Obituaries
Olive Decker Colville, Wash.
Service for Olive L. Decker, 84, is set for 1 p.m. today at Colville Christian Church. Burial will follow at Mountain View Park Cemetery in Colville. Danekas Funeral Chapel in Colville is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Decker, who died Thursday, was born in Wadena, Minn.
She graduated from Sprague (Wash.) High School in 1932 and married Dudley Decker in 1934.
They lived in Lamont, Wash., where they farmed until moving in 1949 to Spangle, where they continued farming. In 1962 they sold their farm and moved to Leadpoint, Wash., where they began cattle ranching until moving east of Colville in 1966.
Mrs. Decker was a member of the Colville Christian Church and the South Fork Grange.
Her husband died in 1982.
She is survived by a daughter, Glenda Rutledge of Colville; a son, John Decker of Puyallup, Wash.; two brothers, Hugh Kraemer of Sprague and Wayne Kraemer of Oxnard, Calif.; a sister, Rowena Wellington of Pasco; five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
John Fox Oakesdale, Wash.
Service for John C. Fox, 79, will be at 10 a.m. today at Oakesdale Community Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow at Oakesdale Cemetery. Kramer Funeral Home in Tekoa, Wash., is in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Fox, who was born in Oakesdale, died Friday.
He graduated from Oakesdale High School in 1936.
He served in the Navy from 1943 to 1945 in the Pacific Theater.
In 1942 he married Lorene Nickles in Yuma, Ariz.
Mr. Fox was a lifetime Whitman County wheat farmer. He went into semiretirement in 1982 and moved to Oakesdale in 1996.
He was a member of the Oakesdale Community Presbyterian Church, Oakesdale Odd Fellows Lodge, Oakesdale Grange, Oakesdale Jaycees and the Elks Club in Colfax.
He is survived by his wife; two daughters, Jolene Warwick of Spokane and Rolene Peterkin of Puyallup, Wash.; two sons, Joe Fox of Oakesdale and Tim Fox of Garfield, Wash.; a sister, Virginia Sieveke of Tekoa; and 10 grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Home Health and Hospice of Southeastern Washington, 102 W. Main St., Pullman, WA 99163.
Stephen Huckaba Green Bluff
Visitation for Stephen Robert “Steve” Huckaba, 49, will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday at Riplinger Funeral Home. Service is planned for 2 p.m. Wednesday at the First Assembly of God Church. Burial will follow at Peone Prairie Cemetery.
Mr. Huckaba, who was born in Missoula, died Friday.
He was a graduate of Mead High School and had lived in Green Bluff for more than 46 years.
He operated the Huckaba Christmas tree farm.
He was a member of the Pacific Northwest and National Christmas Tree associations and the First Assembly of God Church.
Survivors include his parents, Allen and Edith Huckaba of Green Bluff; three brothers, James Huckaba of Hillsboro, Ore., Mark Huckaba of Green Bluff and John Huckaba of Tracy, Calif.; and two sisters, Bev LaSalle and Terrie Huckaba, both of Spokane.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Dolores Carroll Falls Church, Va.
Visitation for Dolores J. Carroll, 64, will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Carroll, a former Spokane resident, died Friday.
She was born in Spokane and worked at East Bowl in the Valley and at Coldwell Garland Florist.
She moved to Virginia in 1985.
Her husband, Willie, died in 1966.
She is survived by two daughters, Vicky Carroll of Arlington, Va., and Pamela Humphries of Plano, Texas; two sons, William Carroll of Issaquah, Wash., and Michael Carroll of Lockesburg, Ark.; two brothers, Gary and Duane Anderson; four grandchildren and four stepgrandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Arthritis Foundation, Washington State Chapter, 552 S. Michigan St., Seattle, WA 98108.
Lars Knudson Spokane
Service for Lars K. Knudson, 83, will be at 2 p.m. today at Hennessey Smith Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mr. Knudson, a lifetime Spokane resident, died Friday.
He worked as a driver for the Silver Loaf Baking Co.
He was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church, Spokane Masonic Lodge 34, Scottish Rite, El Katif Shrine, Inland Empire Retirees-Teamsters Association and the Inland Empire Diabetes Association.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Rosemary; two daughters, Sharon Larcom of North Bend, Ore., and Jeanne Breeden of Vancouver, Wash.; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Camp Fun in the Sun for Diabetic Children or Washington Talking Book and Braille Library, 821 Lenora St., Seattle, WA 98121.
Elsie Richter Spokane
Service for Elsie Frieda Richter, 83, will be at 2 p.m. today at Hennessey Valley Funeral Home.
Mrs. Richter, a lifetime resident of Spokane, died Saturday.
She worked as a baker for the West Valley School District Food Service.
She was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church and the Valley Senior Citizens Center.
Her husband, Paul, died in 1978.
Survivors include a son, Daryl Richter, and a daughter, Marlene Faraca, both of Spokane; a brother, Walt Engert of Spokane; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane.
Hilda Tupper Spokane
Service for Hilda C. Tupper, 88, will be 3 p.m. today at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Pines Cemetery.
Mrs. Tupper, who was born in Quincy, Wash., died Friday.
She was a homemaker and had lived in Spokane for 80 years.
She was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hope Lutheran Church in Greeancres and the Valley Senior Center.
Her husband, Jack, died in 1972.
Mrs. Tupper is survived by a daughter, Virginia Tupper, and a son, Kenneth Tupper, both of Spokane; two brothers, Victor and Al Renz, both of Spokane; two sisters, Mary Morris and Trudy Forry, both of Spokane; two granddaughters and four great-grandchildren.
Bonnie Townsend Spokane
Service for Bonnie J. Townsend, 62, will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Heritage Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Riverside Memorial Park.
Mrs. Townsend, a lifetime Spokane resident, died Sunday.
She was a former restaurant owner and was a founding member of the Fellowship Club and Our Club.
She also volunteered for the Spokane County Health Department.
Mrs. Townsend is survived by four daughters, Nancy Ridenour of Kamloops, British Columbia, Barbara Thiefault and Shirlee Hams, both of Spokane, and Angela Brandenburg of Pettigrew, Ark.; a son, Richard Townsend of Spokane; a stepson, Don Townsend of Spokane; her father and stepmother, Albert and Jeanice Erdman of Spokane; her stepfather, Robert Hamilton of Spokane; a brother, Robert Erdman, and a sister, Carol Wenzel, both of Spokane; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane.
Jessie Tribbett Palouse, Wash.
Service for Jessie V. Tribbett, 79, is set for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Kramer Funeral Home in Palouse. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Palouse.
Born in Steptoe, Wash., Mrs. Tribbett died Saturday.
She married Dee Tribbett in 1936, and they made their home in Palouse.
She was a homemaker and she also served on the Palouse voting committee for 10 years.
She was a member of Palouse Christian Church and the Rebekah Lodge.
Survivors include a son, Larry Tribbett of Palouse; a daughter, Kay Kilgore of Spokane; two brothers, Elmer and Elvin McMasters, both of Lewiston; two sisters, Berniece Warner of Bellevue, Wash., and Opal Deming of Elmo, Mont.; three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Palouse Emergency Services.
Edna Welch Spokane
Service for Edna M. Welch, 88, will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Riplinger Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Mrs. Welch, who was born in Saskatchewan, died Thursday.
She was a 56-year Spokane resident and was a homemaker.
Mrs. Welch was a member of the Realistic Art Painters.
Her husband of 50 years, Robert, died in 1991.
Survivors include a daughter, Marilyn Cornell of Spokane; two grandchildren and three great-granddaughters.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or to the American Diabetes Association.
Willard Walker Athol, Idaho
Memorial Mass for Willard Wesley Walker, 83, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Spirit Lake, Idaho. English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Walker, who was born in Glasgow, Mont., died Friday.
He served with the Army as a military policeman in California. He also served in Europe and France during World War II.
Mr. Walker returned to Glasgow after his military service and was a farmer and also owned Walker Gardens.
He had worked as a school district employee before retiring from Mountain Bell in the 1970s.
Mr. Walker moved to Athol after his retirement.
He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and St. Raphael Catholic Church in Glasgow.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Florence; two sons, Willard Walker of Coeur d’Alene and Charles Walker of Athol; three daughters, Patricia Foote and Pamela Pisarick, both of Ohio, and Mary Ann Sugg of Glasgow; a brother, Frank Walker of California; and a sister, Frances Jennings of Spokane.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, c/o Rev. Mike Scarcello, 4785 Scarcello Road, Rathdrum, ID 83858.
Samuel Iltz Odessa, Wash.
Graveside service for Samuel Iltz, 90, is set for 3 p.m. Wednesday at Odessa Cemetery. Strate Funeral Home in Davenport, Wash., is in charge of the arrangements.
Born in Moody, Wash., Mr. Iltz died Saturday.
He was a farmer in the Moody area and later moved to Odessa.
For many years he also lived in Davenport, where he worked as a plumber. Mr. Iltz returned to Odessa in 1984.
In 1948 he married Grace Wilson. She died in 1984.
Survivors include a sister, Emma Crow of Coeur d’Alene.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Heritage United Congregational Church of Odessa or Odessa Memorial Hospital.
Robert Wilber Spokane
Memorial service for Robert L. “Bob” Wilber, 70, will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Riplinger Funeral Home.
Mr. Wilber, a lifetime Spokane resident, died Thursday.
He served in the Navy and was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War.
He retired as a carman for the Great Northern Railway.
Mr. Wilber was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans.
Survivors include three sons, Dan Wilber and Jay Gertlar, both of Spokane, and Richard Wilber; a sister, Vernal Mackey of Spokane; and six grandchildren.
Arthur Williamson Spokane
Graveside service for Arthur A. “Art” Williamson, 85, was Monday at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mr. Williamson, who was born in Deer Lodge, Mont., died Thursday.
He was a World War II Army veteran and served in the European Theater. He received the Bronze Star.
He later worked as a meat cutter for Safeway Stores until his retirement in 1976 after 35 years.
Mr. Williamson was a 52-year Spokane resident.
He was a member of United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1439 and the Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 1435.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Doris; two sons, Larry and Allen Williamson, both of Spokane; a daughter, Carol Riehle of Spokane; two sisters, Alice Anderson and Rose Taylor, both of Spokane; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Reuben Engel Spokane
Graveside service for Reuben A. Engel, 71, will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Greenwood Memorial Terrace. Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Engel, who was born in Wisconsin, died Wednesday.
He worked for Burlington Northern Railroad for 46 years until his retirement.
His wife preceded him in death.
Mr. Engel is survived by a daughter, Candace Streeter of Spokane, and a granddaughter.
Elizabeth Kiefel Spokane
Funeral Mass for Elizabeth (Hoerner) (Patjens) Kiefel, 87, was Monday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Born in Richardton, N.D., Mrs. Kiefel died Friday.
She was a baker at Newberry’s, St. Joseph’s Nursing Home and Sacred Heart Medical Center. She retired in 1976.
Mrs. Kiefel was a member of the St. Xavier Parish and St. Patrick’s Parish.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, John Patjens.
Survivors include her husband, Joe; five stepdaughters, Marlene Frampton, Delores Nelson, Helen Bechtold and Angeline Slentz, all of Spokane, and Elsie Moore of Loon Lake, Wash.; two stepsons, Alvin and Raymond Kiefel, both of Spokane; three brothers, Louie and John Hoerner, both of Spokane, and Val Hoerner of Dickinson, N.D.; four sisters, Lena Klein and Ann Kelsey, both of Spokane, Claudia Helmer of Edmonds, Wash., and Ida Jefferies of Garland, Texas; 32 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Morning Star Boys Ranch.
Levi Ortega Jr. Coeur d’Alene
Memorial service for Levi Ortega Jr., 44, was Friday at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Funeral Home. Mr. Ortega, who was born in California, died Wednesday.
He moved to Coeur d’Alene 20 years ago and owned a cabinet shop.
Mr. Ortega was also a musician and volunteer youth soccor coach.
Survivors include a son, Dion Ortega of Spokane; two brothers, Danny Ortega of California and Tommy Moffitt of Oregon; a sister, Clarica Holguin of California; and a granddaughter, Danielle.
Ernest Harper Spokane
Memorial service for Ernest E. Harper, 64, was Monday at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home.
Mr. Harper, who was born in Bismarck, N.D., died Thursday.
He was retired from the Air Force and worked as a computer technician for Service Source.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret; two sons, Darryll and Gerald Harper, both of Spokane; a daughter, Denise Nesdahl of Spokane; a brother, Bob Harper of Denver; three sisters, Jean Bruss of Minnesota City, Minn., Pati Wagner of Tucson, Ariz., and Shirley Chute of Selah, Wash.; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Shirley Nordean Spokane
Memorial service for Shirley F. Nordean, 67, was Monday at Hennessey Smith Funeral Home. Private inurnment will be held.
Mrs. Nordean, a lifetime resident of Spokane, died Friday.
She worked as a bookkeeper for Tomlinson Realtors.
She is survived by a son, Carl Nordean, and a daughter, Lorraine Steiner, both of Spokane; her mother, Estelle Sprague of Seattle; three brothers, Richard Sprague of Bellevue, Wash., Thomas Sprague of Mercer Island, Wash., and David Sprague of Dakah, Bangladesh; a sister, Marie Travis of Sunnyvale, Calif., and five grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Robert Hughes Spokane
Memorial service for Robert E. Hughes, 70, was Monday at First Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Hughes, who was born in Tracy, Minn., died Thursday.
He had served in the Marine Corps and later worked as a marketing and merchandising manger for a home furnishings company.
Mr. Hughes was a member of a Cheney bowling league and First Presbyterian Church in Spokane, where he served as an usher.
He is survived by his wife, Karen Hughes; three sons, Rob, John and Darren Hughes; a daughter, Christine Hughes; a brother, Richard Hughes of Tucson, Ariz.; and two grandsons.
, DataTimes