Obituaries
Wilford Dolphin Spokane
Visitation for Wilford A. Dolphin, 73, will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home. Memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Opportunity Presbyterian Church.
A lifetime Spokane resident, Mr. Dolphin died Friday.
He graduated from West Valley High School in 1944 and served in the Army during World War II with the 2nd Engineer Aviation Battalion.
In 1952 he graduated from Washington State University, where he was a member of the Cougar swim team.
Mr. Dolphin was an industrial arts teacher for Spokane School District 81 for 29 years.
He was an active member of the Spokane Masters Swim Team and was ranked among the top 10 for his age in the United States Masters Championship Swimmers. He was also affiliated with the Inland Empire American Red Cross Water Safety Services.
Survivors include his wife, Lola; a daughter, Nancy Shatto of Veradale; a son, Gene Dolphin of San Diego; his mother, Verna Dolphin of Spokane; two brothers, Howard Dolphin of Liberty Lake and Tony Dolphin of Spokane; a sister, Gwen Rawlings of Kennewick; three grandchildren and one step-granddaughter.
Memorial contributions may be made to Opportunity Presbyterian Church or the Inland Empire American Red Cross Water Safety Services.
Peter Grabicki, M.D. Spokane
Funeral Mass for Peter Grabicki, M.D., 82, will be at 1 p.m. today at St. Augustine Catholic Church. Burial at Holy Cross Cemetery. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Dr. Grabicki, who was born in Schenectady, N.Y., died Thursday.
He graduated from Union College in Albany, N.Y., in 1937 and from Albany State Medical College in 1941.
Dr. Grabicki served in the Army Medical Corps as a surgeon during World War II, moving to Spokane in 1950.
He was the chief surgeon at the Veterans Administration Hospital from 1958 until his retirement in 1984.
He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, a chairman of the board of Morning Star Boys Ranch, a member of the Spokane Club, Hayden Lake Country Club and St. Augustine’s Parish.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Catherine; three sons, Peter, Anthony and Michael Grabicki, all of Spokane; three daughters, Mary Anne Sunwold, Gina McNeil and Linda Grabicki, all of Spokane; and 12 grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Robert Goebel, S.J., Scholarship Fund in care of Gonzaga Preparatory School.
Marni (Brittain) Waggoner Spokane
Memorial service for Marni J. Waggoner, 26, will be at 11:30 a.m. today at the Spokane Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church. Burial was previously held at Greenwood Memorial Terrace. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
A lifetime Spokane resident, Mrs. Waggoner died Wednesday.
She graduated from Upper Columbia Academy High School and Eastern Washington University with a degree in speech pathology.
Mrs. Waggoner was currently a student at the School of Pharmacy at Washington State University and an avid distance runner.
Survivors include her husband, Brian; her parents, Laura and Tony Brittain of Spokane; a brother, Matt Brittain of Walla Walla; and her grandparents, Bill and Marjorie Young of Spokane.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Spokane Humane Society.
Edward ‘Smitty’ Smith Spokane
Memorial graveside service for Edward S. “Smitty” Smith, 88, will be at 1 p.m. today at Fairmount Memorial Park. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Smith, who was born in Boulder, Mont., died Saturday.
He moved to Spokane in the early 1930s and worked as a truck driver for various construction companies, helping to build the Grand Coulee Dam and the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.
Mr. Smith worked at various car dealerships in Spokane, retiring as a service manager at McCollum Motors after 20 years.
His wife of 53 years, Margaret, preceded him in death.
Survivors include two daughters, Roberta Allen of Spokane and Kathryn Guarisco of Coeur d’Alene; a sister; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Elaine Phelps Spokane
Memorial service for Elaine M. Phelps, 75, will be at 1 p.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home. Burial will be at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
A 58-year Spokane resident, Mrs. Phelps died Thursday. She was born in Oxford, Neb.
She graduated from Oxford High School in 1940 and moved to Spokane.
In 1949 she married Martin Ferris. He died in 1951. She married Robert Phelps in 1953.
During the 1950s she worked as a recreational leader for the City of Spokane Parks Department at Coeur d’Alene Park and Lincoln Heights Center.
Mrs. Phelps was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Carol Sovel of Farmington Hills, Mich., and Patricia Gray of Highwood, Mont.; two sons, Randall Phelps of Priest Lake, Idaho, and Bradley Phelps of Newman Lake; two brothers, Stanley Askey of Spokane and Albert Askey of Chico, Calif.; four sisters, Claretta Stevens of North Bend, Wash., Betty Staehly of Kettle Falls, Wash., Bonnie Welker of Nampa, Idaho, and Opal MacFarlane of Woodbridge, Va.; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Morning Star Boys Ranch.
Mildred Bauer Spokane
Visitation for Mildred E. Bauer, 93, will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home. No service will be held at her request.
Born in Addy, Wash., Mrs. Bauer died Friday.
She attended Cheney Normal School and taught at River Homes Grade School.
In 1927 she married William Gemmell. He died in 1952, and she married Leslie Bauer in 1956. He died in 1993.
Mrs. Bauer was the first secretary of the North Star Grange in Egypt, Wash., which was founded by her parents.
She retired from Modern Electric in Spokane in 1970.
She received a Golden Globe Award for poetry and was a member of the Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Posse.
Survivors include two daughters, Zola Ballenger of Spokane and Lorna Gemmell of Ferndale, Wash.; a son, Brian Gemmell of Spokane; a stepdaughter, Bonita Stoddard of Spokane; a sister, Sara Little of Newport, Wash.; nine grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Evelyn Jorgens Spokane
Visitation for Evelyn L. Jorgens, 82, will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home. Graveside service is planned for 1 p.m. Wednesday at Pines Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. at Valley Fourth Memorial Church.
Mrs. Jorgens, who was born in Seattle, died Saturday.
She started Jorgens Catering in 1958, operating the business until her retirement in 1980.
Mrs. Jorgens was a charter member of Valley Fourth Memorial Church.
Survivors include her husband, Stanley; four sons, Duane, Lyle and Wink Jorgens, all of Spokane and Terry Jorgens of Valdez, Alaska; a sister, Donelyn Jaeger of Cannon Beach, Ore.; 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Valley Fourth Memorial Church.
Edith Johnson Colville, Wash.
No service will be held for Edith M. Johnson. Danekas Funeral Chapel in Colville is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Johnson, who was born in Ford, Wash., died Friday. She was 83.
She worked as an elevator operator in Spokane for a few years and married Ray Johnson in 1944.
They owned and operated the Main Service Station in Colville for 15 years before moving to Portland.
They returned to Colville several years later and operated the Park Rapids Resort for a year and the South Twin Resort for four years, retiring in 1985.
Mrs. Johnson was a member and past president of the Colville Eagles Auxiliary and a former bowler in the Colville League.
Her husband died in 1988.
Survivors include a daughter, Beverly Danner of Spokane; a son, Bob Johnson of Spokane; a sister, Lois Prouty-Jimenez of Mead; six grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Stevens County Sheriff’s Ambulance Fund, P.O. Box 186, Colville, WA 99114.
Orlando Colosimo Otis Orchards
Funeral Mass for Orlando J. Colosimo, 65, will be at 2 p.m. today at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Otis Orchards. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Trentwood. Hennessey Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
An 18-year resident of the Spokane area, Mr. Colosimo died Thursday. He was born in Dominion Cape, Nova Scotia.
He married Lynn Knudsvig in 1969 and later worked as the assistant manager at Circle K in Spokane.
Mr. Colosimo was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Otis Orchards.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Derek Colosimo of Post Falls; a daughter, Ashley Colosimo at home; a brother, Mario Colosimo; six sisters, Mary Lebrun, Norina McMillan, Sylvia Wilkinson, Adeline Colosimo, Candida McLean and Chiarina Burke; one grandchild and three stepgrandchildren.
Rachel Kison Ralston, Wash.
Visitation for Rachel B. Kison, 83, will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday at Danekas Funeral Chapel in Ritzville, Wash. Funeral will follow at 1 p.m. at the Philadelphia Congregational Church in Ritzville. Vault burial will be at Ritzville Memorial Cemetery.
Mrs. Kison, who was born in Paha, Wash., died Saturday.
In 1935 she married Bernhardt Kison in Spokane and they made their home in Ritzville for one year before moving to Ralston.
They farmed on the Schultz family farm near Ralston and in 1944 they moved onto the farm. Mr. Kison died in 1966 and she continued to run the farm until her retirement in 1979.
Mrs. Kison was a member of the Philadelphia Congregational Church and Hope Circle, where she taught Sunday school for many years.
She was also a volunteer with the American Red Cross for 45 years and with the Ritzville Blood Bank. She was a member and past master of the Ralston Grange, past officer of the State Grange, a 4-H leader, past board member of the Adams County Fair and the Ritzville Warehouse Co. and a member of the Adams County Cowbelles.
In 1983 she was named Ritzville Lady of the Year by the Zeta Upsilon of Beta Sigma Phi.
Survivors include two sons, Larry and Ron Kison, both of Ritzville; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Philadelphia Congregational Church or to the Ralston Grange.
Mark Sampson Cheney
Funeral for Mark A. Sampson, 28, was Monday at Cheney Funeral Chapel.
Born in Spokane, Mr. Sampson died Thursday.
He graduated from Newport (Wash.) High School in 1988 and served in the Army.
Mr. Sampson worked for Wilcox Dairy in Cheney.
Survivors include his wife, Heidi; three sons, Mark Jr., Brady and Owen, all at home; his parents, Arron and Debra Sampson of Kent, Wash.; two sisters, Tye Silvan of Algona, Wash., and Kimberly Belcher of Kent; three brothers Evan, Daniel and Joseph Sampson, all of Kent; his grandparents, Mark and Bonnie Sampson, and Joseph and Evelyn Berger, all of Spokane.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
Alois Baumann Spokane
Funeral Mass for Alois L. Baumann, 94, was Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Mr. Baumann, who was born in Germany, died last Tuesday.
He worked as machinist in the stove and furnace business and was a member of Sacred Heart Parish and the German American Society.
Mr. Baumann was a resident of Spokane for the 63 years.
Survivors include his wife, Maria; two sons, Don Baumann of Spokane and Paul Baumann of San Antonio; a daughter, Maxine Kremensky of El Cajon, Calif.; 13 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Morning Star Boys Ranch.
Hubert Remus Spokane
Memorial service for Hubert M. Remus, 71, will be held at a later date. The Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Remus, who was born in Great Falls, Mont., died Monday.
He served in the Navy during World War II and later worked as a salesman for a building materials company.
Mr. Remus moved to Spokane 10 years ago.
Survivors include three sons, Timothy and Jeffrey Remus, both of Glasgow, Mont., and Theodore Remus of Greenriver, Wyo.; a daughter, Constance See of Chimacum, Wash.; a sister, Lucille Ille of Salt Lake City; and nine grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Keith Whiting Spokane
Memorial service for Keith Whiting, 89, was Monday at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home.
Mr. Whiting, who was born in Iowa Falls, Iowa, died Thursday.
He graduated from Soldan High School in St. Louis, then received a degree in geology from the University of Washington, where he was a fouryear letterman on the track team and a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.
In 1937 he was one of the founders of the Idaho Ski Club, which developed the Lookout Pass ski area and free ski school. He was also an early member of the National Ski Patrol.
Mr. Whiting worked with Federal Mining and Smelting and Asarco Mining in Wallace. He also worked for Asarco in Salt Lake City, Toronto and Vancouver, British Columbia, before moving to Spokane. He retired in 1974.
He was active in the Northwest Mining Association, the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum and was a Legion of Honor member of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers. In 1969 he was elected the AIME’s Columbia section Engineer of the Year.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Jane; a daughter, Betty King of Spokane; a son, Richard Whiting of Sevierville, Tenn.; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Mildred ‘Andee’ Erickson Spokane
Memorial service for Mildred Francis “Andee” Erickson, 76, will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Berean Bible Church. Thornhill Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Erickson, who was born in Toledo, Ohio, died Friday.
She graduated from Emanuel Hospital Nursing School in Portland in 1944 and served in the Navy Nurse Corps from 1944 until 1946.
In 1946 she married Carl Erickson in Corvallis, Ore., and they moved to Spokane where she worked in several Spokane Valley nursing homes.
Mrs. Erickson was also a homemaker and served as a neighborhood nurse and caregiver. She was a member of the Berean Bible Church and was active in home bible study groups. She was also a member of the Gravel Grubbers Garden Club.
Her husband preceded her in death.
Survivors include three sons, Steven Erickson of Virginia Beach, Va., Reif Erickson of Sacramento, Calif., and Ron Erickson of Port Angeles, Wash.; a brother, George Anderson of Portland; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Campus Crusade for Christ, Youth for Christ or the Berean Bible Church Missionary Fund.
Mercedes ‘Migs’ Williamson Valley, Wash.
Funeral for Mercedes C. “Migs” Williamson, 89, will be at 2 p.m. today at Schanzenbach Funeral Home in Chewelah, Wash. Burial will be at Valley Cemetery.
Born in Missoula, Mrs. Williamson died Wednesday.
She was employed by the Navy during World War II.
In 1950 she married Jack Williamson.
They moved to Valley where she worked for Kulzer’s stores for 16 years.
She is survived by her husband; a son, Gail White of Hawaii; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Robert Russell Spokane
No service will be held for Robert H. Russell, 93, at his request. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Born in Spokane, Mr. Russell died Saturday.
He graduated from North Central High School and from the University of Washington.
Mr. Russell worked in California for 30 years before returning to Spokane in 1950, where he worked as a Realtor until his retirement.
Survivors include four daughters, Verna Russell Kuntz of Spokane, June Russell Marcelja of Vancouver, Wash., Carolyn Russell Galendo of San Jose, Calif., and Janice McDonald Russell Weber of Kent, Wash.; a son, Robert Russell of North San Juan, Calif.; four sisters, Louise Russell Soll, Katherine Russell Mielke, Ruby Russell Moore and Joy Russell Schmidt, all of Spokane; two brothers, Thomas Russell and Richard Sayre Russell, both of Spokane; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Mabel Wagner Ritzville, Wash.
Graveside service for Mabel M. Wagner, 80, was Monday at the Ritzville Memorial Cemetery. Mrs. Wagner, who was born in Sprague, Wash., died Friday.
She graduated from Ritzville High School in 1935 and married Emil Wagner in 1938.
She was a homemaker and a member of the C.J. Newland American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post 51 and the Moses Lake Eagles Lodge Auxiliary.
Her husband died in 1963.
Survivors include a son, Byron Wagner, and a daughter, Janice Iltz, both of Ritzville; a sister, Viola Cady of Spokane; a brother, Melvin Cree of Tacoma; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children.