Obituaries
Jessie Thomas Pinehurst, Idaho
A memorial gathering for Jessie Thomas, 83, will begin at 12:30 p.m. today at the Cataldo Masonic Hall. No service will be held at her request.
Mrs. Thomas, who was born in Lake Creek, Idaho, died Monday at Shoshone Living Center, Kellogg.
She married Hank Thomas in Spokane.
Mrs. Thomas owned and operated the old Shack Restaurant.
She was a charter member of the Rose Lake Chapter of Eastern Star for 36 years and enjoyed crocheting, crossword puzzles and yard work.
Mrs. Thomas was preceded in death by her husband.
Survivors include one son, Edward Thomas of Puyallup, Wash.; one brother, Wilmer Kidwell of Spokane; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Memorial contributions may be made to local youth activities.
James ‘Yank’ Phillips Oldtown, Idaho
Service for James Willard “Yank” Phillips, 68, is set for 1 p.m. today at the Priest River Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Burial will follow at the Newport (Wash.) Cemetery. Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Phillips, who died Sunday at home, was born in Glendo, Wyo.
He moved to Vay, Idaho, with his family in 1942 and in 1958 purchased a farm on the west branch of Priest River. He moved his family to Oldtown in 1969.
He worked at area sawmills and retired in 1989.
Mr. Phillips is survived by his wife, Donna; one son, Brad Phillips of Oldtown; one daughter, Teresa of Seattle; two brothers, Charles “Chuck” Phillips of Post Falls and Donald Phillips of Coeur d’Alene; one sister, Dorothy “Pat” Rash of Coeur d’Alene; and seven grandchildren.
Nora Dymack Elk
Memorial service for Nora M. Dymack, 85, will be at 11 a.m. today at Riplinger Funeral Home.
Born in South Dakota, Mrs. Dymack died Friday.
She had lived in Priest River, Idaho, and Elk and was a member of the Priest River Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary.
She was a homemaker.
Her husband, Cornell Dymack, preceded her in death.
She is survived by four daughters, Ann Barcklay of Spokane, Vera Smith of Elk, Terry Ralph of Dover, Idaho, and Joann Parkinson of Walnut Creek, Calif.; two sons, Carl Dymack of Sandpoint and Dick Hoffman of Spokane; 15 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Spokane Humane Society.
Helen Waller Smelterville, Idaho
Service for Helen Waller, 81, was held Tuesday at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Funeral Home. Burial followed in Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Waller, who was born in Missouri, died Sunday.
She was raised on a farm in Oregon County, Mo., and moved to Smelterville in 1955.
Mrs. Waller was an avid gardener and loved working with flowers. She was also a caregiver to family and friends.
Survivors include her husband of 63 years, Otto; son, Olaf of Smelterville; five daughters, Chloe Derr of Osburn, Cleora Lambert of South Dakota, and Linda Swan, Glenda Sawyer and Jeannette James, all of Pinehurst; 20 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Teresa Shaffer Otis Orchards
Memorial service for Teresa Yvonne Shaffer, 34, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Living Word Christian Center, where she was a member.
Mrs. Shaffer died Monday from complications caused by cancer. She was born in Spokane.
She was a homemaker.
She is survived by her husband of 12 years, David Shaffer of Otis Orchards; one daughter, Shawna Shaffer, and one son, Justin Shaffer, both at home; her father, John Rhoad of Spokane; her mother and stepfather, Patricia and Richard Guarisco of Spokane; two brothers, Steven and Jim; five sisters, Michelle, Debbie, Charlene, Annette and Tammy; and her grandfather, John Rhoad of Spokane.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Orville Sassen Spokane
Graveside service for Orville Walton Sassen, 78, is planned for 10 a.m. today at Fairmount Memorial Park. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Sassen, who died Feb. 6, was born in Nashua, Mont.
He had lived in Spokane for 15 years and worked as a carpenter in the construction industry.
He is survived by one daughter, Shirley of Pittsburgh; and one sister, Marie Beel of Spokane.
Melvin Rees Spokane
Visitation for Melvin A. Rees, 75, is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home. Service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Pines Cemetery Mausoleum with burial at Pines Cemetery.
Mr. Rees, who was born in Sedan County, N.M., died Tuesday.
He was a 70-year resident of Spokane. He graduated from Central Valley High School and was a boxer in the late 1930s and early 1940s in the flyweight division.
He had worked for various roofing contractors for more than 30 years.
He is survived by his former spouse and companion, Marilyn Rees; two sons, Robert “Bob” and Russell Rees, at home; one daughter, Raelyn Hulquist of Everett; two brothers, Buel and Orville Rees, and two sisters, Fern Kreager and Carol Wendt, all of Spokane; and two grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Visiting Nurse Association.
Howard Hautala Spokane
Graveside service for Howard M. Hautala, 78, will be at 2 p.m. today at Greenwood Memorial Terrace. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Hautala, who was born in Iron, Minn., died Sunday.
He had lived in Spokane since 1962 and worked in logging and well drilling.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Stella Hautala; three sons, Howard, LeRoy and Arthur Hautala, all of Spokane; two daughters, Arlene Keimig of Spokane and Stella McDonell of Virginia, Minn.; one brother, Marvin Hautala of Mesa, Ariz.; one sister, Beatrice Laesar of Ely, Minn.; 24 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
Bertha ‘Birdie’ Bush Colfax, Wash.
Memorial service for Bertha “Birdie” Bush, 84, is planned for 11:30 a.m. today at Colfax United Methodist Church. Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Bush, a lifetime Whitman County resident, died Sunday at Whitman Convalescent Center. She was born in Endicott, Wash.
She graduated from high school in Colfax and worked for J.C. Penney for several years.
In 1934 she married Elmore Bush in Colfax. They had lived in Colfax and Rosalia, Wash., and spent winters in Yuma, Ariz., after Mr. Bush retired.
She was a member of United Methodist Church of Colfax and the Order of Eastern Star, St. John Chapter.
She is survived by her husband; two daughters, Karen Maley of LaCrosse, Wash., and Katherine Carothers of Colfax; one brother, Robert Bafus of Adams, Ore.; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Colfax United Methodist Church, Alzheimer’s Association or Southeast Washington Home Health and Hospice.
Ivy Meusy Colville, Wash.
Memorial service for Ivy P. Meusy, 96, is set for 10 a.m. Tuesdayat St. Michael’s Mission in Inchelium, Wash. Danekas Funeral Home in Colville is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Meusy, a former Inchelium resident, died last Thursday. She was born in Saxon, Wis.
She moved to Republic when she was 4 years old and graduated from Republic High School.
She operated Ralph’s Tavern in Kettle Falls, Wash., for many years.
In 1962 she married Joseph Meusy in Inchelium, and they operated Round Lake Resort near Inchelium for 25 years.
They retired, and Mr. Meusy died last March. Mrs. Meusy then moved to Colville.
She is survived by one daughter, Anona Setzer of Benson, Ariz.; one half-sister, Dorothy Alldredge of Kettle Falls; two grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Kathryn Caswell Rathdrum, Idaho
Memorial service for Kathryn Caswell, 75, is set for 11 a.m. Friday at the Rathdrum Methodist Church. English Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Caswell, who died Tuesday, was born at Spirit Lake.
She was raised in Blanchard, Idaho, and graduated from Newport (Wash.) High School and Kinman Business University.
She married James Caswell and served in the Navy.
Mrs. Caswell owned and kept records for Camp Diamond and the Mobil station and bulk plant in Priest River, Idaho. She retired in 1981.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church, Eastern Star, Job’s Daughters, Daughters of the Nile, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, 20th Century Reading Circle, Blue Birds and Camp Fire Girls.
Mrs. Caswell enjoyed bowling, golfing, fishing and crafting.
Survivors include her husband, James, at home; two sons, Barry Caswell of St. Maries and David Caswell of Post Falls; one daughter, Jane Strain of Post Falls; one brother, Keith Poirer of Colville, Wash.; and four grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 280 W. Prairie Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.
George ‘Ed’ Evans Ritzville, Wash.
Service for George Edward “Ed” Evans, 81, will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville. Burial will follow at Pioneer Cemetery in Washtucna, Wash.
Mr. Evans, a 17-year Ritzville resident, died Tuesday. He was born in Hazelton, S.D.
He moved to Payette, Idaho, with his family when he was 14 and he graduated from high school there.
In 1940 he married Catherine Speer in Payette, and they moved to Portland, where he worked in the shipyards during World War II.
In 1945 they moved to Sweet Home, Ore., and he worked as a logger and for the S.P. and S. Railway. They moved to Washtucna in 1956 and to Benge, Wash., in 1962. In Benge he became a section foreman for Burlington Northern Railroad. He retired in 1979 and moved to Ritzville.
He was a member of Benge Community Church, Ralston Grange, Benge Fire Department and Gritman Senior Center in Ritzville.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Charlotte Honn of Endicott, Wash., and Alice Lechtenberg of Corvallis, Mont.; one son, Don Evans of Waverly; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Memorial contributions may be made to Benge Community Church or the American Cancer Society.
Irene Lavonture Coeur d’Alene
Memorial service for Irene W. Lavonture, 82, will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene. Mrs. Lavonture died Sunday.
She was born and raised in Coeur d’Alene, and was a homemaker.
Mrs. Lavonture was a member of the Good Sam Club and was active in Camp Fire.
Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Ray; three daughters, Donna Folstad and Cathy Hurrell, both of Coeur d’Alene, and Diane Johnson of Moscow, Idaho; a sister, Madeline Phillips of Spokane; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be sent to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99210-2472.
Mae March Ione, Wash.
No service will be held for Mae Margret March, 75, at her request. Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. March, a longtime Ione resident, died Friday at home. She was born in Salina, Kan.
She married Homer March in Atlanta, Idaho, in 1940 and they moved to Ione.
She graduated from beauty school in Spokane. While she was attending school, her husband remodeled their home into her new beauty salon. She worked as a beautician from the early 1960s to the late 1970s and was also a homemaker.
Mrs. March is survived by two daughters, Patricia Sevier of Spokane and Mary Ann Rushing of Quitman, Ark.; two sons, Roy March of Ione and Larry March of Otis Orchards; two brothers, Cecil and Bill Morrison, both of Oregon; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to North Pend Oreille Emergency Services in care of Karen Beatty, P.O. Box 158, Ione, WA 99139.
William Shults Spokane
No service will be held for William J. “Bill” Shults, at his request.
Mr. Shults, 67, died Saturday at home. He was born in Baker, Mont.
He served in the Naval Reserve and worked as a mechanic.
He was also a gemstone faceter.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Helene; one sister, Margaret Landers of Seattle; one brother, Byron Shults of Oldtown, Idaho; four sons, Richard and Raymond Shults and Rusty Barker, all of Oldtown, and Jack Shults of Everett; three stepsons, Richard Emmons of Selah, Wash., Daryl Emmons of Issaquah, Wash., and Mike Emmons of Federal Way, Wash.; one stepdaughter, Linda Foster of Selah, Wash.; and numerous grandchildren.
Vivian Calhoun Rosalia, Wash.
Graveside inurnment for Vivian E. Calhoun, 67, was Tuesday at International Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery in Rosalia.
Mrs. Calhoun, who was born in Colfax, died last Thursday.
She was a homemaker and farmed with her husband, Andrew Calhoun. He died in 1990.
She is survived by one daughter, Jodi Calhoun of Colbert.
Roma Edwards Federal Way, Wash.
An informal graveside inurnment for Roma Lydia Edwards, 89, will be held this spring at Greenwood Memorial Terrace in Spokane. The cremated remains will be buried next to her husband.
Born in Johnstown, Pa., Mrs. Edwards died Jan. 29 in Federal Way, where she had lived since 1991.
Before that, she lived in Spokane for 80 years. She and her husband, Gerald Edwards, owned Edwards Sporting Goods Store in Hillyard from 1949 to 1969.
Mr. Edwards died in 1974.
She was a member of Fourth Memorial Church.
Mrs. Edwards is survived by one sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Glennavon and Robert Loosmore, both of Spokane.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
Leslie O’Connor Spokane
Rosary for Leslie J. O’Connor, 81, will be at 7 p.m. Sunday at Riplinger Funeral Home. Service is set for 10 a.m. Tuesday at Sunset Mausoleum Chapel at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mr. O’Connor, who died Tuesday, was born in Spokane.
He served in the Navy during World War II and worked for Central Pre-Mix for 30 years.
He was a member of Teamsters Union Local No. 690 and the Brotherhood of Friends.
His wife, Virginia O’Connor, died in 1993.
He is survived by two daughters, Delores Wilber and Yvonne Adams, both of Spokane; one brother, Terrance O’Connor, and one sister, Jean Donais, both of Spokane; one half-sister, Virginia Klobucher of Spokane; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Hildur Williams Spokane
Private family burial for Hildur A. Williams, 91, will be held at Fairmount Memorial Park. Riplinger Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Williams, who died Tuesday, was born in Iowa.
She had lived in Spokane for 25 years and was a licensed practical nurse.
She is survived by her husband, Harry Williams; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
John Phillips Spokane
Funeral Mass for John A. Phillips, 90, was Monday at St. Joseph Care Center Chapel with private burial at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Mr. Phillips died last Wednesday. He was born in Spokane.
He was a lifetime Spokane resident and served in the Army during World War II.
Mr. Phillips then worked for the Air Force as a civilian.
He was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church.
He is survived by his wife, Noreen Phillips.
, DataTimes