Obituaries
Edward Simpson Elk
Visitation for Edward A. Simpson, 88, is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon today at Lauer Funeral Home in Deer Park. Graveside service will follow at 2 p.m. at Elk Cemetery.
Born in Priest River, Idaho, Mr. Simpson died Wednesday at home.
He worked as a general laborer and lived in Idaho before moving to Elk three years ago.
He was a member of American Legion Post No. 143 in Post Falls.
He is survived by his wife, June; five sons, Edward and James Simpson, both of Elk, Robert Simpson of Deer Park, Dennis Simpson of Germany and Jay Simpson of Post Falls; a daughter, Cynthia Simpson of Fruitland, Wash.; 16 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
Gertrude Burmester Greenacres
Memorial service for Gertrude Marie Burmester, 86, is set for 1 p.m. today at Gethsemane Lutheran Church. Private graveside service was held. Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Miss Burmester, who died Tuesday, was born in Lyons, Neb.
For 26 years she had been a member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church, where she was in charge of greeting correspondence for many years.
She is survived by a brother, Henry Burmester of Spokane; and a sister, Elizabeth Dorn of Longmont, Colo.
Barbara Robideau Spokane
Service for Barbara A. Robideau, 53, will be at 3 p.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home. Burial will be Tuesday at Rural Cemetery in Wochester, Mass.
Mrs. Robideau, an 18-year Spokane resident, died Wednesday.
She was born in Wochester, Mass.
She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Robideau is survived by two sons, Michael Robideau of Spokane and Peter Mancuso of Webster, Mass.; a daughter, Gail Patterson of Shrewsbury, Mass.; her father, Russell Johnson of Westboro, Mass.; a brother, Wayne Johnson of Massachusetts; a sister, Carlene Garback of Grafton, Mass.; and two grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
Elna Amsden Spokane
Service for Elna Elizabeth Amsden, a longtime Spokane resident, will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Heritage Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
Mrs. Amsden, who died Thursday, was born in Greeley, Colo. She was 74.
She was a secretary for H & L Motors and also worked as a seamstress for many years.
She was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary No. 1474 and the Eagles Lodge.
She is survived by two sons, Lyle and Lynn Amsden, both of Spokane; her companion, George Colborn of Spokane; and four grandchildren.
Louise Salisbury Spokane
Private family memorial was held for Louise M. Salisbury, 79. The Cremation Society of Washington was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Salisbury, who died Wednesday, was born in Everett and moved to Spokane as an infant.
She attended Lewis and Clark High School and was a homemaker.
Her husband, Harold Salisbury, preceded her in death.
Mrs. Salisbury is survived by two sons, Roger Salisbury of Redwood City, Calif., and James Salisbury; a daughter, Patty Bauer; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Union Gospel Mission.
Linnea (Swanson) Grundstrom Spokane
Service for Linnea M. (Swanson) Grundstrom, 90, is set for 12:30 p.m. today at Faith Lutheran Church in Deer Park. Private burial will be at Riverside Memorial Park in Spokane. Lauer Funeral Home in Deer Park is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Grundstrom, who died Wednesday, was born in Spokane.
She was a longtime resident of the Clayton-Deer Park area and was active in the Zion and Faith Lutheran Church congregations in Deer Park.
Her husband, Eric Grundstrom, preceded her in death.
She is survived by four sons, David Grundstrom of Wales, Wis., Ski Westby of Spokane, Larry Westby of Deer Lake and Dick Westby of Lake Oswego, Ore.; a stepson, John Grundstrom of East Wenatchee; a brother, Leroy Swanson of Deer Lake; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Faith Lutheran Church in Deer Park.
Marlin ‘Bud’ Vortman Seattle
Service for Marlin Rupert “Bud” Vortman, 86, will be at noon Nov. 10 at Riverside Memorial Park. Born on his parents’ farm in Morgan County, Ill., Mr. Vortman died Monday.
His parents moved to a wheat farm near Broadview, Mont., in 1918 and two years later they moved to Spokane.
He attended Lewis and Clark High School and dropped out to join the Navy in 1927. He re-enlisted in 1933. He served in active duty and entered the reserves in 1948.
Following his military career he worked at Geiger Field as a maintenance supervisor until he took a disability retirement.
In 1957 he married Flossie Pinkston.
Mr. Vortman entered Eastern Washington State College in 1960 and received a bachelor’s degree in education.
He taught at St. Maries High School and Kootenai High School and retired from teaching in 1970.
He was a member of Farm No. 34 and the Elks Lodge.
His wife died in 1993, and Mr. Vortman moved to Seattle in 1994 to be near his son.
Survivors include his former wife, Helen Vortman of Seattle; a son, Marlin Vortman of Seattle; a daughter, Cheryl Courtwright of Coquille, Ore.; a sister, Jean Bernice Sisson of Spokane; and four grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Elks National Foundation.
Jacob Martelle Spokane
Private service for Jacob Thomas Martelle, 75, will be held at a later date. The Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Martelle, who died Thursday, was born in Miles City, Mont.
He served in the Navy, active duty and reserves, for a total of 12 years, including World War II and the Korean War.
He worked for Operating Engineers Union Local No. 302 in Alaska until he retired in 1979.
He moved to Spokane 14 years ago.
Mr. Martelle is survived by his wife of 44 years, Betty Martelle; four sons, Tom and Fred Martelle and Roy Street, all of Spokane and Larry Street of Bullhead, Ariz.; a daughter, Margaret Houpt of Spokane; two brothers, Bud Martelle of Sapulpa, Okla., and Bob Martelle of Hardin, Mont.; three sisters, Carrie Lieholt, Dorothy Jerrell and Betty Miller, all of Miles City; 19 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Visiting Nurse Association.
Rudolph Knaack Sr. Seattle
Memorial service for Rudolph Herman Knaack Sr., a retired Spokane educator, will be Nov. 16 at Exeter House in Seattle. Private burial will be at a later date at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane.
Born in Davenport, Iowa, Mr. Knaack died Oct. 14. He was 102.
He graduated from Bellingham Normal School and began teaching seventh- and eighth-graders in Odessa, Wash., and also coached the high school basketball team.
He came to Spokane during his second year of teaching and worked with a class of boys, some with disciplinary problems. The success of this class grew into McKinley Prevocational Junior High. Mr. Knaack later returned to McKinley as principal for four years.
During his school administration career he served as principal of Lowell, Browne and Bemiss schools. From 1937 until he retired in 1958, he was principal at Havermale Junior High.
Mr. Knaack was known for bringing motion pictures into the teaching process as audio-visual aids and taught a class for many years under the Washington State College extension program on the subject.
During World War II he served as one of Spokane’s five shelter chiefs in the civil defense program.
He was a member of the Inland Empire Boy Scout council and served as a district commissioner, Camp Sekani director and court of honor chairman for the Boy Scouts. He held the rare Scoutmaster’s Key.
Mr. Knaack was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Spokane, where he was an elder, taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. He was also a member of the Central Lions Club and served as president of Mid-City Concerns Inc.
Mr. Knaack moved to Seattle 20 years ago to be near his sons.
His wife of 54 years, Frances Ruth Knaack, died in 1969.
Survivors include three sons, Arnim, Wilfred and Rudolph Knaack Jr., all of Seattle; a daughter, Mary Knaack Hill of New City, N.Y.; eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Edgar Fitzgerald Coeur d’Alene
Memorial Mass for Dr. Edgar J. Fitzgerald, 92, will be Monday at 11 a.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Coeur d’Alene. A reception will follow at the Yates Funeral Home Hospitality Hall, 373 Hayden Ave., Hayden Lake, Idaho.
Mr. Fitzgerald, who was born in Minnesota, died Friday. He moved to Wallace and attended boarding school in Spokane. He graduated from Gonzaga High School and Gonzaga University.
Mr. Fitzgerald took medical training at St. Louis University and Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles before returning to Wallace in 1933.
He practiced as a physician and surgeon in Wallace before retiring in 1977.
He was instrumental in beginning the Lookout Pass Free Ski School and the National Ski Patrol. He was a member of the Wallace Gyro Club and Elks Lodge and was past president of the Gonzaga Board of Regents.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marian, in 1993. Survivors include a son, E.J. Fitzgerald of Spokane; a daughter, Mariann Cooper of California; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Margaret Calliott Spokane
Service for Margaret B. Calliott, 85, is set for 10 a.m. Monday at Riplinger Funeral Home. There will be private burial at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
Mrs. Calliott, who died Thursday, was a lifetime Spokane resident.
She had worked as a secretary for a real estate and law office.
Her husband, Donald Calliott, died in 1974.
She is survived by a daughter, Dee Smith of Spokane; and two grandchildren.
Robert Stadter Athol, Idaho
At his request, no service will be held for Robert L. Stadter, 76. Coeur d’Alene Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Stadter, who was born in Kansas, died Oct. 20.
He had worked for Stack Steel in Spokane for many years.
Survivors include close friends, Jerry and Judy Stark.
Arthur Swanson Coeur d’Alene
No service will be held for Arthur G. Swanson, 87. Coeur d’Alene Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Swanson, who was born in Chicago, died Thursday.
He served in the Army during World War II. He had lived in Arizona before moving to Coeur d’Alene in 1991.
Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Nellie; two sons, Albert Swanson of Arizona and Theodore Swanson of Chicago; a daughter, Cynthia Phillippe of Spokane; three sisters, Elvie Anderson, Frances Fisher and Vi Swanson, all of Chicago; two brothers, Edward and George, both of Chicago; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Chris Hergenreder Spokane
Service for Chris L. Hergenreder, 35, was Friday at Pines Cemetery Mausoleum. Thornhill Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Hergenreder died Sunday in Seattle at the University of Washington Medical Center from complications due to diabetes.
She was born in Spokane, and graduated from University High School and the University of Washington.
She taught elementary school in the Central Valley School District.
Survivors include her mother, Irene Hergenreder of Spokane; a brother, Jim Hergenreder of Everett; and a sister, Lynn Hergenreder of Spokane.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Edmond Brandt Spirit Lake, Idaho
Memorial service for Edmond R. Brandt, 77, will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at The Fireside Lodge in Spirit Lake. English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Brandt, who was born in South Dakota, died Wednesday.
He moved to Spirit Lake from Moscow, Idaho, in 1990 and had previously lived in Suquamish, Wash.
Mr. Brandt was a member of the Spirit Lake and Rathdrum Senior Centers and the Marine Corps League.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia, in 1987. Survivors include a stepson, James Samuels of Poulsbo, Wash.; three stepdaughters, Patricia Lemkuil of Camas, Wash., Margaret Ormsby of Colville, Wash., and Terry Samuels of Poulsbo, Wash.; 11 grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Spirit Lake Senior Center, Spirit Lake, ID 83869.
Ann Northcutt Spokane
No service will be held for Ann C. Northcutt, 91, at her request. Inurnment will be at Spokane Memorial Gardens. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Northcutt, a longtime Spokane resident, died Wednesday.
She was born in Sprague, Wash., and was a former member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church.
She is survived by a sister, Christine Costello of Spokane.
, DataTimes