Obituaries
Ruth Reeve Ritzville, Wash.
Service of remembrance for Ruth Howton Reeve, 96, will be at 11 a.m. today at Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville.
Mrs. Reeve died Saturday.
Born in Joel, Idaho, she attended school in Kahlotus, Wash. She graduated from high school in Kahlotus in 1917 and attended Washington State University for two years.
She married Vernon Reeve in 1917, and they moved to Lind, Wash., in 1942.
After retirement in 1961, they moved to Ryderwood, Wash.
Mr. Reeve died in 1972, and Mrs. Reeve moved to Connell, Wash., in 1973. She moved to Ritzville three years ago.
Survivors include three daughters, Frances Dufelmier of Kahlotus, Betty Clark of Athol, Idaho, and Yvonne Rushmeir of Tukwila; three sons, Gene Reeve of Connell, Neil Reeve of Ritzville and Albert Lynn Reeve of Spokane; a sister, Florence Bumgarner of Arlington, Wash.; 29 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Bailey Youth Ranch, 131 Memorial Lane, Mesa, WA 99343.
Donald Fox Nine Mile Falls
Service for Donald L. Fox, 67, will be at 10 a.m. today at Fairmount Memorial Park. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Fox died Sunday. Born in Marysville, Kan., he moved to Spokane in 1971.
He joined the Air Force in 1951 as an air traffic controller and served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. He retired as an E-6 in 1972 after 22 years of service.
Mr. Fox was a member of the Nine Mile Falls Community Church and was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans.
Survivors include his wife, Nedra Fox; a daughter, Debra Pennington of Nine Mile Falls; two brothers, Eugene Fox of Warner Robbins, Ga., and Arthur Fox of Titus, Ala.; two sisters, Thelma Schockey of Kokomo, Ind., and Lola Faris of Lincoln, Neb.; and two grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to the American Heart Association, S9 Washington, Spokane, WA 99201.
Denton Gilmartin Spokane
Memorial service for Denton J. Gilmartin, 58, is planned for noon Thursday at Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home.
Mr. Gilmartin died Monday. Born in Anaconda, Wash., he moved to Spokane 31 years ago.
He worked for Peirone Produce for 13 years and T.W. Transport for the past 18 years.
Survivors include his wife of 34 years, Sonja “Toni” Gilmartin; four children, Cheryl Strauss of Hunters, Wash., Pat Gilmartin and Kip Gilmartin, both of Spokane, and Wendi Babcock of Deer Park; his mother, Georgia Gilmartin of Anaconda, Mont.; a sister, Pat Guite of Seattle; and six grandchildren.
Jennie Bonning Spokane
Graveside service for Jennie T. Bonning, 92, will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Cemetery in Trentwood. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Bonning died Sunday. Born in Niles, Ohio, she moved to Spokane 11 years ago.
Her husband, Arthur Bonning, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a daughter, Phyllis Webster of Spokane; a brother, Ralph Tucker of Tennessee; a sister, Ethel Anderson of Florida; seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Andrew `Jack’ Hopkins Spokane
No service is planned for Andrew “Jack” Hopkins, 79, at his request.
Mr. Hopkins died Jan. 31.
Born in Sprague, Wash., he moved to Deer Park many years ago. He worked for the Deer Park Pine Lumber Mill and Inland Power & Light.
He and his wife, Mary Hopkins, owned and operated DePaola’s Dry Goods for many years until retiring in 1972.
Mr. Hopkins was a member of the Deer Park Kiwanis Club and the Chamber of Commerce. He also served on the Tri-County Hospital board and was a volunteer for the local fire department and ambulance service.
He was an active supporter of 4-H.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years; two daughters, Jackie Strong and Mikie Gaber; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made in his name to the Humane Society.
Oral Litton Post Falls
Service for Oral Dayton Litton, 78, is planned for 10 a.m. Thursday at the English Funeral Chapel in Post Falls.
Mr. Litton, who died Friday, was born in Bloomington, W.Va.
He went to college in Detroit and worked as a mechanic for 39 years.
Mr. Litton began a musical career by playing at barn dances and socials in West Virginia. In 1942 he moved to Albuquerque, N.M., where he played music with Dick Bills and the Sandia Mountain Boys Band.
As a union musician he played behind numerous touring county music stars.
Mr. Litton lived briefly in Dallas, where he continued to play music with local bands. In 1974 he moved to the Post Falls area, where he and fellow musician Wally Dempsey played for the grand opening of the Silver Lake Mall.
Mr. Litton played his music until a week before his death.
He married Atlene Fields in 1939.
Survivors include his wife; six sons, James Litton of Coeur d’Alene, Larry Litton of Dallas, Fred Litton of Coperville, Texas, William Litton of Mesquite, Texas, Lanny Litton of Josephine, Texas, and Gary Litton of Rockwell, Texas; a daughter, Willadene Monk of Post Falls; two brothers, Willard Litton of Parkersburg, W.Va., and Foster Litton of Mineral Wells, W.Va.; three sisters, Ruth Lauther of Parkersburg, Arlene Wilson of Westerville, Ohio, and Hazeline Furr of Lakewood, Ohio; 21 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Mildred Keller Spokane
Service for Mildred D. Keller, 71, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Riplinger Funeral Home followed by burial at the Pines Cemetery.
Mrs. Keller died Saturday. Born in Warsaw, Mo., she moved to Spokane in 1968.
She was a homemaker.
Survivors include a son, Leon Keller of Spokane; a daughter, Lenia Schmidt of Hayden Lake, Idaho; a sister, Beno Rickson of Wapato, Wash.; a brother, Johnny Hedgpeth; and many nieces and nephews.
Maude Crowe Coeur d’Alene
Vigil service for Maude L. Crowe, 83, is planned for 7 p.m. Thursday at Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Coeur d’Alene followed by burial at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Crowe, who died Sunday, was born in Ketchum, Okla.
She married Amos Crowe Sr. in 1927, and they lived in California for many years.
Mrs. Crowe worked for Lockheed Aircraft Co. during World War II.
In 1965 they moved to Harrison, Idaho, where she owned and operated the Hub Cafe. Mrs. Crowe sold the cafe in 1967 and worked for the Valley Vista Convalescent Center in St. Maries.
The Crowes moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1973 and she worked at the Pinewood Care Center until retiring in 1976.
Mrs. Crowe was a member of St. Thomas Catholic Church.
Mr. Crowe died in 1977.
Survivors include two sons, Amos Crowe Jr. of St. Maries and James Crowe of Walla Walla; three daughters, Kathryn Seig of St. Maries, Ireta McClure of Coeur d’Alene, and Sandra Grant of Harrison; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to St. Thomas Catholic Church in Coeur d’Alene.
Donald Bare Spokane
Service for Donald D. Bare, 69, was Monday at Holy Cross Mausoleum Chapel. Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Bare, a lifetime Spokane resident, died last Wednesday.
He graduated from North Central High School and served in the Army during World War II. He was a prisoner of war, captured in the Battle of the Bulge.
Mr. Bare had been a heavyequipment operator for Kaiser Aluminum at Mead for 40 years.
He was a member of the Moose Lodge and the Spokane Inland Empire Chapter of the American Ex- Prisoners of War.
Survivors include a brother, Claude Bare of Kennewick; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial gifts may be made to American Ex-Prisoners of War, Spokane Inland Empire Chapter, S720 Houk Rd., Spokane, WA 99216, or to the Moose Lodge Endowment Fund, N6363 Lidgerwood, Spokane, WA 99208.
David Sanford Sr. Spokane
Service for David W. Sanford Sr., 65, will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Northview Bible Church. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Sanford, who died Sunday of cancer, was born and raised in Yakima.
He served in the Air Force from 1947 to 1950 and then moved to Spokane.
Mr. Sanford began working for Great Northern Railroad in 1950 in the material department. He retired from Burlington Northern Railroad in 1990 after 41 years of service.
Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Doris Sanford; three sons, David Sanford Jr. and Donn Sanford, both of Spokane, and Daniel Sanford of Richland; two daughters, Deleen Keller and Darcy Peplinski, both of Spokane; a brother, James Sanford of Newport, Wash.; five sisters, Betty Broetje, Albertina McCloskey, Mary Davis and Blanche Ruffini, all of Seattle, and Naomie Lukson of California; and 11 grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of Spokane, P.O. Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210.
La Valle Webb Spokane
Graveside service for La Valle G. Webb, 74, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Pines Cemetery. Hazen & Jaeger Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Webb died Saturday. Born in Portland, she moved to Spokane 20 years ago.
She was a homemaker.
Survivors include a brother, George Davis of Spokane; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Josephine Nagel Spokane
Service for Josephine Golden Nagel, 83, was Tuesday at the Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax, Wash., and was followed by burial at the Colfax Cemetery.
Ms. Nagel, who died Thursday, was born in Dusty, Wash. She was raised in the Colfax area and graduated from Colfax High School in 1931.
She worked as a dental assistant in Colfax for several years.
Ms. Nagel moved to Spokane in 1944 and retired as a dental assistant in 1977.
Survivors include a brother, John Nagel of Seal Beach, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.
Ruth (Stone) Torgerson Spokane
Service for Ruth Stone Torgerson, 98, is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday at Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home followed by burial at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mrs. Torgerson died Thursday.
Born in Spokane, she graduated from North Central High School in 1916. She attended Eastern Washington University and the University of Washington before graduating from Washington State University in 1921.
She married Dr. J. Arthur Torgerson in 1921.
In 1942 she became one of the first married teachers to be hired by Spokane School District 81.
She taught school for 30 years in Spokane at the Lincoln, Emerson, Wilson and Audubon grade schools.
Mrs. Torgerson was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and Alpha Chi Omega. She was formerly active in the Presidents’ Club, the Listeners Club, UNICEF, the Goodwill Auxiliary and Sociable Services.
Mr. Torgerson died in 1966.
Survivors include two sons, Roger Torgerson of Las Vegas, Nev., and Alan Torgerson of Rathdrum, Idaho; two sisters, Mabel Webber and Elsie Hartley, both of Spokane; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, N1620 Monroe, Spokane, WA 99205, or to Fairfield Good Samaritan, W400 Good Samaritan Rd., Fairfield, WA 99012.
Ovie Funderburg Pinehurst, Idaho
Service for Ovie Orval Funderburg, 77, is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday at Assembly of God Church in Pinehurst, Idaho, followed by burial at Shoshone Memorial Gardens. Shoshone Funeral Services in Kellogg is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Funderburg, who was born in Erich, Okla., died Sunday. He moved to Murray, Idaho, in 1980 and then to Pinehurst.
He had worked in a sawmill in Washington.
Mr. Funderburg was a member of the Silver Valley Senior Citizens.
Survivors include his wife, Laura Moore; two sons, George Funderburg of Monroe, La., and Dennis Funderburg of White City, Ore.; a daughter, Evelyn Ruth Meyer of White City; two stepsons, Tom McKeehan of Reno, Nev., and Harold McKeehan of Great Falls, Mont.; four brothers, Billy Joe Funderburg of Seattle, Warnie Funderburg of Sacramento, Calif., Floyd Funderburg of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and John Lee Funderburg of the Philippines; two sisters, Imogene Danielson of Texas and Faye Hudson of Arkansas; and nine grandchildren.
Lorrena Wilhelm Sprague Lake, Wash.
Graveside service for Lorrena Pettichord Wilhelm, 79, is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday at the Pullman City Cemetery. Kimball Funeral Home in Pullman is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Wilhelm died Saturday of circulatory failure. Born in Pullman, she graduated from Johnson (Wash.) High School in 1933.
She married George Thomas Pettichord in 1934 and they made their home in Pullman.
Mr. Pettichord died in 1971.
Mrs. Wilhelm worked as a seamstress for the Empire Department Store in Pullman for several years.
She married Lloyd Wilhelm in 1977, and they made their home at Badger Lake for 10 years, before moving to Sprague Lake in 1987.
Survivors include her husband; a son, Kenneth Pettichord of Houston, Texas; a sister, LaVelle Barbee of Sprague; two brothers, Lawrence Brannan of Kalispell, Mont., and Albert Hatley Jr. of Pendleton, Ore.; four grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Richard Muzatko Spokane
Graveside service for Richard F. Muzatko, 87, was Monday at Greenwood Memorial Terrace. Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Muzatko died Thursday.
Born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, he later immigrated to the United States.
He lived in Puyallup and Olympia, Wash., before moving to Boise, where he worked as a brewmaster for the Bohemian Club Brewery.
When the brewery closed in 1962, he moved to Spokane, where he was employed by School District 81.
Survivors include his wife, Ina Muzatko; two daughters, Janet Sanders and Marilynne McKell; and a son, Bob Muzatko.
Wayne Gore Spokane
No service is planned for Wayne Earl Gore, 72, at his request. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of cremation and arrangements.
Mr. Gore died Friday.
Born in Pipestone, Minn., he moved to Spokane 40 years ago.
He was a meat cutter for Armour & Co. and was a member of the Meat Cutters Union.
Survivors include three daughters, Sandra Atwood, Patricia Gore and Carla Barton, all of Spokane; two sons, Robert Gore of Olympia and Jeffrey Gore of Mill Creek, Wash.; two sisters, Doris Luken of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Dortha Gore of Pipestone; nine grandchildren and one great-grandson.