Obituaries
Dorothy Gaiser Spokane
Memorial service for Dorothy V. Gaiser, 92, was Monday at First Presbyterian Church.
Mrs. Gaiser, who died Thursday, was born in Martinsburg, Iowa.
She had lived in Spokane for 27 years and was a former longtime resident of Chewelah, Wash.
She was a member of First Presbyterian Church and the P.E.O., a philanthropic and educational organization.
Her husband, Louis Gaiser, died in 1991.
She is survived by one daughter, Virginia Dowdy of Spokane; one son, Gerald Gaiser of Bigfork, Mont.; two sisters, Madeline Rouse of Spokane, and Fern Halloran of Orinda, Calif.; one brother, Donald Ogden of Federal Way, Wash; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions to First Presbyterian Church.
Benjamin Schoenwald Sr. Spokane
Graveside service for Benjamin Schoenwald Sr. was Monday at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
Mr. Schoenwald, 80, died Friday.
He was born in Lodi, Calif., and had lived in Spokane for 60 years.
He was a driver for Empire Bus Lines for 25 years. He was a member of the Machinists Union.
Mr. Schoenwald is survived by three sons, Jimmy Newell of Spokane, Bennie Schoenwald Jr. of Colville, Wash., and Ron Schoenwald of Bothell, Wash.; three daughters, Joan Horton of Issaquah, Wash., Arlene Gasperino of Albany, Ore., and Janice Peters of Denver; one sister, Gus Prouty, and one brother, Jack Schoenwald, both of Spokane; and several grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane.
Frank Horwath Spokane
Service for Frank C. Horwath, 75, was Monday at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home. Burial was at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mr. Horwath, who was born in Curlew, Wash., died Thursday.
He had lived in Spokane for 65 years and worked at the Inland Empire Paper Co. mill for 25 years.
Mr. Horwath was the proprietor of the West Valley Conoco service station.
He served in the Coast Guard during World War II.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Pearl; one son, Frank Horwath of Spokane; two daughters, Barbara Sierra and Kay Bower, both of Spokane; two brothers, Arthur Nickerson of Spokane and George Nickerson of Cody, Wyo.; and seven grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Maranatha Bible Church, P.O. Box 323, Newman Lake, WA 99025.
Caroline Davidson Spokane
Service for Caroline C. Davidson, 84, will be at 2 p.m. today at Riplinger Funeral Home. Private burial will be at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mrs. Davidson, a 33-year Spokane resident, died Saturday.
She was born in Rugby, N.D.
She is survived by one daughter, Betty Lane of Spokane; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Mary Meyer Addy, Wash.
Service for Mary E. Meyer, 79, was Monday at Schanzenbach Funeral Home in Chewelah, Wash.
Mrs. Meyer, who was born in Wynne, Ark., died Wednesday.
She had lived in the Addy area for 15 years and was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, Joe Meyer of Addy; one son, Arlege Bullington of Arkansas; two daughters, Lavada Latham of Pomeroy, Wash., and Rheba Smith of Puyallup, Wash.; one stepson, Otis Bullington of Arkansas; and one brother, Rex Casey of Mountain Home, Ark.
John Bachmeier Post Falls
Memorial service for John Bachmeier, 74, was Monday at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Funeral Home.
Mr. Bachmeier, who was born in Linton, N.D., died Wednesday.
He served in the Army during World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart.
For many years he worked as a painter specializing in medical buildings.
Survivors include four children in the Seattle area; two brothers, Bennie of Smelterville, Idaho, and Victor of Pinehurst, Idaho; and five sisters, Sophie Goebel, Perry Masset, Lucy Noel, Bernice Heisler and Regina Will, all of North Dakota.
William Kern Sagle, Idaho
Graveside service for William “Bill” Kern, 71, will be Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Friends will be received from 6-8 p.m. today at Coffelt’s Moon Chapel in Sandpoint.
Mr. Kern, who was born in Woodbury, N.J., died Thursday in Spokane.
He served with the Navy during World War II, and his tour of duty included Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. He served during the Korean War also.
Mr. Kern moved to Sandpoint in 1962 and helped battle the Sundance forest fire.
He married Barbara Lenke in Sandpoint in 1969, and they constructed their home on Hoodoo Mountain.
Mr. Kern had worked for the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office as a welfarefraud investigator.
He was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church.
Survivors include his wife, at home; one foster son, Adam Folden of Vancouver, Wash.; three brothers, George of Vermont, and David and Bob, both of New Jersey; and two sisters, Dorothy Budd of Florida and Louise Chess of California.
Mercedes Newcomb Careywood, Idaho
Memorial Mass for Mercedes E. Newcomb, 93, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Coeur d’Alene. English Funeral Service of Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Newcomb, who was a native of Dalton Gardens, died Thursday at home.
A homemaker, she was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church and the Catholic Daughters. She was also a member of the Birthday Club and loved gardening.
Survivors include two daughters, Patricia Vig of Careywood and Marylou Spence of Lacey, Wash.; two brothers, Walter Fitchner of Spokane and Paul Fitchner of Hayden Lake, Idaho; 12 grandchildren and 12 greatgrandchildren.
Memorials may be sent to St. Pius X Catholic Church, 625 Haycraft, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.
Mary Merwin Sandpoint
Private family service for Mary E. “Mickie” Merwin, 91, has been held. Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Merwin, who was born in Missouri, died Thursday in Sandpoint.
She was reared and attended schools in Palisade, Colo., before going on to the University of Colorado.
She married Lee Merwin in Othello, Wash., in 1960.
Mrs. Merwin was a member of Martha Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Sandpoint and the East Mesa Christian Church in Mesa, Ariz.
She enjoyed housekeeping and flower gardening.
Survivors include her husband, at home; two sons, Don Largent of Spokane and Dean Largent of Othello; one stepson, Terry Merwin of Sandpoint; and one stepdaughter, Bonnie Orcutt of Spokane.
Woodrow John Aunun Sandpoint
Burial service for Woodrow John Aunun, 78, will be Wednesday in St. Paul, Minn. The family will hold a gathering later at his home in Sandpoint.
Mr. Aunun, who was born in Duluth, Minn., died Friday.
He served in the Navy during World War II. Afterward, he received a doctorate from the School of Agriculture at the University of Minnesota and taught there until 1964.
Mr. Aunum was the director of the American Meat Institute Foundation in Chicago and later started a consulting business.
His first wife, Louise Boardwell, died in 1969. He later married Patricia Allen.
Survivors include two daughters, Pam Rotchford of Hayden Lake, Idaho, and Patty Doudna of Liberty Lake; a son, Woody Aunun of Sandpoint; a brother, Julian Aunun; and two grandsons.
Carl Nickerson Spokane
A memorial gathering in remembrance of Carl W. Nickerson, 72, will be Saturday afternoon at his home. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Nickerson, who died Friday, was born in Wadena, Minn.
He was a World War II Army Air Corps Veteran.
He is survived by two sons, one daughter, one sister, numerous grandchildren and two greatgrandsons.
William Tietz Potlatch, Idaho
Service for William F. “Bill” Tietz, 81, was Saturday at Grace Lutheran Church in Potlatch. Burial was at the Freeze Cemetery north of Potlatch.
Mr. Tietz died Wednesday.
He was born near Gillett, Wis.
He and his brother, Gus, settled in the Potlatch area in 1940 and worked for local farmers.
He served in the Army during World War II and returned to Potlatch in 1946.
He and his wife, Norma Tietz, farmed near Potlatch before moving to Harvard, Idaho, in 1957. In 1960 he began working for a construction company on projects at the University of Idaho and Washington State University.
Mr. Tietz retired in 1974.
He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, where he had served as a deacon.
Survivors include two daughters, Linda Reddekopp of Spokane and Judy Tietz of Harvard; two brothers, Gus and Art Tietz, both of Potlatch; four sisters, Anna Taylor and Bertha Daily, both of Garfield, Wash., Margaretta Emerson of Palouse, Wash., and Esther Taylor of Potlatch; and three grandsons.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Lutheran Church or the Potlatch Fire Department.
Lawrence James Coeur d’Alene
Private joint service for Lawrence Arthur James, 76, and his infant grandson, Lawrence James, has been held. Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. James died last Tuesday at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Spokane.
He was born in Sentinel Butte, N.D.
Mr. James graduated from Montana State College and served in the Marine Corps during World War II and later served in the reserves.
He worked in hardrock mining for the Coeur d’Alenes Co. in Wallace, and Spokane. He later worked in Salt Lake City and Eureka, Utah.
Mr. James retired in 1984 and moved to Coeur d’Alene.
He was a member of the Kiwanis Club, the American Association of Retired Persons and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Myrtle; two daughters, Claudia Bilbao of Sandy, Utah, and Deborah Miller of Chattaroy, Wash.; two sons, Jonathan James of Blanchard, Idaho, and Scott James of Layton, Utah; one brother, Roland James of Salem, Ore.; two sisters, Erma Davis of Polson, Mont., and Opal Petersen of Vancouver, Wash.; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Conrad Habberstad Otis Orchards
Service for Conrad N. Habberstad, 80, was Monday at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home. Burial was at the Pines Cemetery.
Born in Broadview, Mont., Mr. Habberstad died Thursday at home.
He graduated from Colville (Wash.) High School and drove truck during the construction of Grand Coulee Dam. He also operated Colville Auto Freight and worked as a salesman for Spokane Paper and Stationery.
He retired from Kaiser Aluminum’s Trentwood plant.
Mr. Habberstad served in Navy during World War II.
He was a deacon at Veradale United Church of Christ and volunteered with the Spokane Valley Food Bank.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Margery; one son, Gary of St. Maries; one daughter, Sharon Sandeno of Otis Orchards; one brother, Melvin Habberstad of Spokane; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Veradale United Church of Christ, 611 N. Progress, Veradale, WA 99037.
Mary Anna Wallace Spokane
Service for Mary Anna Wallace, 73, is set for 11 a.m. today at Riplinger Funeral Home with burial at Zion Cemetery in Monitor, Ind.
Born in Lafayette, Ind., Mrs. Wallace died Saturday.
She worked as the secretary to the chief of medical services at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Spokane.
Mrs. Wallace was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church.
She is survived by three daughters, Suzanne Lammers of Seattle, and Vicki Christenson and Anita Koch, both of Spokane; one son, Michael Wallace of Spokane; one sister, Jane Kates of Novato, Calif.; one half-sister, Karla Jones of Los Angeles; 11 grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Sam ‘Pat’ Hansen Priest River, Idaho
Service for Sam Patricia Hansen, 68, was Saturday at Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Priest River, Idaho.
Mrs. Hansen, who died Wednesday at home, was born in Corpus Christi, Texas.
She and her husband, Carl Hansen, moved to the Priest River and Newport, Wash., area in 1963.
She worked for the National Bank of Commerce and Rainier Bank before retiring in 1982.
She is survived by her husband of 33 years, Carl; three daughters, Leerae Stewart of Phoenix, Ariz., Louise ‘Jo’ Huckaby of Tulsa, Okla., and Sallie Hansen of St. Maries; one son, Ray Hansen of Longview, Wash.; two sisters, Betty Ward of Madras, Ore., and Peggy Haney of Tucson, Ariz.; one brother, Chuck Warrick of Houston; and seven grandchildren.
Kenneth ‘Ike’ Petersen Kirkland, Wash.
Memorial service for Kenneth “Ike” Petersen, 86, is planned for 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home.
Mr. Petersen died Sunday in Kirkland, where he had lived for three years.
He was born in Cedar Rapids, Mich.
He graduated from Gonzaga Preparatory School and Gonzaga University.
He was inducted into the Gonzaga University Hall of Fme in 1936, for football, and played professional football for the Chicago Cardinals in 1935 and the Detroit Lions in 1936.
Mr. Petersen and his brother-in-law, Mac McGinnis, owned Ike and Mac’s restaurant in Spokane and Mother’s Kitchen. He retired 10 years ago.
He was a member of the Elks Lodge.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Sylvine; one son, Roy “Ike” Petersen of Lodi, Calif.; two daughters, Patricia Sciola of Redmond, Wash., and Sylvine Bean of West Linn, Ore.; one brother, Charles Petersen of Kennewick; nine grandchildren and one greatgrandchild.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Evergreen Hospice and Health Care Foundation, 12910 Totem Lake Blvd. N.E., Suite 200, Kirkland, WA 98034.
Helmut Graf Ritzville, Wash.
Service for Helmut Graf, 78, will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville. Burial will follow at Emanuel Lutheran Cemetery.
Mr. Graf, who was born in Romania, died Friday at East Adams Rural Hospital in Ritzville.
He served seven years in the German Army during World War II and came to the United States in 1951.
Mr. Graf worked at the Moeller Ranch from 1951 until 1953, when he lost a leg in a farming accident. He then bought the Ritzville Shoe Shop and operated it for 42 years bfore retiring this year.
He was a member of the Emanuel Lutheran Church and the Ritzville Lions Club.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Ella; three daughters, Helga Grunerud Blaine of Lakewood, Colo., Hannelore Hoffman of Federal Way, Wash., and Sandy Hicks of Des Moines, Wash.; one brother, John Graf of St. Davis, Ontario, and four grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
James Stevens Kahlotus, Wash.
Service for James Davis Stevens, 86, is set for 11 a.m. today at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washtucna, Wash. Burial will follow at 3 p.m. at Riverside Memorial Park in Spokane. Danekas Funeral Home of Ritzville is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Stevens died Thursday.
He was born in St. Catherine, Mo.
He was a grain-storage elevator manager.
Mr. Stevens was a member of the Lions Club and the Washtucna Masonic Lodge.
His wife, Ethel, died in 1990.
He is survived by two sons, Donald Stevens of Bellevue, Wash., and Edward Stevens of Olympia; one daughter, Margaret Hancock of Roy, Wash.; one sister, Naomi Meyers of Spokane; one brother, John Stevens of Bonney Lake, Wash.; nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
, DataTimes