Obituaries
Celesta Sanderson Spokane
Visitation for Celesta Lee Sanderson, 74, is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Sunday and for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Service will follow at 4 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Sanderson, who was born in Idabel, Okla., died Saturday.
She had worked as a roundhouse laborer and later in the car shop for Great Northern Railway in Wenatchee.
In 1967 she moved to Spokane and worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad superintendent’s office as a lease clerk before retiring in 1983.
She was a member of the National Association of Railway Business Women.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Sanderson.
Mrs. Sanderson is survived by a son, Michael McCartney of Spokane; two daughters, Tamara McCartney of California and Crystal Martell of Spokane; two brothers, William and Jack Hicks, both of Spokane; three sisters, Luna Weikel and Nellie Lundeen, both of Spokane, and Gretta Meier of Seattle; and four grandchildren.
William Widmer Spokane
Funeral Mass for William H. Widmer, 82, is scheduled for 9 a.m. today at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Burial will be Monday at Holy Cross Cemetery. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Widmer, who was born in New Martinville, W.Va., died Wednesday.
He served in the Army cavalry and, during World War II, in the Navy. He also served in the reserves for 37 years, retiring in 1977.
Mr. Widmer had worked in electrical maintenance for The SpokesmanReview for 27 years. He retired in 1977.
He was a member of the Eagles Lodge.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Rosella; two sons, Everett of Spokane and Daniel of Homer, Alaska; three daughters, Gloria of Spokane, and Joan Woodall and Faith Wagner, both of Royal City, Wash.; two brothers, Eddy and Earl of Arizona; a sister, Violet of North Carolina; and seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Roy Fisher Spokane
Visitation for Roy E. Fisher, 78, will be from noon to 5 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Graveside service is planned for 11 a.m. Monday at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mr. Fisher, a lifetime Spokane resident, died Thursday.
He graduated from Lewis and Clark High School.
During World War II he built B-17 airplane components at Felts Field.
Mr. Fisher had worked in the warehouse for the Genuine Parts/Napa Distribution Center and retired in 1983.
Mr. Fisher was a member of Teamsters Union Local No. 582, the Moose Lodge, the Moose Lodge bowling league, Eagles Lodge No. 2 and Messiah Lutheran Church.
Survivors include two second cousins in Sweden.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mission Community Outreach Center.
Randy Hilderbrand Spokane
Graveside service for Randy Hilderbrand, 41, was Friday at the Republic (Wash.) Cemetery.
Mr. Hilderbrand, who was born in Brewster, Wash., died Monday.
He attended Republic High School and later worked in the hotel business for eight years.
He married Teena Cox in Coeur d’Alene last year.
Mr. Hilderbrand is survived by his wife; his mother, Nora Hilderbrand of Spokane; two sons, John and David, and a daughter, Melanie, all at home; and a brother, Ron Hilderbrand of Maui, Hawaii.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Friends of the Merry-Go-Round of Republic.
Barbara Gren Spokane
Visitation for Barbara L. Gren, 53, is scheduled for 8 to 11 a.m. today at the Riplinger Funeral Home. Service will follow at 1 p.m. today at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 16th Ward. Burial will follow at the Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
Born in Santa Maria, Calif., Mrs. Gren died Tuesday.
She had lived in Spokane for 16 years and was a homemaker.
She was a member of Guns of the Timberland.
Mrs. Gren is survived by her husband of 37 years, John; a son, Edwin Gren of Spokane; a daughter Carla Cahoon of Charlo, Mont.; a sister, Nita Ann Walker of Santa Fe Springs, Calif.; and 12 grandchildren.
Dwight Merkel Spokane
Memorial service for Dwight Milton Merkel, a lifetime Spokane resident, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home.
Mr. Merkel died Tuesday. He was 55.
He graduated from North Central High School and Eastern Washington University.
He contributed to the development of the Spokane Youth Sports Association and later served as the organization’s executive director. He also coordinated the development of the Spokane Youth Activity Complex.
Mr. Merkel was a member of the Downtown Exchange Club, the Charitable and Civic Gaming Association, and the Greater Spokane Sports Association.
He served on the Spokane Park Board and School District 81 Activities Committee.
In 1984 he received the Washington Parks and Recreation Association’s citation of merit.
Mr. Merkel is survived by his wife of 19 years, Sharon; two sons, Douglas and Scott Phares, both of Spokane; two brothers, Dale and Douglas Merkel, both of Spokane; and two grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Spokane Youth Sports Association.
Willard ‘Pudgy’ Knapton Jr. Spokane
Service for Willard L. “Pudgy” Knapton Jr. will be 1 p.m. today at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home. Burial will follow at the Riverside Memorial Park.
Mr. Knapton, 68, died Wednesday. He was born in Bellingham.
He had worked in inventory for a pharmaceutical warehouse and was a 52-year Spokane resident.
His wife, Ethel, died in 1992.
Survivors include three sons, Richard and William Knapton, both of Spokane, and John Knapton of Veradale; two daughters, Sharon Boatsman and Linda Rick, both of Spokane; and 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Lutheran Church of the Deaf.
Alice Heritage Sandpoint
Service for Alice S. Heritage, 87, will be 11 a.m. Monday at Coffelt’s Moon Chapel. Burial will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Sandpoint.
Mrs. Heritage, who was born in South Carolina, died Thursday.
She attended school in South Carolina and moved to Sandpoint in 1945.
Mrs. Heritage was a homemaker.
Two husbands preceded her in death, Harry Benton and Myrvin Heritage.
Survivors include a son, Harry Benton of Spokane; a sister, Virgie Koger of South Carolina; and five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Lola Nesbitt Spokane
No service will be held for Lola L. Nesbitt, 69, at her request. The Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.
A lifetime Spokane resident, Mrs. Nesbitt, died May 29.
She graduated from Lewis and Clark High School and worked as a dental assistant.
She was a member of Central Lutheran Church.
Mrs. Nesbitt is survived by her husband, Everett.
Jann ‘Holly’ Adams Spokane
A gathering for Jann Holida “Holly” Adams, will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at McCoy’s Craft Village in the Valley.
Ms. Adams, 48, died May 28.
She was born in Logansport, Ind.
Ms. Adams graduated from the Hamilton Academy of Arts in Dallas and studied art under Frederick Taubes of The Academy in Ruidoso, N.M., and R.D. Rossback of New Orleans.
She was a member of The International Society of Artists and the Central Sonoma Art Association.
Ms. Adams had lived in Spokane for 14 years and taught oil painting classes at McCoy’s Craft Village.
Ms. Adams is survived by a daughter, LeaAnn Morton of Seattle; her mother, Jane Matthews, and a brother, Michael Matthews, both of Spokane.
Mary Berg Deer Park
Service for Mary O. Berg, 78, will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Deer Park Church of the Nazarene. Lauer Funeral Home in Deer Park is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Berg, who was born in Maidsville, W.Va., died Thursday.
In 1928 her family moved from West Virginia to the Pineview area north of Deer Park. They later moved to Ohio, where she graduated from high school, and then returned to the Deer Park area.
In 1940 she married Norman Berg in Deer Park, where they settled. Her husband died in 1985.
Mrs. Berg was a homemaker and member of the Deer Park Church of the Nazarene.
In 1996 she was honored for her community service by the Volunteers of America.
Mrs. Berg is survived by a daughter, Jane Roberts of Electric City, Wash.; a son, Daniel Berg of Deer Park; and eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Deer Park Church of the Nazarene.
Raymond Cripps Spokane
Graveside service and burial for Raymond W. Cripps, 73, will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Spokane Memorial Gardens. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Cripps, who was born in Alpena, Mich., died May 23.
He served in the Marines during World War II and worked as a machinist for Kaiser Aluminum in Mead from 1950 to 1960. He later worked for Boeing in Seattle for 10 years.
In 1987 he moved to the Colville area and lived there for 10 years before moving to Spokane.
Mr. Cripps was a member of the Machinists Union.
He is survived by a son, Terry Cripps, and a daughter, Nancy Cook, both of Spokane; two brothers, Kenneth and Robert Cripps, and two sisters, Shirley Nehring and Betty Cole, all of Michigan; and five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Betty Bumpas Spokane
Service for Betty Jo Bumpas, 42, will be at 2 p.m today at St. Matthew’s Institutional Baptist Church. Burial will be at Riverside Memorial Park. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-South is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Bumpas, who was born in Lawrenceburg, Tenn, died Monday.
She moved from Tennessee to Spokane 19 years ago and had worked as a seamstress for clothing manufacturers.
Mrs. Bumpas is survived by a son, Angeloe Bumpas of Spokane; three brothers, Edward and James Bumpas, both of Spokane, and John Bumpas of Tennessee; a sister, Martha Bumpas of Lawrenceburg, Tenn.; and one grandson.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Matthew’s Institutional Baptist Church.
Raymond Johnson Bellevue, Wash.
Memorial service for retired Navy Capt. Raymond C. Johnson, 64, will be at 6 p.m. Monday at the Lake Washington Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. At his request, he will be buried at sea.
Mr. Johnson died Wednesday from cancer.
He graduated from Newport (Wash.) High School and the University of Idaho.
He was commissioned and earned the wings of a naval aviator in 1957 and served 22 years of active duty, including four cruises to Southeast Asia aboard the carriers Hornet and Coral Sea. He retired in 1978.
Mr. Brown later entered the cattle business and was credited with being the first to introduce Norwegian Red cattle to Washington state.
He was a member of Delta Chi fraternity.
Survivors include his wife, Kathleen; a son, Gerald Johnson of Seattle; two daughters, Theresa Schoenfield of California, and Suzanne Curti of Seattle; a stepdaughter, Alana Collins of British Columbia; a brother, Don Johnson of Worley, Idaho; and five grandchildren.
Kathryn Sams Bellevue, Wash.
Service for Kathryn Sams, 80, will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-North. Burial will be at the Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
Mrs. Sams, who was born in Huntingdon, Tenn., died Thursday.
In 1946 she moved to Spokane from Bremerton, Wash., and worked as an Avon representative and was also a homemaker.
She was a member of Fourth Memorial Church.
In 1996 Mrs. Sams moved to Bellevue.
Her husband of 51 years, Lafayette Sams, died in 1991.
Survivors include a son, Leon Sams of Stanwood, Wash.; a daughter, Donna Sams of Kirkland, Wash.; two brothers, Duell McDearman and Edward McDearman, and a sister, Nellie Milton, all of McKinzie, Tenn.; and three grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Fourth Memorial Church Missions Fund.
Elizabeth Nipp Coeur d’Alene
No service will be held for Elizabeth Ann Nipp, 75, at her request. English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Nipp, who was born in Coeur d’Alene, died Tuesday.
She was a longtime North Idaho resident and a homemaker.
Mrs. Nipp was a member of the Community Methodist Church.
Survivors include her husband of 56 years, Elmer; three sons, Ronald Nipp of Spokane, Daniel Nipp of Coeur d’Alene and Calvin Nipp of Post Falls; a brother, Bill Blount and a sister, Jean McGrogan, both of Spokane; and five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, North Idaho Chapter, 1916 Lakewood Drive, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.
Ilse Driskell Spokane
No service will be held for Ilse W. P. Driskell. The Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Driskell, who was born in Germany, died Tuesday. She was 74.
In 1948 she married Leslie Driskell and they lived in Saudi Arabia. They moved to the Spokane Valley in 1965.
She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Driskell is survived by her husband; twins, Christiane Driskell of Spokane, and Martin Driskell of Thousand Oaks, Calif.; a sister, Hannelore Halkjaer of Germany; and three grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society.
, DataTimes