Obituaries
Richard Heyer Medical Lake
Visitation for Richard R. Heyer, 68, will be from 2-8 p.m. today at Ball and Dodd Medical Lake Funeral Home. Service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. John Lutheran Church. Burial will follow at Spokane Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Heyer, a lifetime Medical Lake resident, died Friday.
He graduated in 1949 from Medical Lake High School and married Zelma Freauff in Vancouver, Wash., that same year.
Mr. Heyer then served in the Army during the Korean War for three years.
He began his career in grocery stores while still in high school working for Stahleys Grocery. He later worked for Darigold for several years and also operated his own Chevron service station.
Mr. Heyer returned to the grocery business in 1958 working for Swigarts Mercantile where he later became a partner with Orville Olson.
He and his wife, in 1975, established the Lake City Thrift grocery store in Medical Lake and they operated it until 1995 when they retired.
Mr. Heyer was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, a member and former chief of Medical Lake Fire Department, a member of Medical Lake Chamber of Commerce, CheneyMedical Lake Rotary Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 51 and American Legion Post 196.
He was also a member of the Eagles, Moose and Brotherhood of Friends lodges.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Zelma; three daughters, Beth Ann Smith, Deborah Shellberg and Tina Wilson, all of Medical Lake; two sisters, Vivian Babbit of Apache Junction, Ariz., and Helen Nygaard of Spokane; and six grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. John Lutheran Church.
James Murphy Cusick, Wash.
Funeral Mass for James Patrick Murphy, 61, will be at 2 p.m. today at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Newport, Wash. Private cremation service will follow the service. Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Murphy, who was born in Fall River, Mass., died Saturday.
In the early 1960s he moved to Spokane and served at Mount St. Michael’s and later taught at Gonzaga Prep.
Mr. Murphy went to work in the mid-1970s for the Postal Service and worked at the terminal annex in Spokane until 1987.
He then became postmaster in Cusick, the position he held at the time of his death.
Mr. Murphy was a member of the Catholic Church, Cusick Volunteer Fire Department, the Dalkena Fire District 4 Department, the Calispel Grange and the Spokane EMS Council.
He also served as an emergency medical technician for 12 years and taught CPR classes in the Newport and Cusick areas.
Last May, he married Rose Abbott in Cusick.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Sean Murphy of Ellensburg; a daughter, Tara Breidenbach of Spokane and three stepchildren, Catanna of Springdale, Wash., and Amanda and Keeta, both at home.
Dorothy Davis Netarts, Ore.
Memorial service for Dorothy G. Davis, 72, will be at noon today at Waud’s Funeral Home in Tillamook, Ore. A second memorial service will be held in Potlatch, Idaho, at a later date. Waud’s Funeral Home in Tillamook is in charge of arrangements in Oregon. Kramer Funeral Home in Palouse, Wash., is in charge of local arrangements.
Mrs. Davis, who was born in Garfield, Wash., died Feb. 4 due to injuries received in an automobile accident in Tillamook, Ore.
She graduated in 1943 from Garfield High School in Garfield.
In 1947 she married Roy Davis in Garfield and they made their home near Potlatch.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis farmed. After their retirement from the farm in 1987, they moved to Netarts, Ore.
She was a member of the grange, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Will-Do-Club and the Gritman Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.
Survivors include her husband; three sons, Mark, Craig and Tom Davis, all of Potlatch; two daughters, Annelle Connaughton and Becky Davis, both of Tillamook; three brothers, Donald Anderson of Lewiston, Edgar Anderson of Garfield and William Anderson of Spokane; five sisters, Gladys Anderson, Margaret Frame and Helen Byrne all of Garfield, Edna Leonard of Palouse and Anna Banka of Newport, Wash.; and five grandchildren.
Janet Bolen Spokane
Memorial service for Janet Ellen Bolen, 78, will be at 1 p.m. today at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. The Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Bolen, who was born in Colville, Wash., died Sunday.
She was a resident of Spokane for almost 60 years and worked as a librarian for the Spokane County Libraries for many years. She retired in 1981.
Mrs. Bolen then volunteered at an elementary school assisting with a reading program.
She was a member of the Audubon United Methodist Church and participated in Bible study and church services.
Her husband, Brian Bolen, died in 1986.
Survivors include a son, Galen King of Daytona Beach, Fla.; a stepson, Gerald Bolen of Spokane; five grandchildren and 14 greatgrandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Holy Cross Lutheran Church Memorial Fund or the Arthritis Foundation of Washington State, 2876 Bridge Way N. #300, Seattle, WA 98103.
Helen Grinolds Coeur d’Alene
Memorial service for Helen Grinolds, 99, will be at 2 p.m. today at Coffelt’s Funeral Service in Sandpoint. Mrs. Grinolds, who was born in North Dakota, died Friday.
She graduated from high school in North Dakota and went on to attend Jamestown Normal School in North Dakota.
Mrs. Grinolds moved to Sandpoint in 1922 and began a teaching career in Bonner County in 1928, including Kootenai, Ponderay, Dover, and Lincoln Schools.
She moved to Coeur d’Alene two and a half years ago to be near family.
She was a member of the American Legion and Bonner General Hospital auxiliaries.
Her husband, Milford, died in 1967.
Survivors include three children, Alice Allbee of Spokane, Leo Hadley of Sandpoint, and Mary Hanway of Coeur d’Alene; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Bonner General Hospital Auxiliary.
Raymond Miller Spokane
Visitation for Raymond Peter Miller, 75, will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Service is set for 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Burial will be at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mr. Miller, a 50-year Spokane resident, died Sunday.
He was born in Trumbull, Conn., and had his own radio show in the 1950s and 1960s.
Mr. Miller then worked for the City of Spokane Solid Waste Management for more than 20 years. He retired in 1976.
He also sang in a country and western band around the Northwest.
Survivors include his wife, Mary; two daughters, Dolores Huff of Spokane and Elizabeth Valorz of Woodland, Calif.; a son, Raymond Miller Jr. of Woodland, Calif.; two sisters, Dagny Everlith of Bridgeport, Conn., and Caroline Hedlund of Chicago; a brother, George Miller of Bridgeport, Conn.; six grandchildren and three great-grandsons
Memorial contributions may be made to Cancer Patient Care.
Beulah Coman Spokane
Funeral Mass for Beulah Bishop Coman, 94, will be at 11 a.m. today at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Coman, a resident of Spokane for 70 years, died Wednesday.
She was born in Clarkston, Wash., and was a homemaker.
Mrs. Coman was a member of Sacred Heart Parish and was active in Spokane business and civic groups.
She was a member of the Sunset Club in Seattle.
Mrs. Coman served as both vice president and president of the Spokane Junior League and was one of the founders of the league’s Well Baby Clinic.
Her husband of 30 years, Edmund Coman, died in 1957.
Survivors include a son, Edmund Coman of Redmond, Wash.; two daughters, Elizabeth Coman of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., and Mary Coman DaVega of Oakland, Calif.; and four grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Clare Nuns.
Sharon Grosch-Skaug Colbert
Memorial service for Sharon Grosch-Skaug, 42, will be at 3 p.m. today at Colbert Chapel. The Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Grosch-Skaug, who was born in Spokane, died Thursday.
She graduated in 1973 from University High School and then worked for Burlington Northern Railroad for the past 18 years as a switchperson, brakeperson and a conductor.
Survivors include her husband, Ed; two sons, Eddie and Derrick; two daughters, Monica and Kelsey; her parents, Richard and Shirley Grosch; a brother, Rick Grosch and a sister, Sue Steiger.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kerri Anderson Scholarship Fund in care of the Colbert Chapel or Anna Odgen Hall for Women and Children.
Marjorie Peters Coeur d’Alene
Vigil service for Marjorie J. Peters, 75, will be at 7 p.m. today at English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Coeur d’Alene. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Trentwood.
Mrs. Peters, who was born in Butte, Mont., died Friday.
She moved to Coeur d’Alene from Montana in 1930 and was a school teacher at Hayden Lake Elementary School and Winton Elementary School in Coeur d’Alene and at elementary schools in Sandpoint.
Mrs. Peters was a member of the Kootenai Medical Center Auxiliary, St. Thomas Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters, Retired Teachers Association, and Alpha Delta Kappa, serving as past state and local president,.
Survivors include her husband of 56 years, Lawrence; two sons, Tom Peters of Colorado, and Dave Peters of Spokane; two brothers, Herb Bonallo of Spokane, and Harry Bonallo of Blaine, Wash.; a sister, Rhea Parker of Virginia; and six grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Catholic School, c/o St. Thomas Catholic Church.
Patricia Harding Gilbert Spokane
Memorial service for Patricia “Patti” Harding Gilbert, 41, will be at 1 p.m. today at the Sunrise Church of Christ. Graveside burial will follow at 3 p.m. at Pines Cemetery.
Mrs. Gilbert, who was born in Coeur d’Alene, died Thursday in a rockslide on Snoqualmie Pass, Wash.
She graduated from University High School and was a 39-year resident of Spokane.
Mrs. Gilbert worked as a long haul truck driver for the past few years.
She was a member of Sunrise Church of Christ.
Survivors include her husband, Hadley; two daughters, Shawna and Heidi Harding, both at home; her mother, Violet Harding of Spokane; and a granddaughter.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sunrise Church of Christ.
Percy Ferguson Coeur d’Alene
Visitation for Percy L. Ferguson, 64, will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday at English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene. Graveside service will be noon Thursday at Forest Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene.
Mr. Ferguson, who was born in Lewistown, Mont., died Monday.
He grew up in Coeur d’Alene and worked as a cement mason and then for Degerstrom Construction for several years.
Survivors include his wife, Betty; three daughters, Candy Gardner of Coeur d’Alene, Robin Donohoe of Everett and Gina Pilmore of Hayden, Idaho; three sons, Tony Ferguson of Spokane, and Evan and Mark Ferguson, both of Post Falls; two sisters, Clara “Penny” Hewitt and Delores Williams; five brothers, Walt, Steve, Jim, John and David Ferguson; 12 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Idaho.
Vera Smith Spokane
Funeral Mass for Vera N. Smith, 85, will be at 10 a.m. today at St. John Vianney Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Pines Cemetery. Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Smith, who was born in The Bronx, N.Y., died Friday.
She was a 15-year Spokane resident and worked at Valley Senior Center for five years.
Survivors include a son, Don Smith of Spokane; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Theodore Haikkila Cusick, Wash.
Service for Theodore Emil “Ted” Haikkila, 79, will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport, Wash. Graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Greenwood Cemetery in Astoria, Ore.
Mr. Haikkila, who was born in Gackle, N.D., died Sunday.
He was a World War II 13th Army Infantry veteran, and served in India.
Mr. Haikkila received a special citation from England for guarding President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill during a conference.
He worked as a logger, welder and police officer. He served as city marshal in Ione, Wash., from 1958 to 1961. He also had several business, including a machine shop and taverns.
Mr. Haikkila was currently the owner and operator of the Town Tavern in Chelan.
He was a member of the Eagles Lodge, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Calispell Grange, Usk Community Club and Watch Dogs.
Survivors include his wife, Edris; a daughter, Evelyn Skiles of Milwaukie, Ore.; a son, Edward Carl of Portland; and a brother, Roy Haikkila of Estacada, Ore.
Memorial contributions may be made to the the Watch Dogs or the American Alzheimer’s Association.
Linda (Thompson) Mecham Sandpoint
Service for Linda M. (Thompson) Mecham, 91, was Tuesday in Sandpoint. Burial followed at Pack River Cemetery near Sandpoint. Coffelt Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Mecham, who was born in Utah, died Saturday.
She grew up in Utah and worked at the Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, retiring in 1964.
She moved to Sandpoint in 1964 and was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ephriam.
Survivors include three sons, William Mecham of Everett, Lyle Mecham of Sandpoint, and Howard Mecham of Utah; four daughters, Retta Williams and Theo Snyder, both of Sandpoint, Edna Neer of Sagle, Idaho and Lenore Sumsion of Salt Lake City; 32 grandchildren; 65 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.
Jerry Hamilton Spokane
Service for Jerry Hamilton, 63, was Tuesday at Rockford United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Rockford.
Mr. Hamilton, who was born in Rockford, died Thursday.
He served in the Navy during the Korean War.
Mr. Hamilton was retired from the Spokane County Road Department. He was a state examiner and public finance officer.
He had been a resident of Spokane for more than 40 years, and was a member of Rockford United Methodist Church and American Legion Post 165.
Survivors include his wife, Lois; two daughters, Laurel Eby of Mississippi and Shannon Valcourt of Spokane; a son, Dale Hamilton of Spokane; a sister, Shirley Voss of St. Paul, Minn.; and two granddaughters.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Center for the Blind, American Legion Post 165 or Rockford United Methodist Church.
Peter Therens Spokane
Memorial service for Peter Edward Therens, 75, was Tuesday at St. David’s Episcopal Church.
Born in Stickney, S.D., Mr. Therens, died Sunday.
He was a 37-year resident of Spokane and worked as a roofer.
Mr. Therens was a member of St. David’s Episcopal Church.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley; two sons, Peter and Michael Therens, both of Spokane; two daughters, Patricia Slade of Spokane and Barbara Tucker of Muldrow, Okla.; a brother, Edward Therens of Texas; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Clarence Kissler Spokane
Service for Clarence G. Kissler, 77, will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Heritage United Church of Christ Sanctuary in Odessa, Wash. Graveside service will follow at the Odessa Cemetery. Strate Funeral Home in Odessa is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Kissler, who was born in Odessa, died Friday.
He graduated in 1937 from Odessa High School and worked for Odessa Implement Co.
Mr. Kissler served in the Army during World War II and received the silver and bronze stars and a battlefield commission to second lieutenant.
After his discharge, he and his brother owned and operated a grocery store and appliance business.
Mr. Kissler moved to Spokane in 1957 and worked for 20 years for Safeway stores.
He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Spokane and Odessa.
Survivors include three daughters, Vicki Kissler and Von Spencer, both of Spokane, and Mysti Whittekiend of Phoenix; a son, Kelly Kissler of Spokane; two brothers, Reubin Kissler of Spokane and Larry Kissler of Boise; and six grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Odessa Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Fund.
Edith Deeble Spokane
No service will be held for Edith H. Deeble, 90. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Deeble, who was born in Camas, Wash., died Saturday.
She was an 85-year Spokane resident and graduated from West Valley High School.
Mrs. Deeble formerly owned the Percolator Restaurant and was a member of St. David’s Episcopal Church.
Her husband, George Deeble, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a sister, Gwen Nichols of Spokane; a stepson, Grant Deeble, and a stepdaughter, Joan Cease, both of Spokane; six stepgrandchildren and 10 stepgreat-grandchildren.
Leila Johnson Colfax, Wash.
Service for Leila A. Johnson, a longtime resident of the Colfax area, will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Colfax First United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Colfax Cemetery. Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Johnson, who was born in Central Ferry, Wash., died Saturday. She was 84.
She graduated in 1931 from Pomeroy (Wash.) High School.
In 1932, she married Ellery Johnson in Pomeroy. They moved to a farm between Colfax and Pullman, where they farmed.
Mrs. Johnson was a member of Colfax Methodist Church and Rebecca Lodge and Ewartsville Grange.
Her husband died in 1980.
Survivors include two sons, Donald Johnson of Bainbridge Island, Wash., and James Johnson of Norco, Calif.; two daughters, Linda Johnson of Maple Valley, Wash., and Virginia Freeman of Kennewick; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
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