Obituaries
Frank Boncz Priest River, Idaho
Memorial service for Frank Boncz, 77, will be today at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Priest River. Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Priest River is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Boncz, who was born in Youngstown, Ohio, died Sunday.
He moved to Montana and worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps.
He was also a Golden Gloves boxer.
Mr. Boncz moved to Priest River in the 1940s, working for Nelson Logging and East River Logging for many years. He also did odd carpentry and masonry jobs. He retired in 1986.
Survivors include five sons, Zane and Todd Boncz, both of Priest River, John Boncz of Meridian, Idaho, Mark Boncz of Haugan Mont., and Frank Boncz Jr. of Clatskanie, Ore.; a daughter, Patricia Boncz; two sisters, Betty Stredni of Austintown, Ohio and Charlotte Broaddus of Houston; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Lula Stratton Ritzville, Wash.
Funeral for Lula Rachel Stratton, 85, will be at 11 a.m. today at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Ritzville. Vault burial will follow at the Ritzville Memorial Cemetery. Danekas Funeral Chapel in Ritzville is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Stratton, who was born in St. Maries, died Friday.
She married Clarence Stratton in 1932, and they lived in Cheney before moving to Washtucna, Wash., in 1937. In 1941 they moved to Maringo, Wash., and then to Ritzville in 1962.
Mrs. Stratton was a homemaker and a member of the Emanuel Lutheran Church in Ritzville, Rebekkah Lodge of Ritzville, C.J. Newland American Legion Post 51 Auxiliary and the Eagles Lodge Auxiliary.
Her husband died in 1978.
Survivors include three daughters, Alberta Baker of Sequim, Wash., Dora Kramer of Ritzville and Clarice Craner of Lynden, Wash.; two brothers, George Hayter of Puyallup, Wash., and Walter Hayter of South Cle Elum, Wash.; two sisters, Katheran Hustler and Alma Gosser, both of St. Maries; 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Dorothy Olson Coeur d’Alene
Service for Dorothy I. Olson, 88, will be at 10 a.m. today at English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene. Burial will follow at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Olson, who was born in Belfield, N.D., died Tuesday. She lived in Belfield until moving to the Coeur d’Alene area in 1936. She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Olson also co-operated Olson Supply until 1955 and was a member of the Coeur d’Alene Trinity Lutheran Church and the American Association of Retired Persons.
Her husband of 55 years, Joe, died in 1985.
Survivors include two daughters, Ann LePard of Spokane and Doris Ayars of Coeur d’Alene; five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Joseph Pribble Mullan, Idaho
Service for Joseph James Pribble, 86, will be today at 11 a.m. at the Wallace Funeral Chapel. Mr. Pribble, who died Monday, was born in Michigan.
He lived in Michigan and worked for various mines before moving to the Silver Valley in 1948. He worked as a miner for the Lucky Friday Mine for many years. Mr. Pribble also built neon signs and was a musician.
He was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Mullan.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Kathryn; a daughter, Nancy Gately, and a son, Ralph Pribble, both of California; and five grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army.
Lillian Eller Spokane
Funeral for Lillian Eller, 91, will be at 11 a.m. today at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Pines Cemetery.
Mrs. Eller, who was born in Tiskilwa, Ill., died Tuesday.
She moved with her family to Sunnyside, Wash., then to the Pasadena Park area of the Spokane Valley. She later moved to the family farm on Trent Avenue in the Spokane Valley.
She was a member of the first graduating class at West Valley High School.
In 1929 she married Jack Eller. They lived in the Hauser Lake area until they bought property along Trent.
Mrs. Eller continued to live there until 1994, when she moved to the Good Samaritan Nursing Home. She had been a volunteer at the nursing home during the 1950s and 1960s.
She was a 50-year member of the Trentwood Grange, a 40-year member of the Community Church of the Bible and an active participant in the Trentwood Homemakers’ Club.
Her husband died in 1985.
Survivors include a son, Cecil Eller of Trentwood; three daughters, Jean Gunderson of Otis Orchards, Pat Endicott of Priest River, Idaho, and Winnie Sundeth of Cusick, Wash.; 17 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Vera (Winsper) Price Spokane
Funeral for Vera (Winsper) Price, 80, will be at 2 p.m. today at St. Joseph Cemetery Chapel in Trentwood. Burial will follow at the cemetery. Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
A 60-year Spokane resident, Mrs. Price died Sunday. She was born in Hamilton, Mont., and was a homemaker.
Her first husband, Frank Winsper, Sr., preceded her in death.
Survivors include her husband, Bill; three daughters, Virginia Potter and Dorothy Bentley, both of Spokane, and Frances Herr of Kenosha, Wis.; a son, Frank Winsper of Spokane; a stepson, Dick Price of Chewelah, Wash.; two sisters, Mildred Ciarlone of Montana and Virginia Ferrell of North Dakota; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Lois Jordan Coeur d’Alene
Memorial service for Lois L. Jordan, 84, will be held in the spring. YatesHodge Funeral Home in St. Maries is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Jordan, who was born in Coeur d’Alene, died Monday.
She grew up in Coeur d’Alene and was a homemaker. She moved to Seattle in 1965.
Mrs. Jordan returned to Coeur d’Alene in 1983. She was involved in ceramics, and was a member of the Coeur d’Alene Eagles Auxiliary.
Her husband of 60 years, Robert, died in 1993.
Survivors include a daughter, Chloe Sexton of Fernwood, Idaho; three sons, Dewayne Jordan of Portland, and Wayne and Robert Jordan, both of Mountlake Terrace, Wash.; 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great-granddaughters.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Upriver Ambulance Fund, in care of Hank Teal, P.O. Box 432, Fernwood, ID 83830.
Jenna Martinez DeSmet, Idaho
Funeral Mass for Jenna R. Martinez, 36, will be at 10 a.m. today at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in DeSmet. Burial will be at the DeSmet Mission Cemetery. Kramer Funeral Home in Tekoa, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.
Miss Martinez, who was born in Spokane, died Saturday.
She was a member of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Survivors include two children, Santana Benton and Matthew Martinez, both at home; five brothers, Milo Swan, Vic Lumprey, Michael and Oswald George Jr. and John Martinez; three sisters, Sheila George Gholson, and Becky and Angeline Martinez.
Jewell Queal Spokane
Memorial service for Jewell D. Queal, 80, is planned for 9 a.m. today at St. Paschal Catholic Church. Hennessey Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
A 35-year Spokane resident, Mr. Queal died Sunday. He was born in Minot, N.D.
He worked as a maintenance manager for Edgecliff Hospital in Spokane for several years.
Survivors include his wife, Mary; a son, Pete Queal, and a daughter, Sandy Pardun, both of Spokane; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Donald Pittman Chattaroy
Memorial service for Donald W. Pittman, 93, will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-North.
Mr. Pittman, who was born in Coulee City, Wash., died Monday.
He graduated from Polson (Mont.) High School in 1926 and began working for Western Electric. As the nationwide installation manager, he moved all over the United States.
He retired in 1967 and moved to Chattaroy.
Mr. Pittman was a member of the Retired Telephone Pioneers of America.
Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Eida; two daughters, Donna Reser of Spokane and Gail Barham of Ashland, Ore.; six grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Vernon McIrvin Spokane
Funeral for Vernon E. McIrvin, 89, will be at 11 a.m. today at Palouse (Wash.) Federated Church. Private family burial will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Palouse. Kramer Funeral Home in Palouse is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. McIrvin, who was born in Vancouver, Wash., died Sunday.
He graduated from Vancouver High School in 1927 and in 1928 married Edith Burnett.
They operated a cattle ranch near Orient, Wash., from 1936 until 1942 when they returned to Vancouver.
Mr. McIrvin worked in the shipyards during World War II. In 1948 he moved to Colville where he operated a cattle ranch and worked in lumber mills and mines.
In 1959 he moved to Odessa, Wash., and worked for area farmers, at an area missile base and for the Odessa Trading Co. He retired in 1977.
Mr. McIrvin moved south of Palouse after his retirement, living near Kamiak Butte. In 1982 he moved into Palouse. His wife died in 1995.
He moved to the Palouse Hills Nursing Center in Pullman in January 1997, before moving to the Beverly Rehabilitation and Living Center in Spokane in October 1997.
Survivors include a son, Wayne McIrvin of Federal Way, Wash.; two daughters, Judy Richardson of Loon Lake and Carolyn Dompier of Wasilla, Alaska; 17 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Lena McCully Colfax, Wash.
Graveside service for Lena McCully, 86, will be at 2 p.m. today at the Colfax Cemetery. Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. McCully, who was born in Sandy, Ore., died Monday.
She graduated from high school in Yakima and in 1930 married Elmer McCully.
They moved to Whitman County in 1933 and began farming and raising cattle along the Snake River.
In 1967 they moved to Winona, Wash., where they continued to raise cattle until moving to Endicott, Wash. They moved to Colfax in 1981.
Mrs. McCully was a member of the Grandmother’s Club of Colfax.
Her husband died in 1981.
Survivors include two sons, Dick McCully of Colfax and Don McCully of Shelton, Wash.; three brothers, Melvin and Art Smith, both of Everett, and Ed Smith of Boise; two sisters, Betty Smith of Everett and Dorothy VanAkin of Westminster, Calif.; six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Donald Burchett Spokane
Memorial service for Donald E. Burchett, 57, was Monday at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home.
A lifetime Spokane resident, Mr. Burchett died last Wednesday.
He worked as a steamfitter and was a member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local 44.
Survivors include his wife, Stella; a son, Greg Burchett; a daughter, Jennifer Austin; two stepsons, Larry and John Spratt; a stepdaughter, Laura Spratt; three sisters, Jackie Brown, Shirley Quist and Sharon O’Connor; two brothers, Lloyd and Floyd Burchett; one granddaughter and several stepgrandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.