Christmas Fund 1995 Donations Ease Harshness Of Hard Times

Spokane and Coeur d’Alene can be a “vibrant” place to live, “but for those who have had a tough break or a bad year, our area can be as cold and hard as any big city, especially for the children,” Lynden O. Rasmussen, board chairman for Winston & Cashatt, Lawyers, wrote to the Christmas Fund.

“Care for others displayed in ways such as the Christmas Fund sets our area apart and gives both those giving and those receiving the most important gift - Hope.”

Rasmussen’s letter from the firm’s office at 1900 Seafirst Financial Center accompanied a $500 contribution to the Christmas Fund.

Donating $75 were the Corporate Center and Spokane District Office of Group Health Northwest; Cheryl and John Warnick, Rathdrum; the Phillipsons, 1513 S. Progress; Bill and Maxine Brown, 6115 N. Elm, in their grandchildren’s names; L.H. Vance Jr., 3227 N. Wellington Place; and three anonymous gifts.

Don, Linda, Aleasha and Jackie Storer, 6115 N. Cochran, gave $68. East Boone Country Club and the crew at the Stockyards Inn, gave $63 in memory of Jerry Camp Sr.

Giving $60 were the Eiram Patrol Unit of Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America, rather than exchange gifts; Grandpa and Grandma Morgan, in honor of their Coombs and Morgan grandchildren; and Mikelyn Ward, 9 W. Salmon Avenue. That donation included a $10 contribution from their 13-year-old son, Niall.

Alicia Anne and Jonathon Jilbert, 711 E. 35th, gave $53.90, some of which came from pop cans saved for their school’s recycling contest. They decided to exchange their cans for money to help other people have a good Christmas.

Those donating $50 were: Guy and Nancy Bates, 6511 N. Jefferson, in memory of her sister, Judy Springer, who died Oct. 30; Carol Bjork, 19718 N. Hatch Road; Tom Carroll, “in memory of Grandmother Cecilia Carroll. May the joy she shared with us of giving during Christmas be shared with others in some small way by this donation.

The Snyders, Valleyford; Mel and Jo Clark, in memory of friend Jim Willis, who recently died: “Jim’s love for children inspired the giving of this money, knowing that even if it only helped one child to have a brighter Christmas or a smile on their face, then he will be smiling, too.”

Delbert and Rojean Flory, 12402 E. 19th; Darwin and Phyllis Hanson, 11706 N. Wall; Alice Weigand, 26 E. 26th; Betty Bain, 2723 W. Wabash; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Lacy, 3709 S. Alder Court; Kenneth Glenn, 1117 W. Montgomery, in memory of Jerry Camp Sr.; Keith Orchard, 3817 S. Crestline; James and Marilyn Hill, 614 W. Rowan; Dean and Blanche Lueck, 9407 N. Forker Road; Michael Thompson, 14707 E. 22nd; Jose Cepeda, 7312 N. Entiat Court; Jim and Barb Christie, 3408 W. Providence; Walt and Lorene Branca, 6008 E. Bigelow Gulch Road; Cindy Bruce and all the children at her day care.

L.L. Baxter, Greenacres; Chris, Jean and Robert Kittilson, 3424 W. Rockwell, in memory of their friend Mr. Mort Pier; Bill and Gladys Greene, 10105 E. Ferret Drive, in memory of their friend, Glenn Gossman, who recently died; Bob, Patti, Jamie and John Wachter, Nine Mile Falls, in memory of their son, Michael and their mother and grandmother.

Lynn Ciani and Robert Boyle Jr., 15320 E. Bella Vista Court; Marsha Hansen, 29 E. Fifth; Bob and Gail Mitchell, Colbert, who wrote: “My greatest prayer is for peace on earth and goodwill to all men”; Sandra Grant, 4120 W. Fremont Road, “in memory of my beloved dog and special companion, Blackjack”; Dorothy Stangler, 4216 S. Perry; Mr. and Mrs. Tom Fuget, 3112 W. LaCrosse; Harry Graeber, Noxon, Mont.; John and Mary Cooley, Cheney; Charles and Darlene Johnson, 11402 E. 25th; NHOA Chapter 201, 2311 W. 16th; Ottilie Schreiner, in memory of her husband, Carl.

Les and Rosemary Wigen, Lacrosse, in memory of Jerry Camp Sr.; Mark and Jessie Bekken, Bekken Brokerage Co., 1606 E. 65th, in honor of their clients; Judy Ryan, 1810 S. Wardson, in memory of her parents, Ben and Mary Schmidt; Carol Boisjolie, 1417 W. York, who donated her winnings from an essay contest in the West Central Community Center News.

Kathy P. and Jennifer V., 2317 E. Joseph; Kathy and Jenny, “remembering the Christmas smiles given by Martha Pfeifer”; Steve and Greg George; 15 anonymous donations, one in memory of Frances Risdon and another in memory of Jerry O’Brien.

Contributing $40 were the Muirs, Cheney; Molly Anderson, 4021 S. Sherman; Peggy Glover, 2327 W. Kiernan; Helen Dietrich, 4907 N. Addison; Howard and Joanne Grimsrud, 1204 E. 38th; Security Door and Window, 702 N. Helena; and two anonymous gifts. Donating $35 was Dave Menard, in honor of his father, Roger J. Menard, who worked 10 years at the Christmas Bureau before his death last December.

Also giving $40 were Don Durheim, 8614 E. Sharp; Sandra Dickey, 214 W. 27th; Lewis and Juanita Keck, 4329 S. Locust Road, in memory of their granddaughter, Asia Hantz, who was killed in a car accident; and George and Lorraine Pattison, 3503 W. Seventh.

Connie Jay and her fifth-grade class at Sunset School in Airway Heights gave $32.80. Donating $30 were Eileen and Frank Mathison, 4523 N. Monroe; Marial Willford, 11106 E. Sundown Drive; employees of The Spokesman-Review’s reference library; George and Bobby Stevens, 6801 N. Brenda Court,”a small help for a big charity”; and three anonymous gifts, one in memory of Agnes Nyborg.

Contributing $25 were Mark and Debra Kennedy, 11319 N. Wall; the Johnsons, 1508 E. Mallon; Luella Briggs, 4017 E. Pratt; Douglas and Anne Cameron, 8423 N. Pamela; Mrs. Boyd McDowell, 1521 S. Division; Gloria Hickman, 7800 E. Alki; Hazel Vercruysse, 2717 E. Hoffman; Alice Niemeier, 204 W. 22nd, in memory of her husband, Larry.

Kathy Kraemer, 316 W. 31st; Mr. and Mrs. Barrie, 11214 E. 16th; Donna Cross, Medical Lake, in memory of Claire Cross; Dorothy Samish, 3213 N. Ella Road; Virginia King; Einer and Florence Loreen, 823 E. Wabash; William and Dulcy Owen, Veradale; and John and Isabelle Roehm, 5631 W. Northwest Blvd.

Also giving $25 were Charles and Rose Carver, 4804 N. Walnut; John Miller and Sandra Nolting, 3210 S. Stevens; Robin Kropff, 4302 S. Orlando; Jeffrey and Robin Knight, Post Falls; Tim and Denise Nieman, 5719 N. Washington; Mrs. A.H. Irwin, 3902 W. Longfellow; Dennis Flynn, 3811 E. Ninth, in memory of Grandpa Flynn; Mike, Kathy, Melissa, Stacie, Kyle Strong, 3124 W. Lacrosse; John Hartung, 918 N. Calvin Road; and Carroll Cumbie, 4419 S. Sunny Creek Drive.

Other $25 gifts came from Barbara Klante, 2921 W. Rosewood, in memory of her mother, Zella Cowden; Haven Lusian, 114 W. 26th; Carl and Julia Soelberg, Deer Park; Mr. and Mrs. Roy Waters, 17105 N. Wildrose Court, Nine Mile Falls; Bob and Elaine Pachman, 5023 N. Ash; Mr. and Mrs. Richard Pansie, 1748 N. Nelson Street; Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Pope, 1112 E. 34th; Gene Goodwin, 3225 E. 24th; Ruth Tyndall, 1311 W. Dalton; Karl and Ann Matthews, 2112 W. Riverside; and 10 anonymous donations, one “in memory of Louis F. Binder, a kind, loving man to whom Christmas meant church and family.”

Donating $20 were Melvin Boggs, 14918 E. 23rd Court; Lance and Adele Ploeger, 1425 E. Courtland; Wilson’s Floor Covering, Inc., 3624 E. Springfield; Clifford Eickstadt, 5114 N. Elgin; Dorothy Haydon, Rosalia; the Danners, 2028 W. Grace; Emily Hathaway, 8911 N. Pamela; and Brian Kratz Klatt, 4020 W. Hollister Hills Drive, Post Falls, in memory of Grandpa Bob Klatt and Grandma Ada Kratz.

Other $20 gifts were from Willbann and Virginia Terpening, 6732 N. Winston Drive; Gregory R. Kirk, 108 S. Jefferson Street; and six anonymous gifts, including one that said, “I must add another $20 … in memory of dear Walt.”

Billy and Matthew Trudeau, 8 and 5 years old, 5411 N. Shane Court, gave $20.71, “money we earned from recycling cans.” An anonymous donor gave $17.

Those contributing $15 were Isaac, Elijah and Micah Wendt, ages 4 to 10, 515 E. A Street, money they saved from their allowances and raking leaves; Brian and Angela LaLonde, 511 S. Sullivan; the McClain children, Joshua, 7, Whitney, 9 and Jourdyn 5, 5623 W. Charlene.

Robert Douthitt, 1117 S. McClellan; parents of a kindergarten student attending a South Hill elementary school in honor his teacher; and two anonymous donors.

The Wild Rose Grandmothers Club, a dozen active seniors who have gone through the Great Depression and understand how the Christmas Fund helps the needy at a special time, gave $12.

Donating $10 were Chris and Lee Douthitt, 1117 S. McClellan; Paul Mardis, 7110 E. Seventh; Freda, Laurel and Lilly Jackson, 3020 E. 32nd; Edward Moses, 1417 N. Mamer Road; Judy Murphy, Colbert; O.K. and Edna Reitmeier, Cheney; Tanya L. Ginter; Meloin Pryor, 2726 W. Walton; and five anonymous donors, including someone who was helped by the Christmas Fund last year. “This year I’m doing better and I’d like to help those less fortunate.”

Lisa and Megan Soehren gave $6.72. Giving $5 were the Jeffreys, Cheney; Yorkshire, Espanola, Wash.; and two anonymous gifts, one who gave even though the donor has “enormous medical expenses to juggle on a tiny income.”

Katie, 6, gave $3.89 and wrote her own note saying it’s for “a little grel or boy hoo will not get vary many Christmas presints.” Her brother, Scott, 4, gave $3.21, writing: “I am giving this money to a boy because he might not get any presents.”

, DataTimes