Obituaries

Odessa (Banka) Dawson Sandpoint

Visitation for Odessa M. (Banka) Dawson, 78, will be held Friday until 5 p.m. at Coffelt’s Moon Chapel in Sandpoint. Service will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the chapel in Sandpoint. Interment will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Sandpoint. Coffelt Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Dawson, who was born in Polson, Mont., died Thursday.

She grew up in Cusick, Wash., and graduated from Newport (Wash.) High School in 1936. She had worked as a cook in logging camps throughout Idaho.

She moved to Sandpoint in 1952.

Mrs. Dawson was preceded in death by her husband, Emmett.

Survivors include eight children, Linda Collinson and Roberta Lucas, both of Sandpoint, Marion Strandy, Judith Lucas and Ronald Banka, all of Spokane, Kathleen Kratz of Oregon, Teddie Huggins of Moyie Springs, Idaho, and Edward Banka of Germany; two sisters, Bernice DaVaz and Frances Shukle, both of Newport; 25 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Alvin Crousser St. Maries

Service for Alvin W. Crousser, 56, will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at Yates-Hodge Funeral Home in St. Maries. Mr. Crousser, who was born in Michigan, died Monday.

He grew up in Weippe, Idaho, graduating from high school there in 1958. He went on to work for the Forest Service and moved to Powell Ranger Station in 1966.

Mr. Crousser moved to St. Maries in 1975 and had worked as a fire management officer for the Forest Service before retiring in 1990.

He recently worked for the Forest Service and Northwest Management of Moscow.

Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Jaunieta; a son, David Crousser, and a daughter, Marcie Fowler, both of St. Maries; his mother, June Crousser of Lewiston; a brother, Alton Crousser of Oregon; three sisters, Rosalie Delmer of Wisconsin, and Ellen Smith and Helen Wilks, both of Lewiston; and five grandchildren.

Ben Fischer Coeur d’Alene

At his request, no service will be held for Ben W. Fischer, 95. Yates Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Fischer, who was born in Iowa, died Monday.

He grew up in Polson, Mont., and worked for the Forest Service before being employed in the theater industry throughout the West.

Mr. Fischer had worked for Standard Service Tire Co. in Seattle during World War II before retiring and moving to Coeur d’Alene in 1967.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge.

Survivors include his wife, Grace; three nieces, Dolores, Beverly and Ruth; and one nephew, Earl.

, DataTimes