Mission, 1000 E. First Street, Sanford, FL 32771.
Frances Johnson Elk
Service for Frances V. Johnson, 80, is planned for 1 p.m. Wednesday at Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport, Wash. Burial will follow at the Newport Cemetery.
Mrs. Johnson, who was born in Vancouver, Wash., died Friday.
She was a resident of the Elk and Camden areas since 1917 and graduated from high school in Elk.
She had worked as a nurse and legal secretary. In 1939, she married Walter Johnson, in Camden. He died in 1990.
She was the co-author of the “Elk and Camden We Once Knew” history book.
She helped found the Elk Days Parade and was selected as the grand marshal of the parade in 1978.
She was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary in Elk.
Survivors include a son, Darold Johnson, and a daughter, Carla Rosenberry, both of Spokane; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Luetta Triebwasser Spokane
Service for Luetta S. Triebwasser, 88, will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Sunset Mausoleum at Fairmount Memorial Park. Burial will be at Fairmount. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Triebwasser, who died Sunday, was born in Ritzville, Wash.
She worked as a pastry chef at the Walla Walla Country Club and moved to Spokane 26 years ago.
She was a member of Westminster Congregational Church.
She is survived by a son, Warren Triebwasser of Spokane; a sister, Vera Bond, and a brother, Lester Kiehn, both of Walla Walla; and a granddaughter.
Memorial contributions may be made to Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children.
Damon Stewart Cheney
Graveside memorial service for Damon Eugene Stewart, 65, is set for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Fairview Cemetery in Cheney. Cheney Funeral Chapel is in charge of cremation.
Mr. Stewart died Saturday at home.
He was born in Wagstaff, Kan.
He retired as a chief master sergeant from the Air Force after 22 years and then worked for the Ford dealership in Cheney for many years.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Shirley Stewart; two sons, Monte and Greg Stewart; two daughters, Cynthia Conyers and Kristina Smith; his mother, Dorothy Stewart; a brother, Alfred Stewart; a sister, Juanita Johnson; and 12 grandchildren.
Spencer Galloway Cataldo, Idaho
Service for Spencer Larry Galloway, 21, will be today at 1 p.m. at Coffelt’s Moon Chapel in Sandpoint. Interment will follow at Seneacquoteen Cemetery near Sandpoint. Coffelt Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Galloway, who was born in St. Maries, died Thursday from seizure complications.
He had lived in Thompson Falls, Mont., and Sandpoint before moving to Cataldo in 1987.
He graduated from Kellogg High School in 1993 and served as senior class president. He went on to attend North Idaho College and studied education. He recently worked as a substitute teacher for the Kellogg school district.
Mr. Galloway was a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Sagle, Idaho.
Survivors include his parents, Ralph and Frances Galloway of Cataldo; one sister, Sylvia Galloway of Cataldo; his grandparents, Ervin and ClaraBelle Galloway of Ruff, Wash., Spencer and Alice Symons of Post Falls, and Katherine Tappen of Page, Idaho; and great-grandparents, Spencer Symons of Coeur d’Alene, Onita Gilbert of Veradale and Esther McIntosh of Lapwai, Idaho.
Harold Moore Otis Orchards
Inurnment service for Harold M. Moore, 86, will be at 1 p.m. Friday at LaCrosse (Wash.) Cemetery. Thornhill Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Moore died Saturday. He was born in Pampa, Wash.
He lived in Moscow, Idaho, from 1928 until 1983, when he moved to Spokane.
He had owned several farms in the Moscow area and was crop advisor for Empire Farm Chemical before he retired.
He was a member of Millwood Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Callie Moore; three sons, Lloyd Moore of Post Falls, Allen Moore of Warden, Wash., and Tom Moore of Moorhead, Minn.; a daughter, Jo Ann Shockley of Ritzville, Wash.; two brothers, Marion Moore of Moses Lake and Robert Moore of Lewiston; three sisters, Irene Matson of Spokane, Pauline Barnard of Bellevue, Wash., and June Franklin of Montgomery, Ala.; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Millwood Presbyterian Church.
Faye Tongate Coeur d’Alene
Graveside service for Faye Elmira Tongate, 96, will be today at 11 p.m. at Toledo Cemetery in Toledo, Wash. Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Tongate, who was born in Iowa, died Saturday.
She was raised in South Dakota and later moved to California. She moved to Washington in 1945 and lived in Toledo and Chehalis until 1976.
Ms. Tongate spent 10 years in Spokane and later moved to Heritage Place in Coeur d’Alene, where she lived for the past 10 years.
She was a homemaker and worked as a riveter for McDonald Douglas during World War II.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Riley Clark. Survivors include one son, Charles Clark of Spirit Lake, Idaho; one daughter, Anne Morin of Spokane; seven grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Heritage Place, 702 Walnut Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.
George Kristin Coeur d’Alene
Memorial service for George Kristin, 82, will be today at 2 p.m. at Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene. Mr. Kristin, who was born in Davenport, Iowa, died Saturday.
He was raised in Davenport and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in civil engineering. He went on to serve with the Army during World War II in the Asiatic Pacific Theater.
After his military discharge he joined his father-in-law at Lake City Investment and retired in 1976.
Mr. Kristin was a member of the United Methodist Church in Coeur d’Alene and served on the Coeur d’Alene school board.
Survivors include his wife, Margery of Coeur d’Alene; two sons, Bill and Keith Kristin, both of Spokane; one daughter, Kay Kristin of Coeur d’Alene; and five grandchildren.
Susan Dunbar Spokane
Service for Susan E. Dunbar, 79, is set for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Riplinger Funeral Home. Burial will be at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mrs. Dunbar died Saturday.
She was born in Canada.
She was a longtime area resident, and was a member of Camden Grange No. 687, Order of Eastern Star in Deer Park and the Eagles Lodge No. 3564 in Deer Park.
Her husband, R.S. “Bud” Dunbar, died in 1981.
She is survived by a daughter, Carolee Griffith of Newport, Wash.; two foster daughters, Beverly Bronkhurst of Colbert and Linda Smolden of Phoenix, Ariz; three sisters, Milicent Daniel of Elk, Evelyn Packard of Spokane and Mildred Randell of St. Maries; a brother, Edsol Sneva of Spokane; two granddaughters and three great-grandchildren.
James Pollard Spokane
Memorial service for James Alan “Jayms” Pollard, 25, was Sunday at the Bowl and Pitcher in Riverside State Park.
Mr. Pollard died June 25 in a motorcycle accident.
He was born in Walla Walla.
He grew up in the Tri-Cities and had lived in Spokane for 13 years.
He had been a resident at Morning Star Boys Ranch and was active in Spokane County Search and Rescue.
He had worked at the Plant Farm and was employed at Jaremko-Nissan.
Survivors include his mother, Colleen Ross of Walla Walla; four sisters, Janelle Swanson of Walla Walla, Michelle Barnett of Spokane, and Darlene Anderson and Linda Harrison, both of Pendleton, Ore.; a brother, Larry Gray of Scappoose, Ore.; and his grandmother, Patricia Ross of Walla Walla.
Joe Collison Spokane
Visitation for Joe W. Collison, 83, is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Freeman (Wash.) Cemetery.
Born in Spokane, Mr. Collison died Saturday.
He had owned Joe’s Turkey Diner and C.V. Diner, both in the Spokane Valley. He later worked in heavy construction and as a warehouse manager.
He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Valley Elks.
His wife Vay Collison died in 1994.
Survivors include three sons, Larry Collison of Rockford, Richard Collison of Spokane and Robert Collison of Portland; a daughter, Joan Erickson of Spokane; 24 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.
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