Obituaries

Evelyn (Luiten) Smith Veradale

Memorial service for Evelyn Annetta (Luiten) Smith, 89, will be at 2 p.m. today at Christ Lutheran Church. Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Smith, who was born in Lincoln County, died Friday.

She was raised in Odessa, Wash., and married Ralph Smith in 1930.

They first lived in Spokane and then on their farm in Otis Orchards.

Mrs. Smith was a member of the Otis Orchards Community Church, the Ladies Aid, the Otis Orchards Women’s Club and the Newman Lake Grange.

In 1967 she and her husband moved to Veradale, and she became a member of Christ Lutheran Church. She was involved in the Quilting Club and the Grandmother’s Club.

Mrs. Smith was a March of Dimes volunteer for 41 years and was a homemaker.

Her husband died in 1989.

Survivors include a son, Max Smith; six daughters, Shirley Tuttle, Marian Mitchell, Janet Sweatte, Judy Christensen, Susan Phillips and Gail Martin; two sisters, Elsie Luher of Pullman and Erma O’Leary of Vancouver, British Columbia; 24 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Lutheran Church or Anna Ogden Hall for Women and Children.

Mary House Spokane

Service for Mary Estelle House, 86, will be at 11 a.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Riverside Memorial Park.

Mrs. House, a 50-year Spokane resident, died Saturday.

She was born in Champaign, Ill., and in 1960 married Clarence House in Kellogg.

Mrs. House was a member of Heritage Congregational Church, the Order of Eastern Star, the Daughters of the American Revolution Esther Reed Chapter and the Daughters of the Nile.

She was a homemaker.

Survivors include her husband; two sons, Robert Doyle of Seattle and Lawrence Doyle of San Diego; a daughter, Barbara Schrader of Bedford, Ind.; two stepsons, Cal House of St. Paul, Minn., and Corwin House of Idaho; a stepdaughter, Dee Ross of Coon Rapids, Minn.; a brother, John Reeves of Seattle; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Angeline Palanuik Spokane

Visitation for Angeline Palanuik, 63, will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home - North. Service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Fairmount Memorial Park.

Mrs. Palanuik, who was born in Erskine, Minn., died Saturday.

She lived in Spokane for 45 years and was a homemaker.

Her husband of 40 years, Pete, died in 1992.

Survivors include six sons, Walter Palanuik of Springdale, Wash., Robert, Melvin, Donald, Duane and David Palanuik, all of Spokane; seven daughters, Irene Abell of Milton-Freewater, Ore., Darlene Zufelt of Elko, Nev., Betty Matlock, Bernice Fury, May Colvin, Shirley Petheram and Donna Cisney, all of Spokane; her father, Oscar Larson of Fertile, Minn.; three sisters, Shirley Bormes of San Diego, and Marion and Marie Swenson, both of Fertile; 41 grandchildren and 52 great-grandchildren.

John ‘Joe’ Lux Spokane

Funeral Mass for John J. “Joe” Lux, 91, will be at 2 p.m. today at St. Peter Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Lux, a 48-year resident of Spokane, died Saturday.

He was born in Nez Perce, Idaho and worked as a businessman and a farmer.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Alphonsie; 10 children; a brother, Victor; two sisters, Loretta and Magdeline; 20 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Richard Schroeder Spokane

Funeral Mass for Richard J. Schroeder, 64, will be at 10 a.m. today at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

A lifetime resident of Spokane, Mr. Schroeder died Friday.

He worked in agriculture and was a member of St. Joseph Parish on Dean and Walnut.

Survivors include two sisters, Rose Marie Romain and Mary Ann Agnew, both of Spokane.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Elizabeth Barber Spokane

Vigil service for Elizabeth E. “Betty” Barber, 80, will be at 7 p.m. today at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Charles Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Mrs. Barber, who was born in Spokane, died Friday.

She owned and operated Barber Engineering with her husband for 40 years.

Mrs. Barber was a member of the American Heart Association.

Survivors include her husband of 51 years, James; a son, Lawrence Barber of Spokane; two daughters, Carol Lynn Barber of Spokane and Joanne Baker of Richland; three brothers, Camille D’Hondt of Valleyford, Charles D’Hondt of Tacoma and Lawrence D’Hondt of Yakima; two sisters, Margaret Sampson and Agnes Gonder, both of Spokane; and four grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.

Emily (Caprye) Philby Spokane

Funeral Mass for Emily M. (Caprye) Philby, 88, will be at 2:30 p.m. today at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Philby, a lifetime Spokane resident, died Friday.

She was a homemaker and was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish.

She was preceded in death by two husbands, Charles Caprye and Frank Philby.

Survivors include two sons, Charles Caprye of Ocean Shores, Wash., and Michael Caprye of Spokane; a daughter, Marie Prafke of Spokane; three sisters, Virginia Costanga, Josephine Seghetti and Mary Pielli, all of Spokane; 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Albert Vinson Spokane

Vigil service for Albert L. Vinson, 70, will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Trentwood with full military honors.

Mr. Vinson, a 26-year Spokane resident, died Saturday.

He retired from the Air Force in 1972 as an aircraft mechanic with 26 years of service, including during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War with the 327th Bomb Squadron, the 462nd Bomb Squadron, the 5th A.F. IG Team, the 91st Bomb Wing and the 318th F.I.S.

Mr. Vinson was awarded the Bronze Star and two Air Force Accommodation Medals.

Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Alice; two sons, Wayne and Ronald Vinson; a daughter, Karen Robertson; a sister, Jane Jordan of Hawley, Texas; four brothers, Wendell Vinson of China Grove, N.C., Robert Vinson of Coon Rapids, Minn., Joe Vinson of Vacaville, Calif., and Henry Vinson of Sweetwater, Texas; and two grandsons.

Donald Brown Rosamond, Calif.

Memorial service for Donald D. Brown, 72, will be held at a later date. Mr. Brown, who was a 17-year resident of Rosamond, died April 7.

He was born in Spokane and graduated in 1943 from Rogers High School.

Mr. Brown participated in stock car racing in the early 1950s at the old Mead race track.

He was the retired co-owner of Meldon Glass Inc. in Lancaster, Wash.

Survivors include his wife, Gloria; a son, Dixon of Spokane; a brother, Earl Brown; a sister, Lora Rickard of Spokane and three grandchildren.

Helene ‘Jean’ Owen Spokane

Graveside service and burial for Helene “Jean” Owen, 83, was Monday at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Mrs. Owen, a longtime Spokane area resident, died Thursday.

She was born in Valley, Wash., and was a self-employed hairdresser.

Mrs. Owen was a 70-year member of St. Charles Parish, a 31-year member of the Manito Golf and Country Club, a member of the Washington State Hairdressers and Cosmetologists Association, and the Home Builders Auxiliary.

Her husband, Leroy Owen, died in 1987.

Survivors include a daughter, Pamela Howard of Spokane; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Raymond ‘Porky’ Burghard Ritzville, Wash.

Service for Raymond G. “Porky” Burghard, 59, will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Ritzville. Vault burial will follow at Emanuel Lutheran Cemetery. Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Burghard, who was born in Ritzville, died Saturday.

He graduated in 1956 from Ritzville High School and went to work for Adams County in the road department in 1960.

In 1990 Mr. Burghard retired as a sign technician and in 1991 married Jo Alice Lebel in Ritzville.

He was a member and past president of the Ritzville Eagles Lodge, a member of the Ritzville Gun Club, coached Ritzville Little League for many years and was a member of the Ritzville Men’s Softball League.

Survivors include his wife; four sisters, Shirley Conover of Spokane, Viola Arlt of Ritzville, Betty Hughes of Moses Lake and Romona Meise of Odessa, Wash.; and three brothers, Virgil Burghard of Oregon City, Ore., Herbert Burghard of Odessa and Donald Burghard of Moses Lake.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Diabetes Foundation.

Leon Rembowski Laclede, Idaho

Service for Leon Rembowski, 66, will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Coffelt Funeral Service in Sandpoint. Burial will follow at Pinecrest Cemetery in Sandpoint.

Mr. Rembowski, who was born in Laclede, died Thursday.

He grew up in Laclede and served with the Navy aboard the destroyer escort, USS Renshaw, during the Korean War.

Mr. Rembowski returned to North Idaho and worked as a logger and taught 4-H gun safety classes. He was a member of the Sandpoint Disabled American Veterans, the snowmobile club in Sandpoint, a citizens band radio club with the handle Bird Dog, and was a former member of the Sandpoint Jaycees.

Survivors include his wife of 26 years, Catherine; two children, Leon Rembowski of Laclede and Sabrina Fisk of Priest River, Idaho; a brother, Gordon Rembowski of Laclede; four sisters, Florence Palmer of California, Leona Smith of Oregon, Harriet Sheffler of Laclede and Deloris McFadden of Priest River; four grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Harvey Griffith Newport, Wash.

Service for Harvey Lee Griffith, 59, was Monday at Riplinger Funeral Home.

Mr. Griffith, who was born in Spokane, died Thursday.

He was raised in Elk, Wash., and graduated in 1956 from Riverside High School.

Mr. Griffith served in the Air National Guard and later worked as a building contractor.

He served on the Riverside School Board, the Newport Chamber of Commerce, was a volunteer fireman in the Elk and Diamond Lake District, was a member of the Brotherhood of Friends and was on the board of directors for the Diamond Lake Beach Club.

Survivors include his wife, Carolee; two daughters, Julie Campos and Janet Smith, both of Newport; three sisters, Miriam Andrus of Seattle, Audrey Vanos of Veradale and Karen Griffith of Redondo, Wash.; four brothers, Mel Griffith of Spokane, Ray and Marlin Griffith, both of Elk and Horace Griffith of Alaska and Tacoma; five grandchildren and three stepgrandchildren.

Frederick Jayne Valley, Wash.

Memorial graveside service for Frederick H. Jayne, 77, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Valley Cemetery. The Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Jayne, who was born in Grand Junction, Colo., died Sunday.

He drove a mail courier truck from Grand Junction to Naturita, Colo., in the years before there were many established mail routes. He was often called upon to carry mail, food, payrolls, passengers and freight into remote areas.

In the late 1960s, he moved his family to Stevens County where he farmed for many years.

His wife, Florence Tillinghast Jayne, preceded him in death.

Survivors include six daughters, Anna Higgs of Colorado, Virginia Holloway of New Mexico, Beth Hubbard of California, Alice Ely and Joyce Norman, both of Washington state, and Dorthey Knight of Arizona; three sons, Fred Jayne of Washington state, Harold Tillinghast of Texas, and Dale Tillinghast of Idaho; a sister, Margaret Jayne of Texas; 33 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.

Carol Parsons Potlatch, Idaho

Memorial service for Carol Elaine Parsons, 54, will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Mendenhall Cemetery in Potlatch. A reception will follow at the Scenic 6 Park in Potlatch. Kramer Funeral Home in Palouse, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Parsons, who died Saturday from cancer, was born in Potlatch.

She graduated in 1961 from high school in Palouse and became part owner of Bestway Equipment Co. in Palouse until the business sold in 1984. She worked in the parts department.

Mrs. Parsons later worked as a bookkeeper for Nagle and Gage Repair in Palouse during the late 1980s. She also worked at the Napa Auto Supply Store in Potlatch for several years, until 1996 when she retired.

She operated Carol’s Photography in Potlatch from 1994 to 1996 and later moved her studio to her home.

In 1995 she married Donald Parsons near Potlatch.

Mrs. Parsons was a member of the Latah County Historical Society, the Latah County Democratic Party, the Scenic 6 Park Committee and the Business and Professional Women’s Association in Potlatch.

Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Gayle Griswold and Paula Nicholson, both of Potlatch; four stepsons, Troy Michael Parsons of Phoenix, Troy Scott and Derek Parsons, both of Yakima, and Chris Parsons of Kennewick; her mother and stepfather, Arthelia and Virgil Clyde of Potlatch; two brothers, Dale Gottschalk of Viola, Idaho, and Bruce Gottschalk of Clarkston, Wash.; three grandchildren and six stepgrandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Scenic 6 Park in Potlatch.

Charlotte (Hicks) Druffel Portland

Private graveside service will be held for Charlotte Eloise (Hicks) Druffel, 98, at a later date. Sunnyside Little Chapel of the Chimes in Portland is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Druffel, who was born in Pendleton, Ore., died Friday.

She graduated from Hillyard High School in Spokane and in 1919 went to work part time as a bookkeeper at First National Bank in Pullman.

She met and married the head bookkeeper from the bank, William Druffel, in 1920, and they moved to Colton, Wash., in 1929.

Mrs. Druffel served as a Colton news correspondent for the Pullman Herald, the Lewiston Tribune and the Spokane Chronicle.

She worked at Security State Bank beside her husband during World War II.

During her news writing career, she was tapped in 1959 for membership in the Washington State University chapter of the women’s journalism honorary, Theta Sigma Phi.

Another award from the Washington Education Association for her outstanding contribution toward better understanding was presented to her in 1963, a direct result of her reporting of news of the Colton schools.

Mrs. Druffel was also active in community affairs, was a past district president of the American Legion Auxiliary and a past Chapeau of the Whitman County Salon of 40 et 8. She was on the board of the Whitman County Tuberculosis Associations holding the office of president for four years and secretary for nine years.

Her husband died in 1962 and in 1964 she moved to Portland.

Survivors include a son, Gordon Druffel of Portland; a daughter, Miriam Nesbit of Salem, Ore.; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two stepgreat-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

Allen Cummings Diamond Lake, Wash.

Memorial service for Allen Harold “Al” Cummings, 66, will be at 11 a.m. Friday at American Lutheran Church in Newport, Wash. Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Cummings, who was born in Lenox, Mass., died Wednesday from cancer.

In 1955, he married Laurie Fischer in Frankfurt, Germany. He lived in Pend Oreille County for the past 24 years after moving here from Connecticut.

He worked at three different Pratt and Whitney Aircraft plants for more than 18 years.

Mr. Cummings later worked for Diamond Lumber Mill as a chipper operator for 19 years.

He was a member of the Woodworkers Union Local 310 and enjoyed restoring antique cars.

Survivors include his wife; a son, James Cummings of Wyoming; a daughter, Christina Schooly of Nebraska; a sister, Hazel Mangin of Florida; and three grandchildren.