Obituaries
William Leach Sr. Bonners Ferry, Idaho
Burial Mass for William Harrison Leach Sr., 64, will be today at 10 a.m. at the Bonners Ferry Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Grandview Cemetery in Sandpoint with military rites by American Legion Post 55.
Mr. Leach, who was born in Kansas City, Mo., died Friday.
He grew up and attended schools in California and then served with the Marine Corps before returning to California to graduate from high school.
Mr. Leach returned to a military career with the Marines after high school and served two tours of duty in Vietnam and was a distinguished rifle and pistol shooter with the Marine Corps Rifle and Pistol Team. He retired in 1974 as a captain stationed at the Naval Weapons Station in Yorktown, Va.
He moved to Bonners Ferry after his retirement and worked for Boundary County as weed-control supervisor for 10 years. He also established the Leach Family Tree Farm near Bonners Ferry.
He was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church, the National Rifle Association, the Kootenai Valley Rifle and Pistol Team, the Marine Corps Association, Distinguished Shooters Association, American Legion, Ducks Unlimited, the Idaho Nursery Association and the Idaho, Washington, Montana and Alberta Pistol associations.
Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Maryjane; a son, Bill Leach; two daughters, Mary Cay Dinning and Maureen Shelman; and eight grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Kootenai Valley Rifle and Pistol Club Building Fund.
Wayne Lust Endicott, Wash.
Memorial service for D. Wayne Lust, 73, will be at 11 a.m. today at Trinity Lutheran Church in Endicott. Private inurnment will be at the Endicott Cemetery at a later date. Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Lust, who was born in Endicott, died Friday.
He graduated from Endicott High School in 1943 and married Joyce Blumenschein in 1945.
Mr. Lust operated the Endicott Grocery Store for 25 years and worked as a farmer for the McGregor Co. for 10 years. He retired in 1987.
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Endicott, the Endicott Gun Club and the St. John (Wash.) Golf Club.
Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Connie Taylor of Coeur d’Alene, Deanne Smith of St. John, Wash., and Gayle Lust of Spokane; three sons, Dan Lust of Medical Lake, Randy Lust of Spokane and Jim Lust of Harrington, Del.; a sister, Alice Lust of Spokane; and 14 grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, Endicott Cemetery or the St. John Golf Club.
Anna Sandberg Moscow, Idaho
Graveside service for Anna E. Sandberg, 100, will be at 11 a.m. today at the Dry Creek Cemetery near Troy, Idaho. Kramer Funeral Home in Tekoa, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.
Miss Sandberg, who was born near Troy, died Friday.
In the early 1920s She moved to Spokane, where she worked as a maid for the colonel at Fort George Wright.
Miss Sandberg then returned to Troy, where she worked as a housekeeper and a harvest cook on the family farm. She moved to Latah Health Services in Moscow in 1994.
Survivors include two nieces, Sharon Hood of Moscow and Eunice Dean of Bull Head City, Ariz.; two great-nieces, two great-nephews, three great-great-nieces and one great-great-nephew.
Ruby Greene Spokane
Memorial service for Ruby Mae Greene, 73, is planned for 2 p.m. Thursday at the Central Grange on Bigelow Gulch Road. Cole and Moud Funeral Home in Casa Grande, Ariz., is in charge of arrangements.
A longtime Spokane resident, Mrs. Greene died last Tuesday while visiting Casa Grande.
She was born in Roy, N.M. She had retired from working as a seamstress and was an active member with the Central Grange for 30 years.
Survivors include her husband of 36 years, Cliff; two daughters, Connie Bossell of Issaquah, Wash., and Joy Schneider; five sons, John, David, Paul and Timothy Palumbo, all of Spokane, and James Palumbo of Post Falls; 17 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Vernon Ruenger Post Falls
Visitation for Vernon E. Ruenger, 78, will be today from 10 a.m. to noon at English Funeral Chapel in Post Falls. Service will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Post Falls.
Mr. Ruenger, who was born in Wisconsin, died Friday. He grew up in Wisconsin and served with the Army during World War II.
Mr. Ruenger returned to Wisconsin after his military service and moved to Bonners Ferry in the late 1940s. In 1958 he moved to Post Falls and worked as a heavy equipment operator. He was a member of Operating Engineers Union Local 370.
His wife of 38 years, Margaret, died in 1987.
Survivors include a son, Robert Ruenger of Post Falls; two daughters, Dolores Ruenger and Nancy Harris, both of Post Falls; eight brothers and sisters; and four grandchildren, Kimberly, Benjamin, Darcy and Rachel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 592, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83816.
Emily Tritto Post Falls
Memorial service for Emily Rebecca Tritto, 28, will be today at 10 a.m. at New Life Community Church in Rathdrum, Idaho. English Funeral Chapel in Post Falls is in charge of arrangements.
Miss Tritto, who was born in Tennessee, died Wednesday.
She moved to Post Falls in 1984 and was a member of New Life Community Church.
Survivors include her parents, Michael Tritto and Jana Tritto, both of Post Falls; and 16 brothers and sisters.
Memorial contributions may be made to New Life Community Church Building Fund, 6100 E. Hayden Ave., Rathdrum, ID 83858.
Jeanette Campbell Spokane
Graveside service for Jeanette B. Campbell, 83, was Monday at Greenwood Memorial Terrace. Mrs. Campbell, who was born in Tensed, Idaho, died Wednesday.
She graduated from Lewis and Clark High School and was a homemaker.
Mrs. Campbell was a a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Indian Canyon Women’s Golf Club.
Survivors include a son, John Campbell of Post Falls; a daughter, Mary Ann Tester of Minneapolis; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children.
Douglas Eller Spokane
Private funeral for Douglas Eller, 82, was held.
A 45-year Spokane resident, Mr. Eller died Friday. He was born in Douglas, Wyo.
He grew up in Sandpoint and served in the Army during World War II.
Mr. Eller owned and operated an automobile business in Spokane for many years, retiring in 1980.
He was a member of the Spokane Valley Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Ora; two sons, Richard Eller of Phoenix and Raymond Eller of Tekoa, Wash.; a daughter, Donna Sherman of Anacortes, Wash.; three sisters, Olive Hart, Lillie Waters and Nellie Morgan, all of Spokane; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Donald Middleton Spokane
Funeral for Donald E. Middleton, 71, will be at 11 a.m. today at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home.
A longtime Spokane resident, Mr. Middleton died Thursday. He was born in Sioux City, Iowa.
He worked as a long-haul truck driver during World War II and later moved to Spokane, where he assisted in the printing of a Hillyard newspaper for several years.
Mr. Middleton then moved to Southern California to learn fixture making, living there for 10 years before returning to Spokane in 1970.
He worked for a custom electrical fixture maker for many years before going to work for Goodwill Industries as a truck driver and maintenance man. He retired last Tuesday.
Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Bev; two sons, Dennis and Gary Middleton, both of Spokane; a sister, Arlene Lazell of California; two brothers, Bill Cox of Spokane and Guy Cox of Valley, Wash.; five grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
Virginia Dummer Coeur d’Alene
Memorial service for Virginia A. Dummer, 84, will be Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene. Burial will take place later in Laporte, Ind.
Mrs. Dummer, who was born in Chicago, died Thursday. She grew up in Chicago and graduated from the University of Chicago.
Mrs.there Dummer also received a teaching certificate from Emanual Missionary College in Michigan and then taught first grade in Michigan for 21 years. She moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1988.
Her husband of 46 years, Edwin, died in 1988.
Survivors include a daughter, Susan Dummer Rau of Coeur d’Alene; a sister, Margaret Walters of Chicago; and two grandsons, Michael and Nicholas.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kootenai Humane Society, P.O. Box 1005, Hayden Lake, ID 83835, or the Children’s Village, 1350 W. Hanley Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.
Ethel Hamill Spokane
Cryptside service for Ethel L. Hamill, 91, will be at 2 p.m. today at Greenwood Memorial Terrace Mausoleum. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
A 42-year Spokane resident, Mrs. Hamill died Saturday. She was born in Grangeville, Idaho.
She worked as a grade school teacher, retiring after 40 years.
She is survived her husband of 69 years, Floyd.
Rev. Timothy `Frank’ Cronin, S.J. Spokane
Funeral Mass for the Rev. Timothy “Frank” Cronin, S.J., 68, will be at 11 a.m. today at St. Aloysius Catholic Church. Burial will be at Mount Saint Michael Cemetery. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Rev. Cronin, who was born in Spokane, died Wednesday.
He graduated from Gonzaga Prep in 1948 and attended Gonzaga University from 1948 to 1949.
Rev. Cronin then entered the Jesuit Society in Oregon and received his bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Gonzaga University in 1955. He was ordained in 1962.
He went on to earn his master’s degree in theology from Santa Clara University in California in 1963 and his doctorate in education from Seattle University in 1983.
Rev. Cronin continued to study education administration at Seattle University and had served as the university administrator for several years and as vice president of student affairs.
From 1988 until 1997 he was the assistant to the dean of professional studies at Gonzaga University.
Survivors include a brother, Michael Cronin, and a sister, Betty Mosely, both of Spokane.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Society of Jesus, Oregon Province, 2222 N.W. Hoyt, Portland, OR 97210 or to Gonzaga Prep.
Madeline Malito Spokane
Funeral Mass for Madeline J. Malito, 73, will be at 10 a.m. today at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Trentwood. Thornhill Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
A 31-year Spokane resident, Mrs. Malito died Wednesday. She was born in Lumington, Idaho.
She had retired from working as a nurse at Sacred Heart Medical Center. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Parish.
Her husband, Ralph, died in 1993.
Mrs. Malito is survived by four sons, Geoff Malito of Lake Oswego, Ore.; Tom Malito of Theodore, Ala., Steve Malito of Richland and Tim Malito of Newman Lake; two daughters, Mary Lee of College Place, Wash., and Michele Bufton of Portland; 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Dorothy Shipton Sandpoint
Service for Dorothy Elenor Shipton, 77, will be at 4 p.m. today at Coffelt Funeral Service in Sandpoint. Inurnment will be at Lakeview Cemetery near Sandpoint.
Mrs. Shipton, who was born in Iowa, died Saturday.
She grew up in Iowa and Minnesota before moving to Chelan, Wash., as a teenager. In 1949 she settled in Spokane, where she worked as a grocery clerk for Safeway for 23 years. She retired in 1975.
She was preceded in death by her former husband, Donald Shipton, and her longtime companion, Russell Kotschevar.
Mrs. Shipton moved to Sandpoint after her retirement.
Survivors include three daughters, Katherine Hornick of Bainbridge Island, Wash., Fay Paulette of Twisp, Wash., and Patricia Clason of Texas; two sons, Tom Shipton of Spokane and Don Shipton of Priest River, Idaho; 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Melvin Johnson Spokane
Funeral for Melvin C. Johnson, 72, will be at 1 p.m. today at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-North. Entombment will be at Fairmount Memorial Park.
A 30-year Spokane resident, Mr. Johnson died Thursday. He was born in Portland.
He graduated from Jefferson High School in Portland and served in the Army during World War II. He was stationed in the South Pacific, primarily in the Philippine Islands.
Mr. Johnson married Arlene Holybee in 1947 and worked for the U.S. government as a civil service employee for 36 years. He worked in security and as a fireman in Fresno, Calif., Portland and Idaho Falls before moving to Spokane in 1968.
He continued working in security as the head of security at Spokane’s Veterans Administration hospital, retiring as fire and safety inspector in 1981.
Mr. Johnson then worked at Fairmount Memorial Park, leading funeral precessions from the gate to the grave, until 1995.
He was a member of Spokane Valley Eagles Lodge 3433 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 51.
Survivors include his wife; three sons, John and Sidney Johnson, both of Spokane, and Steve Johnson of Nine Mile Falls; a sister, Betty Shrake of Portland; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Allene Lenhart Spokane
Memorial service for Allene M. Lenhart, 80, will be at 11 a.m. today at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Burial was held at Pinecrest Cemetery in Sandpoint. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-South is in charge of arrangements.
Miss Lenhart, who was born in Great Falls, Mont., died Dec. 23.
For 41 years she worked for as a clerk in the Soil Conservation District of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Spokane, retiring in 1985.
Survivors include a sister, Jeanette Cromie of Spokane; a brother, Lawrence Mosolf of Mesa, Ariz.; and numerous half-brothers and half-sisters.
Memorial contributions may be made to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.
Thelma Stokes Spokane
No service will be held for Thelma H. Stokes, 78, at her request. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
A 10-year Spokane resident, Mrs. Stokes died Thursday. She was born in Wilburton, Okla.
Mrs. Stokes was a homemaker and a member of Center Point Baptist Church in Wilburton.
Survivors include three sons, Ken Stokes of Nine Mile Falls, Jim Stokes of Tucson, Ariz., and Steven Stokes of Reno, Nev.; a brother, Wayne Lucas of Wilburton ; eight grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.