Obituaries
Lewis Miles Palouse, Wash.
Funeral for Lewis C. Miles, a former superintendent of several area school districts, was held Monday at the Palouse Federated Church. Burial was at the Vineland Cemetery in Clarkston, Wash.
Mr. Miles, who was born in Culdesac, Idaho, died Friday. He was 89.
He graduated from Spirit Lake (Idaho) High School in 1928 and attended Lewis and Clark State College in Lewiston.
He married Beulah Simmons in 1932, and received a teaching degree in history and a master’s degree from the University of Idaho in Moscow in 1934. While in college, Mr. Miles worked as a depot agent for the Camas Prairie Railroad.
He taught history in Reubens, Idaho, and moved to Marcus, Wash., where he taught and became superintendent of the high school there.
Mr. Miles worked as the county superintendent for the Stevens County School District, and in 1953 moved to Tekoa, Wash., and worked as the high school superintendent until 1963. He moved to Palouse, Wash., where he worked as the high school superintendent before retiring in 1967.
He was a member of Palouse Federated Church, Palouse Senior Citizens, a charter member of the Palouse Lions Club and was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He also helped to organized the Whitman County Council On Aging.
His wife died in 1983.
Survivors include two sons, Duane Miles of Redmond, Wash., and Don Miles of Bellevue; a daughter, Virginia Frazier of Craigmont, Idaho; seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Palouse Emergency Medical Services or to the Palouse Senior Citizens.
David Moffitt Spokane
Memorial service for David Ross Moffitt, an 18-year Spokane resident, will be at 1 p.m. today at Riverside Memorial Park. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Moffitt, who was born in San Fernando, Calif., died Thursday from injuries suffered in a mountain biking accident at Schweitzer Mountain. He was 40.
He was a well-known member of the Spokane mountain biking community, working for Round and Round Productions, and as an official for the National Off Road Bicycle Association.
Mr. Moffitt was the founder of WIM, a mountain bike race series in the Pacific Northwest. He also was involved with Studs and Dudes Bowling.
He was a member of the Life Center Church and was a Promise Keeper.
Survivors include three children, Nathan, Terry and Bernadette; his parents, Bob and Pat Moffitt of Sylmar, Calif.; three sisters, Diana of Huntsville, Ala., Delina of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Denise of Post Falls; his former wife, Kristy; and four grandchildren.
Lucille Allman Coeur d’Alene
Service for Lucille Gertrude Allman, 94, will be today at 10:30 a.m. at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Allman, who was born in Silverton, Colo., died Saturday.
She lived in Rockford and settled in the Bellgrove area north of Worley, Idaho, in 1922.
She married George Allman in 1928.
She was a charter member of the Bellgrove Grange and a member of the First Christian Church of Coeur d’Alene.
Mrs. Allman recently moved to the Bestland Retirement Apartments in Coeur d’Alene.
Her husband died in 1976.
Survivors include a daughter, Betty Cronk of Otis Orchards; a grandson, Jay Cronk of Valleyford; and two great-grandsons.
Memorials may be made to the Bellgrove Cemetery Association or Union Gospel Mission.
Walter Hawker Spokane
Memorial service for Walter Tee Hawker, a 72-year Spokane resident, will be at 3 p.m. today at the First Presbyterian Church. Private entombment will be at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
Mr. Hawker, who was born in Westhope, N.D., died Thursday. He was 90.
He retired from working as a deputy assessor for Spokane County in the late 1970s.
Mr. Hawker was a 62-year member of first Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Bonnie; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the church.
Morris Engles Sprague, Wash.
Visitation for Morris Maxwell Engles, 94, will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville, Wash. Funeral is planned for 11 a.m. Wednesday at Sprague Community Church. Vault burial will be at Macabee Cemetery in Sprague.
Mr. Engles, who was born in Terre Haute, Ind., died Saturday.
At an early age, Mr. Engles moved with his family to various places to find work on farms. At age 16 he worked as a mail clerk for Studebaker in South Bend, Ind., eventually working his way up to the assembly line.
In 1925 Mr. Engles moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a wallpaper hanger, painter and decorator in several hotels and homes.
He met Gladys Hamilton in 1927, and they married in 1930.
After 22 years in Los Angeles he moved to Tillamook, Ore., where he worked in a logging camp for a short while.
In 1947 he moved to Sprague and continued to work in the decorating and painting business. He retired in 1968.
After retirement Mr. Engles had his own bird clinic, where he took care of injured birds.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Dale Engles of Everett; a daughter, Janet Gardner of Lewiston; 10 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sprague Ambulance Fund.
Don Gasaway Sr. Spokane
Memorial service for Don Gasaway Sr., 70, will be at 4 p.m. today at the Redeemer Lutheran Church. Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Gasaway, who was born in Pierre, S.D., died Thursday.
He moved with his family to Tacoma, where he graduated from Lincoln High School in 1947.
Mr. Gasaway attended Pacific Lutheran University on a basketball scholarship and later attended the University of Washington.
He moved to Spokane in 1960 and later married Arlene Belknap.
Mr. Gasaway was a member of the U.S. Ski Team. He brought Snowflake, a private ski school, to Mount Spokane, and helped to operate the school for 32 years.
He was an avid go-kart and motorcycle enthusiast, and was a member of the Spokane Kart Racing Association.
Survivors include a daughter, Lurena Cathey of Boise; two sons, Burton and Don Gasaway Jr., both of Spokane; and two grandchildren.
Henry Ackerman Spokane
Visitation for Henry R. “Hank” Ackerman, 84, will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home. Funeral is planned for 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Pines Cemetery.
Mr. Ackerman, who was born in Wason Flats, Mont., died Saturday.
He served with the Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
Mr. Ackerman came to Spokane from Coeur d’Alene in 1945. He worked for White Pine Sash and Co. in Spokane for 24 years and then for the Central Valley School District for 13 years before retiring in 1980.
Survivors include two sons, Leon and Larry Ackerman , both of Spokane; a sister, Frieda Gordon of Coeur d’Alene; and one grandchild.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
Betty Klingberg Spokane
Graveside service for Betty L. Klingberg, 73, will be at 2 p.m. today at the Sunset Mausoleum Chapel at Fairmount Memorial Park. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-North is in charge of arrangements.
A lifetime Spokane resident, Mrs. Klingberg died Saturday.
She graduated from Rogers High School in 1944.
Mrs. Klingberg worked for Montgomery Wards and at Skaggs, which later became Payless Drugs, as a bookkeeper before retiring in 1981.
Survivors include her husband of 56 years, James; two sons, Michael Klingberg of Auburn, Wash., and Steven Klingberg of Spokane; a daughter, Sheila Barbour of Spokane; and six grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Marjorie Luiten Davenport, Wash.
Memorial service for Marjorie L. Luiten, 73, will be at 11 a.m. today at Zion Lutheran Church in Davenport. Burial will be at Mt. View Cemetery in Davenport. Strate Funeral Home in Davenport is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Luiten, who was born in Davenport, died Saturday.
She graduated from Davenport High School in 1944 and attended Whitworth College in Spokane.
Mrs. Luiten worked for the agriculture office in Davenport for a few years.
She worked at Lincoln County Hospital and Nursing Home for 20 years as a surgical technician and volunteered as an emergency medical technician. She also worked for Okanogan Home Health.
She married Orlen Luiten in 1959.
Mrs. Luiten was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Davenport, where she was active in various women’s circles and was a member of the choir.
She was an active member of the Lincoln County Democratic Party and served as a poll worker on the Lincoln County Election Board. She also was a volunteer at Care and Share.
Survivors include her husband; five children, Becky VanDinter, Debby Wright, Martha Tate and Tim Luiten, all of Spokane, and David Wright of Kennewick; a brother, Vernon Sautter, and a sister, Vera Sautter, both of Davenport; 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the church or to Care and Share of Davenport.
Albert DeFelice Spokane
Memorial service for Albert O. DeFelice, 78, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. John Vianney Catholic Church. Inurnment will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery at a later date. The Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. DeFelice, who was born in Spokane, died Friday.
He graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1939. He was an AllCity champion of the 100 yard dash.
He served with the Air Force during World War II in the Central Pacific Theater as a member of the 7th Air Force division at Hickam Air Force Base and with the AAFPOA Command in Guam.
Mr. DeFelice was co-owner and operator of the U.S. Macaroni Manufacturing Co. for 53 years. He retired in 1990.
He was a member of the Brotherhood of Friends Lodge, Sons of Norway and Spokane Moose Lodge 161.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Emily; two daughters, Linda Nutt of Issaquah, Wash., and Janet Thielemann of Spokane; a son, Albert DeFelice of Spokane; three brothers, Arthur, Joseph and Fileno DeFelice, and a sister, Carmela Naccarato, all of Spokane; and six grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane or to St. Luke’s Extended Care, 222 E. Fifth, Spokane, WA 99202.
Van Lester Spokane
Visitation for Van V. Lester, 88, will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Wednesday at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home. Funeral is planned for 10 a.m. Thursday at Redeemer Lutheran Church. Burial will be at Riverside Memorial Park.
A 48-year Spokane resident, Mr. Lester died Saturday. He was born in Grants Pass, Ore.
He served with the Navy for four years during World War II, and worked as a diamond driller in the mining industry for several years. He later as a custodian for the West Valley School District.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Clara; a son, Dennis Lester of Liberty Lake; a daughter, Linda Tininenko of Longview, Wash.; and three grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church or to the American Diabetes Association.
Elsie Jordan Spokane
Visitation for Elsie P. Jordan, a 45-year Spokane resident, will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Funeral is planned for 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
Mrs. Jordan, who was born in Honolulu, died Saturday. She was 87.
She worked at the Brownie Cookie Co. for several years, and was a member of the Bakers’ Union.
Her husband, Arthur, died in 1995.
Survivors include a daughter, Rita Robertson of Spokane; seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
George Milne Olympia
Memorial service for George Milne, a longtime Spokane resident and Realtor, will be held in Olympia at a later date. Bleitz Funeral Home in Seattle is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Milne, who was born in Great Falls, Mont., died Thursday. He was 93.
He won a football scholarship to Villanova University in Philadelphia, where he started as a guard for four years.
Mr. Milne returned to Montana and worked in sales throughout the Great Depression. He married Marjorie Ruth Isaac in 1936.
He did defense work in Portland during World War II, then moved to Spokane.
Mr. Milne began his career in real estate in 1946, becoming one of the largest volume brokers in Spokane. He was the co-owner and operator of several brokerages, including House and Home Realtors.
In the 1950s he and a group of colleagues formed the Spokane Realty Multiple Exchange. He served as its first president and retired in 1985.
Mr. Milne was a member of the Kiwanis, Masonic Lodge, El Katif Patrol and Unity Church in Spokane.
He moved to Olympia in 1989.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years; three sons, Lawrence, Donald and George Milne; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospital For Children.
Ruth Allen Tacoma
Graveside service for Ruth E. Allen, 89, will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Spokane Memorial Gardens. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Allen, who was born on a homestead near Coleharbor, N.D., died Friday.
In 1930 she married Harry Allen and they farmed in North Dakota before moving to the Spokane Valley in 1941.
Mrs. Allen and her husband continued to maintain the farm in North Dakota after moving to Spokane. They retired in 1958.
Her husband died in 1968. She sold the farm and her Spokane Valley home in 1969 and moved to North Spokane.
She moved to Tacoma two years ago.
Survivors include two sons, Roger Allen of Bellingham and James Allen of Spokane; two daughters, Bonnie Wood of Pampa, Texas, and Wanda Halverson of Tacoma; a sister, Ellen Burgard of Spokane; 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Marjorie Johnson Spokane
Private funeral for Marjorie M. Johnson, a 20-year Spokane resident, will be held at a later date. The Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.
Miss Johnson, who was born in Wilbur, Wash., died Aug. 10. She was 82.
She graduated with a teaching degree from Eastern Washington University in 1937 and served in the Marine Corps during World War II.
Miss Johnson worked as a secretary for a social services agency for many years, and was a longtime volunteer for the Head Start Program.
She was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church and the Hobnailer Hiking Club.
She is survived by her brother, Robert Johnson.
Lawrence `Bud’ Hammer Spokane
Memorial service for Lawrence S. “Bud” Hammer, 76, was held Sunday at Windsor Baptist Church. The Cremation Society of Washington was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Hammer, who was born in Tacoma, died Friday. He was a 28-year Spokane resident.
He worked as a drug counselor for Spokane County for several years.
Survivors include a daughter, Tanya Hammer of Spokane; and two brothers, Richard Hammer of Palm Springs, Calif., and Charles Hammer of Bonney Lake, Wash.