Obituaries
George Werner Spokane
Memorial service for George I. Werner, 86, will be at 2 p.m. today at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home - North. Burial was at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mr. Werner, who was born in Hamilton, Mont., died Sunday.
He moved to Spokane in 1919 and graduated from Hillyard High School in 1929. In 1933 he graduated from Cheney Normal School.
Mr. Werner taught school in Ephrata, Wash., for two years and taught and coached at Garfield Elementary and Havermale Junior High in Spokane for nine years.
He was named assistant supervisor of physical education for Spokane schools in 1946.
He studied at Columbia University in 1947 and 1948 and served as the New York correspondent for the Spokane Chronicle during that period.
In 1948 he received his doctorate and returned to Spokane, where he was named director of health and physical education for Spokane School District 81.
He retired in 1973.
Mr. Werner also served as visiting professor at Eastern Washington and Washington State universities for 10 years.
He served as president of the Spokane Junior Chamber of Commerce and as director, in 1962, of the State B Basketball Tournament in Spokane.
Mr. Werner was a founding member and past president of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce Greater Spokane Sports Association, a member of the Sports Writers and Broadcasters Association, the American Association of Retired Persons and served as president of the Hillyard High Alumni Association and the county March of Dimes.
He received the Sportswriters and Broadcasters 25-year service award, the distinguished service award from Washington Secondary Schools Athletic Administration Association, and in 1972, his name was placed on the Scroll of Honor in the Spokane Sports Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Washington Association of Athletic Directors Hall of Fame in 1991.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, LaVerne; a son, Bruce Werner of Sacramento, Calif.; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children.
Theodore Norcross Jr. Spokane
Memorial service for Theodore W. Norcross Jr., 79, is planned for 2 p.m. today at Hennessey Valley Funeral Home. The Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Norcross, who was born in Washington, D.C., died Saturday.
He graduated from high school in Chevy Chase, Md., and from the University of Maryland.
Mr. Norcross served in the Army during World War II and the Korean War.
He worked mostly in construction sales and moved to Spokane in 1977.
He was past president of the Shadle Lions, was involved with the United Way and was on the board of directors of the Hospice of Spokane.
Survivors include his wife Leta; two daughters, Carol Oliver and Doris Jarrett, both of Spokane; a son, Kenneth Norcross of Vermont; two stepsons, Barry and Gary Nance; a stepdaughter, Nikki Cashon; 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane.
Joseph Fischer Coeur d’Alene
Private inurnment for Joseph J. Fischer, 79, will be held at a later date at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens Veterans Wall of Honor. Coeur d’Alene Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Fischer, who was born in North Dakota, died Sunday.
He grew up in North Dakota and moved to Spokane in 1940. He served in the Army during World War II.
Mr. Fischer returned to Spokane and opened Joe’s Paint and Auto Body Shop.
He retired in 1981 and moved to Sandpoint. He spent winters in San Diego. Mr. Fischer moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1991.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Violet; four daughters, Jeri Riggs of Post Falls, Jackie Roth of Orofino, Idaho, Juanita Fischer of Florida and Jeannette Carpenter of Oregon; three brothers, Emmanuel Fischer of Kent, Wash., Dennis Fischer of Redmond, Wash., and George Fischer of Oregon; three sisters, Marie Filibeck of Florida, Pauline Wilmes of Arizona, and Dora Mae Tylock of Spokane; six grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Catherine Hottell Kirkland, Wash.
Vigil service for Catherine M. Hottell, 87, will be at 8 p.m. today at the Rose Chapel at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home. Funeral Mass is planned for noon Saturday at the Jesuit House Chapel. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Mrs. Hottell, a former Spokane resident, died Sunday.
She was born in Minnesota.
Mrs. Hottell graduated from Immaculate Heart Academy in Coeur d’Alene and then moved to Spokane, where she graduated from Northwestern Business College.
Mrs. Hottell worked at Ben Coehn’s Jewelry as a bookkeeper until 1933, when she married Andrew Hottell. She then was a homemaker until the late 1940s, when she began working at Montgomery Ward as an office manager. She was recognized as “employee of the year” by the Spokane Credit Bureau.
The Hottells owned a small grocery store on Spokane’s North Side, Ace’s Food Center, for several years.
In the 1950s she began working as an office manager for the Meat Cutter’s Union Local 494, where she remained for 24 years.
Mrs. Hottell did volunteer work at St. Augustine Elementary School, Sacred Heart Hospital, Meals on Wheels, the information booth at Riverfront Park, the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and at the Small Business Administration. She moved to Kirkland three years ago.
She was a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church.
Her husband preceded her in death.
Survivors include three sons, Gary Hottell of Spokane, Richard Hottell of Springfield, Va., and Dennis Hottell of Fairfax Station, Va.; two daughters, Patricia Redmond of Spokane and Mary DeVault of Seattle.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Harold Williams Spokane
Memorial service for Harold H. Williams, 80, will be at 3 p.m. today at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home.
Mr. Williams, a lifetime Spokane resident, died Tuesday.
He graduated from Rogers High School in 1935 and in 1939 he married Mary Roberts and began a 35-year career as a meat cutter, first working for the Hillyard Safeway store.
Between 1946 and 1950 he owned and operated IGA Meat Market in the Spokane Valley and went on to work for A&K Meats and Hathaway Meats in Spokane before his retirement. Mr. Williams was active in the Valley Senior Center.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Robert Williams of Bozeman, Mont., and Richard Williams of Tacoma; a sister, Pat Long of Spokane; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane.
Wayne Webster Spokane
Funeral for Wayne L. Webster, 71, will be at at 2 p.m. today at the Northside Church of Christ. Burial will follow at Fairmount Memorial Park. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Webster, who was born in Mason City, Iowa, died Tuesday.
He served in the Navy during World War II and then was employed as a maintenance supervisor for the Postal Service. He retired in 1985.
Mr. Webster was a member of the Northside Church of Christ and served as cubmaster for Cub Scout Pack 36 for many years. He was a resident of Spokane for more than 43 years.
Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Phyllis; three daughters, Jackie Ehnes and Kristine Starling, both of Spokane, and Melody Fitzpatrick of Fort Belvoir, Va.; a son, Wayne Webster Jr., of Spokane; nine grandchildren and five stepgrandchildren.
Edith Myers Spokane
Funeral service for Edith Grace Myers, 87, will be at 11 a.m. today at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home - North. Burial will be at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mrs. Myers, who was born on Wild Rose Prairie, died Tuesday.
She graduated from North Central High School in 1929 and in 1936 married Percy Meyers.
Mrs. Myers worked at the Newberry’s stores in downtown Spokane and Shadle Shopping Center for more than 20 years, retiring in 1980.
Her husband died in 1977.
She is survived by a son, Jerry Myers of Garfield, Wash.; a daughter, Donna Awrey of San Diego; a brother, Dick Cline of Spokane; special friend, Lynn Myers; and three grandchildren.
Rev. Randal Denny Spokane
Visitation for Rev. Randal E. Denny, 61, will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today and from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home - South. Funeral service is planned for 4 p.m. Sunday at Spokane Valley Church of the Nazarene. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, Calif.
Rev. Denny, who was born in Los Angeles, died Wednesday of a heart attack.
He graduated from Pasadena (Calif.) Nazarene College and from the Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo.
Rev. Denny served as pastor at churches in Kansas, Colorado and California before coming to Spokane. While in California he also taught at the California Graduate School of Theology.
In 1982 he moved to Spokane and became the pastor at Spokane Valley Church of the Nazarene. He was currently serving as senior pastor there.
He served on the board of regents for Northwest Nazarene College, and on the seminary and district advisory boards for the Church of the Nazarene.
He was the editor of Preacher’s Magazine and was the author of 14 books published by the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City.
Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Ruth; two daughters, Shannon Berghusen of South Pasadena, Calif., and Shelley Pedersen of Liberty Lake; and one grandson.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Randal Denny Memorial Fund, c/o Spokane Valley Church of the Nazarene.
John Wagner Spokane
Memorial service for John D. “Jack” Wagner, 76, is planned for 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home.
Mr. Wagner, who was born in Chicago, died Aug. 30.
He served in the Navy as a pilot during World War II and moved to Spokane in 1972 to open a hardware store.
Mr. Wagner was a member of First Church of Christ Scientist.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Jewel; three sons, Robert and Gary Wagner, both of Spokane, and Donald Wagner of Lorane, Ore.; a daughter, Bette Jane Grenier of Chattaroy; two brothers, Richard Wagner of Florence, Ore., and James Wagner of Barrington Hills, Ill.; a sister, Peggy Hanson of Kewanee, Ill.; and five grandchildren.
Robert Claeson Spokane
Memorial service for Robert Werner Claeson, 83, is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Salem Lutheran Church. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Born in Spokane, Mr. Claeson died Aug. 21.
He graduated from Lewis and Clark High School and served with the Army in the Pacific during World War II and in Germany during the Korean War.
Mr. Claeson worked as a postal carrier for the Postal Service. He was a member of Salem Lutheran Church and the Retired Postal Carriers Association.
Survivors include his wife, Lee; two sons, Robert and John Claeson, both of Spokane; and five grandchildren.
Mary Weller Spokane
Memorial Mass for Mary B. Weller, 54, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Gonzaga Preparatory School Chapel. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Weller, who was born in Richardton, N.D., died Tuesday.
She graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in Richardton.
She was a Spokane resident since 1964 and was a member of St. John Vianney Parish.
Survivors include her husband, Keith; a daughter, Julie Imus of Portland; two sons, Wayne Weller of Spokane and Mike Weller of Anchorage, Alaska; five brothers, Marvin Cassezza of Gladstone, N.D., Norman Cassezza of Bridgeport, Wash., Alvin Cassezza of Portland, Lowell Cassezza of Rapid City, S.D., and Neil Cassezza of Dickinson, N.D.; a sister, Yvonne Coleman of Billings, Mont.; and two grandchildren.
Margaret (Lee) Henle Spokane
Memorial service for Margaret J. (Lee) Henle, 90, will be at 2 p.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Henle, who died Tuesday, was born in Lowell, Ind.
She and her husband, Charles Henle, owned and operated Henle Photography Studio in Spokane for 45 years.
Her husband preceded her death.
Mrs. Henle has been a resident of Spokane for 55 years.
She is survived by her sister, Elizabeth Kearns of Harbert, Mich.; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Wilma Engel Rosalia, Wash.
Burial for Wilma Engel, 95, will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Rosalia. Memorial service will follow at 4 p.m. at Community Baptist Church of Rosalia. Schanzenbach Funeral Home in Rosalia is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Engel, who was born in Gilmanton, Wis., died Monday.
She graduated from Cheney Normal School and taught school in Fairbanks, Wash.
She married George Engel 1926 and they farmed and lived near Oakesdale, Wash., until 1966, when they moved to Rosalia.
Mrs. Engel was a member of the Community Baptist Church of Rosalia, the Tekoa Grange, the Rosalia Alfa Club and the Rosalia Garden Club.
Her husband died in 1994.
Survivors include a daughter, JoAnn Trappe of Gladstone, Ore.; a son, Darrel Engel of Oakesdale; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimers Association.
Lorne Irwin Careywood, Idaho
Visitation for Lorne A. Irwin, 81, will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene. Service is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at 4 p.m. at Colfax (Wash.) Cemetery. Mr. Irwin, who was born in North Dakota, died Tuesday.
He grew up in Canada and worked on farms and ranches.
He moved to Seattle as a teenager and worked on a wheat and cattle ranch in Rosalia, Wash., before buying the ranch.
He moved to North Idaho in 1950 and owned and operated dairies in Athol and Hayden, retiring from the business in 1969 and moving to Careywood.
Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Pearl; two daughters, Christy Boggs of Selah, Wash., and LaDonna Martinez of California; four brothers; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 280 Prairie Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815.
Richard Horr Rockvale, Colo.
Viewing for Richard E. Horr, 63, will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene. Graveside service will be Saturday at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens at 2 p.m.
Mr. Horr, who was born in Sandpoint, died Sept. 3.
He grew up in Post Falls and worked as a construction contractor in Meridian, Idaho, before retiring and recently moving to Rockvale.
Survivors include his wife, Aleta; a son, Richard Horr Jr. of Carnation, Wash.; three daughters, Cheryl Lensegrav of Enumclaw, Wash., Roxanne Horr of Seattle and Jennifer Horr of Star, Idaho; a stepson, Robert Lucero of Idaho; two stepdaughters, Linda and Laurie Newman, both of Idaho; a brother, Robert Herr of Colorado; two sisters, Betty Thomas of Texas and Margie Bosanko of Orting, Wash.; 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Ilene Carter Osburn, Idaho
Memorial service for Ilene F. Carter, 74, will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Kellogg Funeral Chapel.
Mrs. Carter, who was born in Illinois, died Wednesday.
She moved to North Idaho 50 years ago from Washington and was a homemaker.
Mrs. Carter was a master craftsman.
Survivors include her husband of 57 years, Pete; a son, Gene Carter of Colorado; a daughter, Dixie Laehn of Spokane; her mother, Edith Devoy of North Bend, Wash.; two sisters, Joyce Hollis of Missouri, and Launetta Reece of Kelso, Wash.; two brothers, Earl Orr of Ravensdale, Wash., and Richard Orr of Sumner, Wash.; two granddaughters and two great-grandsons.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 280 Prairie Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.
Violet Mitchell Spokane
No service will be held for Violet M. Mitchell. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Mitchell, who was born in Spokane, died Tuesday at the age of 65.
She was a homemaker.
Her husband Robert preceded her in death.
She is survived by two sons, Robert and John Mitchell, both of Spokane; a brother, Bud Springer of Spokane; five sisters, Margaret Blair, Jin Townsend, Marie Ayers, Lillian Hall and Loretta Stewart, all of Spokane; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.