Obituaries
James Renfrew Plummer, Idaho
Memorial service for James Renfrew, 82, will be held at a later date. Yates-Hodge Funeral Home in St. Maries is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Renfrew, who was born in Farmington, Wash., died Monday.
He moved to Moscow, Idaho, in 1920 and graduated from Moscow High School in 1934.
Mr. Renfrew went on to attend the University of Idaho for one year and then worked as a farmer.
He moved to Plummer in 1946 and worked as a school bus driver, and also owned the Plummer Variety Store until 1951.
Mr. Renfrew worked as a state highway maintenance operator for 27 years before retiring in 1978.
Survivors include his wife, Lois; two sons, Wesley Renfrew of Plummer and Douglas Renfrew of Moscow; a sister, Jane McLeod of Spokane; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Warren Kemper Spokane
No service will be held for Warren L. Kemper, 77, at his request. The Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Kemper, who was born in Gibson, Mont., died Jan. 28.
He was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad and retired with 35 years service as a brakeman.
Mr. Kemper was a life member of the United Transportation Union, the Union Pacific Rail Blazers, National Association of Retired and Veteran Railroad Employees No. 81, life member of Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Lodge 34, El Katif Shrine and the Order of Eastern Star North Hill Chapter.
He was a 50-year resident of Spokane.
Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Grace; a son, Max Herrmann; a stepdaughter, Kae Heidenreich; a stepson, Dennis Riegel; his mother, Lillian Kemper; 14 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Inland Northwest Chapter or the Shriner’s Hospital for Children.
Mary Luther Deer Park
Service for Mary Elizabeth Luther, 86, will be at 1 p.m. today at the Church in the Wildwoods in Deer Park. Burial will follow at Woodland Cemetery in Deer Park. Lauer Funeral Home in Deer Park is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Luther, who was born in Kensal, N.D., died Monday.
She had been a resident of Deer Park since 1958 and formerly lived in Dayton, Wash., and Yakima.
Mrs. Luther was involved in many community activities, including those at the civic center, the fair building and the Eagles Lodge.
She was a member of the Church of Christ in the Wildwoods and the Deer Park Eagles Lodge Ladies Auxiliary.
Her husband, Richard Luther, died in 1969.
Survivors include three sons, Duane Luther of Spokane, Don Schmidt of Great Falls, Mont., and Gene Schmidt of Aberdeen, Wash.; several grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Steven Lee Coeur d’Alene
Memorial service for Steven Paul Lee, 39, will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in Libby, Mont. A reception will follow at the church. Burial will take place at Libby Cemetery.
Mr. Lee, who was born in Libby, died Saturday.
He graduated from Libby High School in 1976 and attended North Idaho College. He worked as a surveyor for several years in Colorado.
Mr. Lee moved to Spokane and worked as a superintendent in construction for Shea Construction Company before moving to Coeur d’Alene in 1988.
He was most recently employed by Polin Construction as the superintendent on the Kootenai Medial Center project.
Survivors include four children, Jessica, Gina, Tony and Ashley; his parents, James and Susan Lee of Post Falls; two brothers, Ralph Carr of Florida and Brian Lee of Kentucky; three sisters, Cindy Carlson, Teri Noble and Martha Scott, all of Montana; and friend and companion, Heather Rebal of Coeur d’Alene.
Memorials may be made to The Wishing Star Foundation, 915 W. Second, Suite 3, Spokane, WA 99204, or the American Cancer Society, 3710 W. Fairway Drive, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.
Joe Braswell Hayden, Idaho
No service will be held for Joe B. Braswell, 77. Coeur d’Alene Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Braswell, who was born in Baker City, Ore., died Monday.
He moved to North Idaho more than 20 years ago and settled in Hayden.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley; two stepsons, Frank Franta of Arizona and John Franta of Post Falls; two stepdaughters, Ellen McDonald of Coeur d’Alene and Judy Seybath of Greenacres; two brothers, Allan Braswell of Baker City and Ed Braswell of Colville, Wash.; a sister, Leanna DeBoeu of Baker City; 12 stepgrandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Eleanohr Blake Coeur d’Alene
Memorial service for Eleanohr Blake, 80, will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene. Mrs. Blake, who was born in Coeur d’Alene, died Monday.
She was a lifelong Coeur d’Alene resident and a homemaker.
Mrs. Blake was a member of the Happy Homemaker Club, the Museum of North Idaho volunteers, the Camp Fire council and the Fortground Homeowners Association, and served on the Kootenai County election board.
Her husband, J. Bruce Blake, died in 1986.
Survivors include a son, Gary Blake of Coeur d’Alene; five daughters, Sandra Bullen of Bellevue, Julie Weitz of Seattle, Catherine Rubow of Hayden Lake, Idaho, Mary Jane McGuire of Spokane and Sue Ellen Smith of California; a brother, Elmer Belknap of Coeur d’Alene; 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Museum of North Idaho, P.O. Box 812, Coeur d’Alene ID 83814.
Doris Merriman Spokane
Funeral service for Doris M. Merriman, 74, was Monday at Heritage Funeral Home. Interment followed at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
Mrs. Merriman, who was born in Colville, Wash., died Friday.
She graduated from high school in Kellogg and then from Columbia Basin College of Engineering.
Mrs. Merriman worked as a designer for Bechtel and Kaiser Engineers.
She was a member of the American Legion Association.
Survivors include her husband of 23 years, Robert; three sons, Ronald Babick of Torrance, Calif., and Gary and Ray Babick, both of Maple Valley, Wash.; a stepson, Robert Merriman of Spokane; three daughters, Jacquie DeHoff of Palo Alto, Calif., Lavrelie Babick McCance and Janis St. James; six sisters, Wilma Blenz of Kettle Falls, Wash., Jeanne Hole of Colville, and Helen Jacobson, Norma Nasburg, Elva Mote and Elaine Windsor, all of Spokane; and eight grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Iva Kamstra-Weldon Spokane
Visitation for Iva Sylvia Kamstra-Weldon, 84, will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home. Service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
Mrs. Weldon, who was born in Jonesville, N.C., died Monday.
A 48-year Spokane resident, she was a homemaker and a member of the Inland Empire Beekeepers Association.
She was also a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church and did lapidary work.
Mrs. Weldon is survived by three sons, Ray Kamstra of Chattaroy, and Roy and Donald Kamstra, both of Spokane; a brother, Worth Bryant of Ellensburg; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Virginia Johnson Spokane
No service will be held for Virginia M. Johnson, 70. The Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Johnson, who was born in St. Louis, died Sunday.
She worked as a homemaker and was a 32-year resident of Spokane County.
Her survivors include her husband, Harold; three daughters, Cookie Johnson, Terrie Georgie and Linda Tracy; a son, Paul Saxton; two stepsons, Richard and Scott Johnson; a brother, William Speck of St. Louis; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Spokane Humane Society.
Fred Blangeres Spokane
Funeral service for Fred D. Blangeres, 85, will be at 10 a.m. today at the Holy Cross Cemetery Chapel. Interment will follow. Hennesssey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Blangeres, who was born in Topeka, Kan., died Sunday.
He worked as an electrician for several contractors in Washington, California and Nevada.
Mr. Blangeres was a 30-year resident of Spokane.
Survivors include a daughter, Patti Syler of Spokane; two sons, Marvin Blangeres of Everett and Bob Blangeres of Spokane; a sister, Marguerite Hanenbrug of Spokane; nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Charles Carroll Coeur d’Alene
Private memorial service for Charles Ronald Carroll, 45, will be held at a later date. English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Carroll, who was born in Spokane, died Friday.
He had lived in the Coeur d’Alene, Kellogg and Pinehurst, Idaho, areas for 30 years.
He had worked as the supervisor for the last five years at the Sears, Roebuck and Co. warehouse at the Silver Lake Mall.
Survivors include a son, Jason Carroll, and daughter, Sharona Carroll, both of Spokane; a brother, Larry Carroll of Spokane; a sister, Penny Handley of Emmett, Idaho; and two granddaughters, Christina and Carissa.
Thelma Bencich Kellogg
At her request, no service will be held for Thelma R. Bencich, 83. Shoshone Funeral Service in Kellogg is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Bencich, who was born in Wardner, Idaho, died Wednesday. She graduated from Kellogg High School and was a lifelong Silver Valley resident.
Mrs. Bencich was a homemaker, and worked for the Bunker Hill Smelter during World War II. She was also a cook in a logging camp.
Her husband, Stanley, died in 1979.
Survivors include a son, G. Mike Bencich of Kellogg; and four grandchildren, Lisa, Stonko, Jesse, and Robby.
Ann Roller Seattle
No service will be held for Ann Roller, 91, at her request. Arthur Wright Funeral Home in Seattle is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Roller, who was born in New York City, died Saturday.
She worked for The Crescent Department Store and was a member of the Temple Beth Shalom in Spokane.
Ms. Roller moved to Seattle from Spokane three years ago.
Survivors include a sister, Freda Roller of Spokane.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kline-Galland Home, 7500 Seward Park South, Seattle, WA 98118.
Floyd Nicholson Spokane
Service for Floyd B. Nicholson, 80, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Hubbard-Rogg Funeral Home in Dayton, Wash. Burial will follow at the family plot at the Dayton City Cemetery.
Mr. Nicholson, who was born in Spencer, Neb., died Monday.
He served in the Army during World War II and then moved to Spokane after his discharge.
Mr. Nicholson worked for Kaiser Aluminum until his retirement.
Survivors include a sister, Viola Beckley of Dayton.
Evelyn Smart Spokane
Graveside service for Evelyn F. Smart, 82, will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Scotts Valley Cemetery in Tumtum, Wash. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-North is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Smart, who was born in Winona, Wash., died Monday.
She moved to Spokane as a child, and was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Richard; a daughter, Judee Vandenburg of Spokane; a brother, Bill Lamb of Waitts Lake, Wash.; and two grandchildren.
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