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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Christmas Fund 1997 Fund Bears The Fruit Of Generosity Inspired By Good Deeds, Donors Help Those In Need

Beverly Vorpahl Staff writer

You never know how the favor of a good deed is going to be returned.

Even though it can’t be proved, one good deed does beget another.

A while back, a kind woman gave $5 to “two embarrassed senior citizens” who must have come up short on their bill at the Spokane Valley Mall’s Flaming Wok.

One of those recipients sent an anonymous contribution of $25 to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund in thanks for the good deed shown them at the restaurant. That’s a return of five times the first gift.

Sunday’s gifts reached $11,676.11, for total contributions of $338,154.18 to this year’s fund drive.

We’re reaching ever closer toward the $425,000 goal.

Employees at Haskins Steel Co. Inc., 3613 E. Main, and the company itself, through matching funds, contributed $1,340. A letter from T. Ray Looper, general manager, said:

“Each year, we select one charitable organization to support, and this year, we selected your fund.

“We have a great group of employees here who have pulled together this past year to help each other. And so, to continue in this spirit, we are extending our ‘good will’ to include those participants in your fund,” Looper wrote.

Teamwork - that’s what it takes.

Building Maintenance Supply, 411 E. Sprague, and staff sent $500. “(We) feel very fortunate to be able to give a donation, and we thank our loyal customers for helping make this a possibility,” wrote Robert Mackie, president.

Mr. and Mrs. Rosman, Colbert, also gave $500, as did an anonymous donor.

Gifts of $400 each came from Coopers & Lybrand, Los Angeles, and Susan and girls, Veradale, in honor of Susan’s brother, Kevin Stewart. “He would have been 45 on Dec. 29,” she wrote, “and I miss him a great deal this time of year. Thank you for being Christ’s hands during this season.”

Clay and Diane Findlay, 1207 W. Cherrywood Court, gave $300, as did Dennis and Carey Fiess, Edwall, Wash.; and two anonymous donors, one “in memory of a beautiful mother and a kind and loving husband.”

An anonymous gift of $250 also was tallied Sunday.

St. Andrew’s Guild of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church gave $200 with this note: “The main thrust of our guild is supporting the children’s work in the church and elsewhere.”

Other $200 gifts came from Jo and Amy Galloway, 2010 E. Wildflower Lane; Inland Fastening Systems Inc., 2496 E. Trent; Joyce and Leo Ohanesian, 3311 E. 65th; and Menette Hodgdon, Spokane, who sent her donation “in appreciation of my children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. With love from Grandma.”

Two anonymous donations of $200 also were received, one “in memory of my sister Peggy and friends, Sharon and Felix.”

Merlin “Jess” Jespersen, 3623 W. Heroy, contributed $150 by asking his wife, Joyce, to make a donation to the fund rather than buy him a gift.

Patty Nielsen, 2403 E. Empire, gave $150 in memory of her mother, Juanita Neilsen, and grandmothers, Velda Neilsen and Eunice Morris.

An anonymous gift of $125 was received in memory of Shirley, and another anonymous donor gave $111.11.

Donations of $100 came from Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Altig, Colbert; Pete Sherve, Northport, Wash.; Pauline Soehren and Craig Soenole, 9621 N. Seminole Drive; Russell Wyle, 3515 W. Taft Drive; Mrs. Don Hamilton, 2645 E. Foxwood Court; the Washington Water Power Credit Union; and Dianne and Laurence Halverson, 1739 N. Lacey.

Chris, Jean and Robert Kittilson gave $100 in memory of their stepfather, Marley Eldredge, a retired Spokesman-Review engraver who died this year.

Other gifts of $100 each came from Elizabeth Klemgard, 2035 S. Parkwood Circle; Bill Franks, 3905 E. 17th; George and Sula Potter, Spokane; Younker Bros. Equipment & Engine Sales, Spokane; Inland Gear, 6112 E. Broadway; and Virginia Ullrich, 5506 Greenwood Blvd., in memory of her son Bob.

Members of St. Francis Fraternity also gave $100, as did Lezlie Finet and Brian Nelson, Liberty Lake; William and Patricia Houff, 417 W. 29th; residents of Sans Souci Mobile Home Park, 3231 W. Broadway; Michael and Tracy Ann Altringer, 328 Wilson Court; and four anonymous donors.

Verna Aplin, Liberty Lake, contributed $75, as did an anonymous donor.

Gifts of $50 each came from Ruth Lambert, 2514 E. 59th Lane; Burchard Krebs, 3309 W. Glass; Kay Bartleson, 2215 S. Forest Estates Drive; Kathryn and Raymond Bligh, Veradale; Meta Boik, Otis Orchards; the Caboose Auxiliary; Bob and Ruth Wood, 511 S. Park Road; Benny and P. Jean Weremiczyk, 9315 S. Cedar Road; and Dorothy Bolkan, 27 W. 39th, “in memory of my beloved son, Peter Bolkan.”

Tom and Karen Dorsey, 10921 E. Richard Lane, also gave $50, as did Richard M. Summers, 4941 N. Pasadena; Jacqueline and Wayne and Rogers, 2311 W. 16th; Naomi Womble, 4505 S. Helena; and Jennine Darlow, 4203 N. Oak, in memory of Robert and Graham Darlow.

Other $50 contributions came from James and Arlene Cowan, 6019 N. Park View Lane; Terry and Mercedes Tate, 4054 S. Pittsburg; and six anonymous donors, one of whom gave “in the names of Buddy and Pearl in the hope it will make someone’s Christmas happier.”

June Carroll, 230 E. Nordin, contributed $40. Gifts of $35 each came from Ingrid and Christopher Batt, Coeur d’Alene; Larry and Bonnie Owens, Greenacres; Wanda and Adrian Nichols, 9707 N. Fotheringham; Margaret Hansen, 1105 N. Rudolf; Natalie DuPree, 2429 E. 46th, in honor of her parents, Ralph and Jo Campbell of Almira, Wash.; and one anonymous donor.

Giving $30 each were Walt and Betty Knowles, 1309 N. Evergreen; Bob, P.J. and Zachary George, Spokane; and one anonymous donor.

Jan and Jack Arkills, 3322 E. Tara Drive, contributed $25 rather than give gifts to Jack’s brother and sisterin-law, “who, like us, have so much, … in hopes it will brighten someone’s day.”

Other $25 gifts came from Rose Bartoletta-Du Bois, 5403 N. Howard; Dorothy Warren; J. Bernell Sebby, 3225 N. Elton Road; Gene and Sandra Fiksdal, 8726 E. Boardwalk Lane; Eva and Lori Berg, 1214 E. Heroy; Robert Sanders, Spangle; and George and Judy Hartman, 4020 W. Longfellow, “in memory of Uncle George, who died last December.”

H.C. and Jerry Alfano, 6315 S. Pittsburg, also gave $25, as did Cliff and June Balcom, 8804 N. Forker Road; Vicki Baker, 5911 E. Woodlawn Drive; Dorothy and Richard Hathaway, 221 E. Rockwood Blvd.; Irene and William Hiatt, 5807 W. Pacific Park Drive; Dorothy Ryan, 2410 W. Bruce; Alice Hagemann, 2410 W. Bruce; and Raymond and Betty Dylina, 5011 N. Elm.

Seven anonymous gifts of $25 each also were received, including one with a note that read: “Merry Christmas 1997 for the kids - from the grandkids, Ashley, Derek and McKenna.” Another was given “in memory of our loved ones who have passed on and especially KaLee Rose and Bob Edwards.” Another note read: “Nellie Ressa Sutherland has inspired this gift.”

Gifts of $20 each came from Stacy, Rhianna and Michael; Claudia and Richard Kroll, Nine Mile Falls; and Kent Moline, 411 E. Hoffman, who wrote: “Can’t give much this year, but I’m glad to give something. Thanks for letting me help someone this Christmas.” Two anonymous donations of $20 each also were received.

Norval and Sharon Gibson, 1918 E. DeSmet, gave $10 and wrote: “This is not much, but you helped my son and his family.”

, DataTimes