Obituaries
Dr. Ferdinand ‘Fred’ Knechtel Spokane
Rosary and Vigil for Dr. Ferdinand “Fred” Knechtel, 75, will be at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Mary Queen Catholic Church. Mass will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church. Interment will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Dr. Knechtel, who was born in Ellwood City, Pa., died Saturday.
He was a graduate of Gonzaga University and Marquette Dental School in Milwaukee. He then practiced dentistry in Spokane from 1951 until his retirement last month. He served from 1976 to 1982 on the Washington State Dental Disciplinary Board.
Dr. Knechtel served in the Air Force in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II as an engineer and turret gunner for the 436th Bombardment Group. He fought in the Battle of Midway.
He graduated from Selman Air Force Base Navigational School and retired as a lieutenant colonel.
Dr. Knechtel was a member of the Spokane District Dental Society, the Washington State Dental Association and the American Dental Association. He was a benefactor of the University of Washington Dental School and served on the Educational Service District 101 board.
He was also a member of St. Paschal’s Catholic School and Parish, Mary Queen Catholic Church and Holy Ghost Church.
Dr. Knechtel is survived by his wife of 51 years, Dorothy Knechtel; four daughters, Charlotte Knechtel of Spokane, Amy Kirkwood of Colorado Springs, Patricia Knechtel-Lyons of Spokane and Martha Dickinson of Portland; two sons, Dr. Paul Knechtel and David Knechtel, both of Spokane; a brother, Bruce Knechtel of Ellwood City, Pa.; 14 grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Clare Nuns.
Edward Lilla Spokane
Mass for Edward Peter Lilla, 78, will be at 10 a.m. today at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Lilla, who was born in Comfrey, Minn., died Friday.
He served in World War II in the 41st Infantry Division, where he served 41 months overseas. He later worked for Holsum Baking Company and retired as a baker.
He was a member of the Assumption Parish.
He is survived by his wife Viola; three sons, Jonathan Lilla of Spanaway, Wash., Nicholas Lilla of Aloha, Ore., and Steven Lilla of Selah, Wash.; a daughter, Mary Beth Saulie of Colbert; two sisters, Elizabeth Lilla and Marie Schaefer, both of Los Angeles, Calif.; a brother, Arthur Lilla of Comfrey, Minn.; three grandchildren and four stepgrandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Assumption Building Fund.
Nathalie Drake Spokane
Service for Nathalie W. Drake, 91, will be at 10 a.m. today at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Interment will be at Roseland Cemetery in Badger, Minn.
Mrs. Drake, a 24-year resident of Spokane, died Thursday.
She was a homemaker and a member of New Vision Free Lutheran Church.
Mrs. Drake was preceded in death by her first and second husbands, Emil Hanson and Emmit Drake.
She is survived by a son, Robert Hanson of Spokane; a daughter, Esther Bishop of Badger, Minn.; three sisters Hivie Ondracik of Fargo N.D., Helen Dutton of Molallo, Ore., and Lillian Norquist of San Diego, Calif.; five brothers John Aronson of Roseau, Minn., Arvid Aronson of Milton-Freewater, Ore., Walter Aronson of Ephrata, Wash., Donald Aronson of Lynnwood, Wash., and Oscar Aronson of Waitsburg, Wash.; two grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Gene Hartman Spokane
Service for Gene C. Hartman, 66, will be at 2 p.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
Mr. Hartman, who was born in Chicago, died Saturday.
He had served in the Air Force and worked as a custodian at Gonzaga University.
He is survived by two sons, Gary and Mike Hartman, both of Medical Lake; a stepson, Craig Woodard of Alexander, W.Va.; a daughter, Linda Lund of Medical Lake; and five grandchildren.
Thelma Morse Greenacres
Service for Thelma M. Morse, 74, will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Valley Open Bible Church. Interment with military honors will be at Pines Cemetery. Thornhill Valley Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Morse, who was born in Middletown, Ohio, died Friday.
She graduated from Waverly High School and served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II and was one of the first women inducted into the Marine Corps. She was stationed at Quantico, Va., as an aircraft mechanic.
She moved to Spokane in 1949 and worked as a secretary for ITT and Hamilton Funds. She was a volunteer for Brownies, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and the Ridgeview Elementary PTA.
Mrs. Morse is survived by her husband of 52 years, Ken; three daughters, Sharon Ressler of Bothell, Wash., and Patty Nypen and Pam Hall, both of Spokane; a son, Ken Morse, Jr. of Spokane; and nine grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Spokane Valley Good Samaritan Village.
Vernon Parrish Potlach, Idaho
Service for Vernon E. Parrish, 79, will be 1:30 p.m. Friday at Kramer Funeral Home in Palouse, Wash. Burial will follow at the Bethol Cemetery at Steptoe, Wash.
Mr. Parrish, who died Saturday, was born in Sunset, Wash., and attended schools in Sunset, Garfield, Wash., and Palouse.
He worked for area farmers before moving to Alaska, where he worked in construction. He returned to Palouse and in 1957 began working for C and S Builders Inc. of Pullman as a cement mason. He retired in 1982.
Mr. Parrish was a member of the Spokane Cement Masons Union.
He is survived by his wife of two years Dena; his mother, Catherine Parrish of Pullman; two stepsons, Lamont Bartlett and Leslie Ruff Bartlett, both of Potlach; a brother, Dwight Parrish of Palouse; a sister, Joy Williamson of Thousand Palms, Calif.; eight stepgrandchildren and eight stepgreat-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Potlach Ambulance Fund or the Palouse Emergency Medical Technicians.
G. Kim Way Plummer, Idaho
Memorial service for G. Kim Way, 44, will be today at 11 a.m. at Plummer Congregation Bible Church. YatesHodge Funeral Home in St. Maries is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Way, who was born in Spokane, died Thursday.
He graduated from Plummer High School and recently worked for Rayonier Wood Products in Plummer.
Mr. Way was divorced in 1983.
Survivors include a son, Clinton Way of Plummer; two daughters, Shauna and Crystal Way, both of Plummer; his father, George Way of Plummer; two brothers, Lonnie Way of Potlatch, Idaho, and Mike Way of Plummer; three sisters, Zan McGowan of Oregon, Jill Ingalls of Post Falls and Penny Hall of Lapwai, Idaho; and his grandmother, Itha Moran of Bellingham.
Al Miller Spokane
Service for Al Miller, 72, will be at 1 p.m. today at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Interment will be at Spokane Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Miller, a 46-year resident of Spokane, died Friday.
He served in the United States Navy during World War II and later worked for the city of Spokane as a treatment plant operator. He retired in the mid1980s after 20 years.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Emma Jo; a son, Ron Miller of Spokane; a daughter, Kathy Henkle of Colbert; three sisters, Katherine and Irene Miller, both of Spokane, and Grace Suko of Montana; four brothers, Charlie, John, Bob and Bill Miller, all of Spokane; and five grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.
Michael Kalamon Spokane
Service for Michael Kalamon, 79, was Saturday at Salem Lutheran Church. Riplinger Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Kalamon, a 51-year resident of Spokane, died Friday.
He worked as a carpenter out of the local union No. 98, and was a member of Salem Lutheran Church and the Carpenters Local Union.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Violet; a son, Jim Kalamon of Spokane; a daughter, Bonnie Brazee of Spokane; and numerous brothers and sisters in Pennsylvania.
Laura Jordan Tacoma
Service for Laura Lynn Jordan, 34, was Monday at South Yakima Avenue Chapel in Tacoma. Interment will be today at 3 p.m. at Pines Cemetery in Spokane. Gaffney Cassedy Allen and Buckley King Funeral Home of Tacoma is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Jordan, who was born in Eureka, Calif., died Thursday.
She graduated from high school in Spokane and also from Eastern Washington University with a communications degree.
She is survived by her husband Michael; two sons, Joshua and Drew, and a daughter, Lindsay, all at the home; her father, Richard Brown of Eureka, Calif.; her stepfather, Donald Barlow of Spokane; a sister, Donell Barlow of Spokane; a brother, Aaron Brown of Eureka, Calif.; and a grandmother, Dorothy-Way Brown of Eureka, Calif.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Christine Bosch Spokane
Visitation for Christine Marie Bosch, 43, will be today from 5 to 8 p.m. at Riplinger Funeral Home. Service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Oakesdale, Wash. Interment will follow at the Oakesdale City Cemetery.
Mrs. Bosch, who was born in Stevens Point, Wis., died Saturday.
She worked as a bookkeeper at various firms.
She was a member of the Inland Empire Philatelic Society.
Survivors include her husband of 24 years, Eppe; a daughter, Amanda Bosch of Spokane; a brother, Donald Dineen of Green Bay, Wis.; and a sister, Dorothy Reid of Stevens Point.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Billy Fritzen Spokane
A private service for Billy D. Fritzen, 73, was held and followed by cremation. Ball and Dodd-North Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Fritzen, who was born in Billings, Mont., died Saturday.
He was a graduate of Billings High School and served in the Army Air Corps in the European Theater during World War II.
He later worked for the Railway Mail service and then the Postal Service before retiring in 1978.
Mr. Fritzen is survived by his wife of 46 years, Jean; a son, Mark Fritzen of Portland; four daughters, Mary Havercroft of Rathdrum, Idaho, Nancy Schultz of Billings, Mont., Kathryn Fritzen of Portland and Patti Valpey of Medical Lake; three sisters, Jean Bibler of Kalispell, Mont., and Germaine Kober and Nedra Shope, both of Billings, Mont.; and six grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Frank Wooding Springdale, Wash.
Graveside service for Frank W. Wooding, 76, was Monday at Woodland Cemetery in Deer Park. Lauer Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Wooding, a longtime resident of Springdale, died Thursday.
He was a veteran of World War II and a member of the Disabled American Veterans.
Survivors include a daughter, Diana Miller of Kellogg; a sister, Virginia Durr of Coos Bay, Ore.; and three grandchildren.
Donald Galloway Spokane
Service for Donald Ray Galloway, 69, will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Pines Cemetery Mausoleum with memorial services at 4 p.m. at Valley Fourth Memorial. Thornhill Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Galloway, who was born in Avery, Okla., died Friday.
He served in the Army during World War II and later owned and operated a radiator shop in Spokane.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Betty Jane; three daughters, Bonnie Anderson of Cheney, and Melanie Vogt and Susanne Hoff, both of Spokane; two brothers, Carl Galloway of Yakima and Ervin Galloway of Fairfield, Calif.; a sister Nina Tarkett of Fairfield; six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Emma Gray Elk
Graveside service for Emma Caroline Gray, 87, was Saturday at Chattaroy Community Cemetery. Lauer Funeral Home in Deer Park was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Gray, a lifetime resident of Elk, died Feb. 10.
She was a member of the Church of Christ in Locke, Wash., and the Fertile Valley Grange.
She is survived by three sons, Robert and Merle Gray, both of Elk, and Merle Gray of Benton City, Wash.; and 10 grandchildren.
William ‘Grif’ Turner Spokane
Service for William Griffin “Grif” Turner III, 46, will be at 2 p.m. today at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home. Interment will be at Pines Cemetery.
Mr. Turner, who was born in Norfolk, Va., died Friday.
He was a graduate of Tabernacle Baptist Bible Institute in Virginia Beach, Va. He worked for Yoke’s Pac ‘N’ Save for the last 10 years as a scan coordinator. He also was a portrait artist and was active in the Spokane County Republican Party.
He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Candy; three sons, Marshall, John and Wesley Turner, all at the home; his father, W.G. “Bill” Turner, Jr. of Virginia Beach, Va., and his mother, Elfrieda Johnson of Stumpy Point, N.C.; a brother, Alan Turner of Irving, Texas; and two sisters, Janice Moore of Nags Head, N.C., and Nancy Pasley of Kill Devil Hills, N.C.
Solomon Schroetlin Farmington, Wash.
Service for Solomon Schroetlin, 84, will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Farmington Seventh Day Adventist Church. Burial will follow at the Mountain View Cemetery in Farmington. Kramer Funeral Home in Palouse, Wash., is in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Schroetlin, who was born in McClusky, N.D., died Friday.
He worked at a sawmill and later at a dairy at Westport, Wash. He farmed from 1938 until retirement.
Mr. Schroetlin was a member of the Farmington Seventh Day Adventist Church.
His wife, Bertha, died in 1994.
He is survived by two sons, Alfred and Larry Schroetlin both of Garfield, Wash.; a daughter, Helen Shaw of Weston, Ore.; 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Farmington Seventh Day Adventist Church school at Farmington.
Bonnie Cannon Spokane
Service for Bonnie Lucille Cannon, 77, will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home.
Mrs. Cannon, who was born in Seagraves, Texas, died Thursday.
She graduated from high school in Seagraves and later owned and operated a bakery in Colfax, Wash.
She was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary Corp, 4th W.A.A.C. and the Church of Christ.
Her husband, Lawrence, died in 1995.
Survivors include three sons, Rudy Cannon of Florida, Burton Cannon of Whitefish, Mont., and Rick Cannon of Spokane; a daughter, Sheila Nafus of Tucson, Ariz.; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Hazel Cardwell Spokane
Service for Hazel M. Cardwell, 92, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home.
Mrs. Cardwell, who was born in Spokane, died Sunday.
She was a homemaker, and was a member of the Opportunity Christian Church and Eagles Lodge.
Her husband, Ernest, preceded her in death.
She is survived by a sister, Rae Botchek of Spokane.
Memorial contributions may be made to Opportunity Christian Church.
Charles Barlow Deer Park No service for Charles Barlow, 74, will be held at his request. Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Barlow, who was born in Pasco, died last Tuesday.
He served in the Navy as an aviation machinist during World War II and completed the Naval Air Gunners School. He later worked as an engineer for the SP&S Railroad for 20 years.
He was a member of the Hillyard Veterans of Foreign War Post 1474, a committee man for Boy Scouts Troop 324 and was a member of the United American Indians.
He is survived by five daughters, Anne Ricks of San Ramon, Calif., Janice Peltzer of Hanford, Calif., Frances Bennett of Tehachapi, Calif., Julia Meyer of Green Bay, Wis., and Kathryn Bazzell of Visalia, Calif.; a son, John Barlow of California; two brothers Bill Barlow of Lindsay, Calif., and Harvey Barlow of Eureka, Calif.; three sisters, Lois Jackson of Lindsay, Frances Bogar of Clarkston, Wash., and Anna Howard of Spokane; 29 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Marvin ‘Eskimo’ Brittain Kettle Falls, Wash.
No service will be held for Marvin E. Brittain, 85, at his request. Danekas Funeral Chapel in Colville, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Brittain, who was born in Marcus, Wash., died Friday.
He worked for the Young America Mines near Colville and the Serria Zinc Mines. He also had driven trucks for Hanford and had worked on the Columbia River for Lafferty Transportation.
He later worked for Brauner Lumber, driving logging trucks.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, May; two sons, Mike Brittain of Blue Creek, Wash., and Melvin Brittain of Trail, British Columbia; a daughter, Marie Simmons of Kettle Falls, Wash.; a brother, Jess Brittain of Ilwaco, Wash.; three sisters, Evelyn Thayer of Cresent City, Calif., Gerilda Waggoner of Wenatchee and Marcia Ringel of Leadpoint, Wash.; 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Fred Murphy Spokane
No service will be held for Fred R. Murphy, 79, at his request. Thornhill Valley Funeral Home is in charge of cremation.
Mr. Murphy a longtime Spokane resident, died Thursday.
He was an observation pilot in World War II and received the Silver Star.
He was a lifetime member of the Spokane Country Club.
Mr. Murphy is survived by his wife, Janice; a son, Michael Murphy of Spokane; two daughters, Kathleen Rasmussen of Seattle and Maureen Knight of Mercer Island, Wash.; two stepsons, Mark Boyson of Bellingham and David Boyson of San Leandro, Calif.; a brother, Steven Murphy of Columbus, Miss.; five grandchildren and two stepgrandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane.
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