Obituaries
Richard Brown Spokane
Visitation for Richard William “Dick” Brown, 51, is scheduled for 4 to 8 p.m. today at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home in Spokane. Service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial service will be at Greenwood Memorial Cemetery. Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Brown, who died Saturday, was born in Waco, Texas.
He died while on a camping trip on Stranger Mountain near Chewelah, Wash.
He graduated from Ritzville High School and attended Washington State University, Wenatchee Valley College and received a computer programming degree from Spokane Community College.
He had worked as a computer programmer for Deaconess Hospital, and as a purchasing agent for Farm Credit Bank, Metallic Arts and the Spokane Dealers Automotive Auction.
Mr. Brown worked as a manager for Big Bend Insurance Agency in Cheney and was a member of the Cheney Chamber of Commerce, the Spokane Walleye Club, The American Radio Relay League, and The Inland Empire VHF Radio Amateurs.
In 1989 he married Julie (Elliot) Weitensteiner in Spokane.
He is survived by his wife; a daughter, Wendy Brown of Spokane; a stepson, Nick Weitensteiner of Spokane; his parents, Roger and Virginia Olson of Spokane; a brother, Terry Olson of Spokane; and three sisters, Janice Kunz and Nancy Schuler both of Spokane, and Rebecca Joyce of Concord, Calif.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Inland Empire VHF Radio Amateurs or to Morning Star Boys Ranch.
Harold Okert Spokane
Memorial service for Harold H. Okert, 80, will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Opportunity Presbyterian Church. Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Okert, who was born in Garrison, N.D., died Tuesday.
He was an elementary school principal for School District 81 for 30 years and retired in 1975.
Mr. Okert was a member of the Hillyard Lions Club, American Legion Post No. 9, the Spokane Valley Pioneers, the Retired Principals Association, the National and Washington Education Associations, and the Spokane Education Association.
He and his son, John, owned the Butcher, Baker, Breakfast Maker restaurant for 12 years.
Survivors include two sons, John Okert of Spokane, and Karl Okert of Kuwait; a daughter, Julie Wales of Spokane; three stepdaughters, Sara Moody of Brazil, Marlene Badgley of Arizona, and Brenda Benoit of Wenatchee; a brother, Ruben Okert of Spokane; four sisters, Esther Little of Spokane, Emelia Cook of Cheney, Lillian Cook of Vancouver, Wash., and Marie Breitsprecher of Port Townsend, Wash.; 10 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.
Floyd Welch Post Falls
Visitation for Floyd A. Welch, 69, will be today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at English Funeral Chapel in Post Falls. Graveside service is planned for 11 a.m. Wednesday at Evergreen Cemetery in Post Falls.
Mr. Welch, who was born in South Dakota, died Saturday.
He grew up in Post Falls before joining the merchant marines in 1945. He was released from active duty later the same year and returned to Post Falls.
He had worked as a tile setter and later as a boiler at Louisiana Pacific Lumber Mill in Post Falls.
Survivors include his wife of 50 years, June; three sons, Robert Welch of Post Falls, and Danny and Chuck Welch, both of Spokane; two daughters, Carol Misita of Post Falls, and Judy Speaks of Indiana; four sisters, Avis Sweitzer and Lois Brugger, both of Post Falls, Ivonne Meyer of Hayden, Idaho, and Nona Rawls of Coeur d’Alene; a brother, Ron Welch of California; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Dema Williams Spokane
Visitation for Dema Jennet Williams, 83, will be from 8 a.m. to noon today at the Riplinger Funeral Home. Service will follow at 2 p.m. at the Sunset Mausoleum Chapel at Fairmount Memorial Park. Burial will follow at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
Mrs. Williams, who was born in Logansport, Ind., died Thursday.
She was a 50-year Spokane resident and a homemaker.
Mrs. Williams was a member of the South Hill Bible Church, the Garden Club, The Order of Eastern Star, the Crystal Chandeliers Dance Club, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Spokane Bicycle Club, and the Service League of Sacred Heart Medical Center.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Robert; three daughters, Bonnie Montgomery of Seattle, Trudy Orth of Newport, Wash., and Jewel McClanahan of Spokane; two sisters, Alma Knubel of Tiburon, Calif., and Wanda Hougland of Spokane; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Robert ‘Louie’ Flory Wilbur, Wash.
Visitation for Robert L. “Louie” Flory, 71, is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. today at Strate Funeral Home in Wilbur. Service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Lodge in Wilbur, with burial at the Wilbur Cemetery.
Mr. Flory, who died Saturday, was born in Hawk Creek, northeast of Creston, Wash.
He graduated from Creston High School and served in the Marine Corps during World War II.
He worked at the Emerson Sawmill in Wilbur/Creston for 20 years and later worked at the Lincoln Mill in Lincoln, Wash. He retired in 1981.
He owned a recycling business in Wilbur and was a member of the Wilbur Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6268, and the National Rifle Association.
Mr. Flory is survived by his wife, Donna; a daughter, Brenda Goodwin of Cheney; a sister, Millie Barzee of Spokane; and two grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wilbur Swimming Pool.
Robert Strasburg Sr. Spokane
Service for Robert E. “Bob” Strasburg Sr. is planned for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Burial will be at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mr. Strasburg, who was born in Wisconsin, died Saturday. He was 79.
He served in the Army during World War II and later worked as a mechanic for Kaiser Aluminum’s Mead plant. He retired in 1979.
Mr. Strasburg was a 45-year Spokane resident and a member of Eagles Lodge No.2, and the Shriners.
Survivors include four sons, James, Richard, William and Robert Strasburg Jr., all of Spokane; five daughters, Roberta Smith of Mead, Rose Cook of Deadwood, S.D., Ruth Rasmussen of Elk, Wash., Helen McGarvin of Wenatchee, and Linda Smith of Marysville, Wash.; two sisters, Marjorie Barnett of Stamford, Texas, and Helen Johnson of Phoenix; a brother, Gilbert Strasburg of Grantsburg, Wis.; 20 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.
Marcus ‘Curly’ Alderson Spokane
Visitation for Marcus “Curley” Alderson, 78, is scheduled for noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home. Service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with graveside service at 12:30 p.m. at Pine City (Wash.) Cemetery.
Mr. Alderson, who was born in Arkansas, died Saturday.
He served in the Air Force during World War II and retired in 1964 as a chief master sergeant after 26 years of service.
Mr. Alderson was a 33-year Spokane resident and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the Moses Lake Masonic Temple No. 174.
In 1941 he married Ilabelle Crutcher in Coeur d’Alene.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Michael James of Spokane; a brother, Orvis Alderson of Belpre, Kan.; and two grandchildren.
Aileen Carter Sprague, Wash.
Service for Aileen M. Carter, 83, will be at 10 a.m. today at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sprague. Burial service will follow at the Macabee Cemetery in Sprague. Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Carter, who was born in Wapella, Saskatchewan, died Friday.
She received her nursing degree from St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and later worked as the director of nursing at Ritzville Memorial Hospital. She retired in 1976.
Mrs. Carter was a member of the Legion Horse Show, and the Order of Eastern Star in Sprague.
Her husband, John Carter, died in 1984.
She is survived by two sons, Ed Carter of Virginia Beach, Va., and Tom Carter of Roseville, Calif.; a brother, Albert Maki, of Wapella; and two sisters, Jennie Salonen of Whitewood, Saskatchewan, and Lina Heutala of Winnipeg; and two grandchildren.
John Jacobs Spokane
Funeral Mass for John L. Jacobs, 83, was Monday at St. Thomas More Catholic Church.
Mr. Jacobs, who was born in Genesee, Idaho, died Thursday.
He worked at Galena Army Air Depot during World War II and later worked as a manager of the Maple Street Bridge for the State of Washington.
Mr. Jacobs had lived in Spokane for 75 years and was a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Eagles Lodge No. 2, the Moose Lodge, and the Brotherhood of Friends.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sally; two sons, Ronald and Raymond Jacobs, both of Spokane; a daughter, Patricia Russell of Spokane; a brother, Albert Jacobs of Mesa, Ariz.; two sisters, Genevieve Fox and Odella Meulner, both of Spokane; 14 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Thomas More Church Building Fund.
Laura Chick Spokane
Graveside service for Laura M. Chick, 90, is planned for 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Riverside Memorial Park. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Chick, who was born in Glidden, Wis., died Friday.
She had lived in Spokane for 60 years and was a homemaker.
She was a member of Millwood Presbyterian Church, and the Inland Empire Dahlia Society.
Her husband Carl Chick died in 1984.
Survivors include a daughter, Joan Muir of Spokane.
Memorial contributions may be made to Millwood Presbyterian Church or the American Cancer Society.
Iva (Mabbott) Marks Spokane
Memorial service for Iva Mae (Mabbott) Marks, 89, was Monday at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home.
Mrs. Marks, who was born in Loomis, S.D., died Friday.
She had lived in Spokane for 58 years and worked as a cook for several restaurants.
In 1927 she married Walter Marks. He died in 1978.
She is survived by five daughters, Ellen Johnson of Medical Lake, Lois Eutsler and Janette LaBella, both of Spokane, Avis Sanders of Pasco, and Karen Gentry of Ohio; four sons, Floyd Marks of Spokane, Keith Marks of Pasco, Ron Marks of Oregon, and Dennis Marks of Wisconsin; a brother, Hank Mabbott; 10 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Benjamin Cauvel Spokane
Service for Benjamin Everett Cauvel, 96, will be at 11 a.m. today at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home. Inurnment will be at Riverside Memorial Park.
Mr. Cauvel, who was born in Lincoln County, Wash., died Wednesday.
He graduated from North Central High School and worked as a mailer for The Spokesman-Review for 48 years. He retired in 1966.
He lived in Spokane for 95 years and was a member of the Brotherhood of Friends, the Elks Lodge, and the Typographical Union.
Two wives, Audrey Elliot and Pauline Munkers, preceded him in death.
Mr. Cauvel is survived by three brothers, Randall and Milton Cauvel, both of Spokane, and John Cauvel of Tacoma; and a sister, Marjorie Watkins of Lake Oswego, Ore.
Marian (Leavitt) Pfeffer Spokane
Memorial service for Marian Elizabeth (Leavitt) Pfeffer, 80, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Heritage Congregational Church.
Mrs. Pfeffer, a lifetime Spokane resident, died Saturday.
She graduated from Rogers High School and Northwest Business College and later worked as an administrative assistant in the insurance industry for 10 years.
She was a member of the Normandie Garden Club and St. Luke’s Service League.
Mrs. Pfeffer is survived by her husband of 55 years, Woodrow; a daughter, Penny Pfeffer of Seattle; and a brother, Jack Leavitt of Florence, Ala.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or Sacred Heart Medical Center Humor Care Program..
Merle Collins Spokane
Memorial service for Merle V. Collins, 77, was Monday at Christ Lutheran Church.
Mr. Collins, who was born in Copeland, Ind., died Friday.
He served in the Navy during World War II in New Guinea and later helped build the first Calypso ship for Jacques Cousteau.
He had worked for Nordby Supply for 28 years, retiring in 1981, and also as a commercial fisherman in Alaska.
Mr. Collins is survived by his wife, Carole; two daughters, Susan Freshour of Mobile, Ala., and Randi CollinsCain of Everett, Wash.; two stepsons, Robert Gilbert of Rochester, Wash., and Roger Gilbert of Yelm, Wash.; two stepdaughters, Julia Miller of Dripping Springs, Texas, and Susan Chissus of Spokane; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Spokane Humane Society or the American Heart Association.
, DataTimes