Obituaries
Rev. Samuel Vaughn Spokane
Memorial service for the Rev. R. Samuel Vaughn, 45, will be at 7 p.m. Friday at Central United Methodist Church. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-South is in charge of arrangements.
The Rev. Vaughn, who was born in Springfield, Ill., died Monday.
He grew up in Pomona, Calif., and received his bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from California State University in Fullerton and later received his master’s in theology from Asbury Theological Seminary in Willmore, Ky.
The Rev. Vaughn served in churches in Fintona and Togherdoo, North Ireland, in the early 1980s and then at First United Methodist Church in Kennewick until 1986. He also served with the Washougal (Wash.) United Methodist Church.
He then moved to Spokane where he began serving with Spokane Highland Park (Japanese) United Methodist Church. He had been serving as organizing pastor of the Tree of Life, a new church starting in Liberty Lake and Post Falls.
The Rev. Vaughn was a member of the Spokane/Nishinomiya Sister City Organization, Japanese American League and the Spokane Council of Ecumenical Ministries, where he served as treasurer.
Survivors include his wife, Cheryl; a daughter, Yasmin Vaughn of Boston; two sons, Noel and Luke Vaughn of Liberty Lake; his parents, Russell and Margaret Vaughn of Pomona, Calif.; two brothers, John Vaughn of Suisun, Calif., and Steven Vaughn of Ellicott City, Md.; two sisters, Arnette Antillon of Hesperia, Calif., and Kelly Ular of Yucaipa, Calif.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Tree of Life United Methodist Church, c/o Spokane District Office of the United Methodist Church, 905 W. Riverside, 306 Great Western Bldg., Spokane, WA 99201.
Glen Pittman Colville, Wash.
Funeral for Glen W. Pittman, 69, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Colville United Methodist Church. Burial will be at Mountain View Park Cemetery in Colville. Danekas Funeral Home in Colville is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Pittman, who was born in Oroville, Wash., died Monday.
He attended schools in Colville, Orient, and Kettle Falls, Wash., and graduated from Marshall (Mo.) High School.
Mr. Pittman attended Missouri Valley College before enlisting in the Army in 1950. He served during the Korean War.
In 1953 he returned to the Colville area and worked in the timber industry, before owning and operating two service stations in Colville and Orient from 1966 to 1974.
In 1974 he began driving a truck for the Whitten Oil Co., and he retired in 1988.
Mr. Pittman was a member of the Colville United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Glenda; two daughters, Connie Carlson of Spokane and Teria Kelley of East Wenatchee; a son, Knox Pittman of Spokane; a sister, Frankie Holman of Wenatchee; and 12 grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Colville United Methodist Church or the Orient Community Church memorial funds.
Mae Takahashi Ontario, Ore.
Funeral for Mae Tsuyuko Takahashi, 84, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Ontario Community United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Ontario. Lienkaemper Chapel in Ontario is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Takahashi, who was born in Caldwell, Idaho, died Monday.
She graduated from Caldwell High School and moved to Spokane, where she graduated from business college.
She moved to Seattle, where she worked for North Coast Supply, a Japanese importing company, and in 1940 she married Hatsuo Takahashi.
During World War II they returned to Caldwell, where they farmed onions and beets in the Snake River Valley for several years before moving to Spokane.
Mrs. Takahashi and her husband owned and operated the North Coast Supply Store in Spokane for 20 years. Her husband preceded her in death.
Mrs. Takahashi moved to Ontario a short time ago.
Survivors include two daughters, Carolyn Quemuel of Redmond, Wash., and Mary Ann Murata of Ontario; a brother, Warren Tamura of Nampa, Idaho; and three grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson’s Society, c/o Lienkaemper Chapel, P.O. Box 970, Ontario, OR 97914.
Arthur Roloff Spokane
Funeral for Arthur E. Roloff, formerly of Ritzville, Wash., will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Philadelphia Congregational Church in Ritzville. Vault burial will follow at the Ritzville Memorial Cemetery. Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Roloff, who was born in Ralston, Wash., died Monday. He was 82.
He graduated from Ritzville High School in 1934 and married Emilie Henne in 1939.
They farmed and raised cattle near Ritzville for 30 years and moved to Spokane two years ago.
Mr. Roloff was a member of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers and Washington State Cattlemen’s Association. He was a member, deacon and Sunday school teacher at the Philadelphia Congregational Church in Ritzville for many years.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Sharon Roloff Chase of Puyallup, Wash.; a son, Jim Roloff of Medical Lake; two sisters, Ruby Simek of Gig Harbor, Wash., and Velma Reynolds of San Diego; and three grandsons and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Philadelphia Congregational Church in Ritzville or the American Diabetes Association.
Elizabeth `Lib’ Curtis St. Maries
No service will be held for Elizabeth “Lib” Curtis, 92, at her request. Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Maries. Yates-Hodge Funeral Home in St. Maries is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Curtis, who was born in Blair, Neb., died Monday.
She moved to the St. Joe River Road near St. Maries in 1913 and attended the Omega School before moving to St. Maries in 1917 and graduating from high school there in 1926.
She received a teaching certificate from Cheney Normal School and taught school in Newport, Wash., and later in Avery, Idaho.
She taught school in St. Maries from 1934-39 before becoming the county superintendent of schools.
She married Floyd Curtis in 1948 and renewed her teaching certificate and completed a bachelor of science degree in education in 1962.
Her husband died in 1956.
Mrs. Curtis then taught at Heyburn Elementary School in St. Maries until retiring in 1972.
She was a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Coeur d’Alene, the St. Maries PEO Chapter, Retired Teachers Association, Benewah County Senior Citizens and St. Maries Garden Club.
She has no survivors.
Jennie Marchioro Spokane
Rosary for Jennie M. Marchioro, 81, will be at 7 p.m. today at St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Funeral Mass is planned for 1 p.m. Friday at the church. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
A lifetime resident of Spokane, Mrs. Marchioro died Sunday.
She married Joe Marchioro in 1940, and they owned and operated the Pondersoa Inn restaurant from 1958 to 1962.
Mrs. Marchioro also worked for Rusans clothing store on Riverside for several years.
She was a member of St. Thomas More Parish, Morning Star Boys Ranch Auxiliary and Immaculate Heart Retreat Center Auxiliary.
Her husband died in 1992.
Survivors include two daughters, Gail DeRoshia of Spokane and Sandra Olson of Bellevue, Wash.; a sister, Mary Orlando of Gig Harbor, Wash.; two brothers, Jules and Dick Pieroni, both of Spokane; and four grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of Spokane or the American Cancer Society.
June McAvoy Spokane
Private service will be held at a later date for June V. McAvoy, 85. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. McAvoy, who was born in Athens County, Ohio, died Saturday.
She moved to Spokane in 1964 and worked as a teller and a bookkeeper in the banking industry.
Her husband, Ralph, died in 1961.
Survivor include a sister, Wileva Damon of Spokane; and three brothers, Paul Evans of Spokane, Barney Evans of San Diego and Joseph Evans of Jacksonville, Fla.
Geraldine Erickson Spokane
Graveside service for Geraldine P. Erickson, 85, will be at 1 p.m. today at Spokane Memorial Gardens. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
A 57-year Spokane resident, Mrs. Erickson died Monday. She was born in Sandpoint.
Mrs. Erickson worked in sales for Supersave Drug Stores for many years.
Survivors include a daughter, Janis Johnson of Spokane; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Paul Neiertz LaCrosse, Wash.
Graveside service for Paul S. Neiertz, 93, will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the LaCrosse Cemetery. Bruning Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Neiertz, who was born in LaCrosse, died Tuesday.
He graduated from LaCrosse High School in 1924 and married Azile Beaky in 1927.
Mr. Neiertz worked as a truck driver for Whitman County and drove a school bus. In 1941 he moved to Port Orchard, Wash., where he worked for Callison.
In 1943 he joined the Army and, after his discharge, moved back to LaCrosse. He worked as a warehouseman for the LaCrosse Grain Growers before retiring in 1971.
Mr. Neiertz was a member of the Catholic Church and the Port Orchard Eagles Lodge.
His wife died in 1998.
Survivors include a son, John Neiertz of Spokane; and two grandsons.
Memorial contributions may be made to the LaCrosse Cemetery.
Myrle Airhart Hayden, Idaho
Memorial Mass for Myrle M. Airhart, 90, will be Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Pius Catholic Church in Coeur d’Alene. Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Airhart, who was born in Missouri, died Monday.
She grew up in South Dakota and moved to Plains, Mont., where she lived on a farm. She moved to Seattle during World War II before returning to Montana.
She lived in Cheney from 1970 to 1991 and then lived in Arizona before moving to Hayden in 1996.
Mrs. Airhart was a member of St. Pius Catholic Church.
Survivors include her husband, Wesley; three daughters, Joanne Burlingham of Montana, Sonja Higgins of California and Donna Brash of Spangle; six stepchildren, Thomas Airhart of Linwood, Wash., Marty Airhart of Coeur d’Alene, Mike Airhart of Rathdrum, Idaho, Gary Airhart of Seattle, Karen Fuller of Vashon, Wash., and Mary Brown of Kodiak, Alaska; and numerous grandchildren.
Ellen Pearson Athol, Idaho
Visitation for Ellen M. Pearson, 75, will be today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene. Service will be Friday at 2 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Burial will be at Forest Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene.
Mrs. Pearson, who was born in Millwood, Wash., died Monday.
She grew up in the Colville area and later worked as a chef in California and at the Republic (Wash.) Hotel.
Mrs. Pearson moved to the Athol area 18 years ago.
Her first husband, Merritt Ingalls, died in 1969.
Survivors include her husband, Andrew; two daughters, Mary Brooks of Alberta, Canada, and Karen Ingalls of Spokane; two sisters, Hazel Shelley of Newman Lake, Wash., and Lucille Shimmin of Nevada; a brother, Walter Sexton of Trout Creek, Mont.; 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association.
Edith Cooper Spokane
Visitation for Edith M. Cooper, 83, will be from noon to 3 p.m. Friday at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home. Funeral will follow at 3 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at Pines Cemetery.
A 12-year Spokane resident, Mrs. Cooper died Sunday. She was born in Hazard, Ky.
She was a homemaker and was a founding member of the Bethany Church of God in Detroit, where she taught Sunday School, was Sunday school attendant, led the junior choir, taught at vacation Bible school and had a ministry for children.
Mrs. Cooper had been resident of the Sunshine Gardens Nursing Home in Spokane for the past several years.
Survivors include a daughter, Pat Krafft of Spokane; a brother, Jack Reedy of Brooksville, Fla; a sister, Jessie Cottril of Orlando, Fla.; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
David Geer Spokane
Visitation for David F. Geer, 63, will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Riplinger Funeral Home. Funeral is planned for 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Riverside Memorial Park.
Mr. Geer, who was born in Kelso, Wash., died Tuesday.
A 50-year Spokane resident, he owned and operated the Northside Phillips 66 service sdtation from 1966 to 1978.
Mr. Geer was a member of Eagles Lodge 2 and Hillyard Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Barbara; and a stepbrother, David Michals of Spokane.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
Albert Dobelstein Spokane
Memorial service for Albert O. Dobelstein, 84, will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center Chapel. The Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Dobelstein, who was born in Rockford, died Jan. 1.
He served with the Navy from 1932 until 1935 and returned to Spokane and became a police officer.
Mr. Dobelstein served with the Navy again during World War II.
In 1945 he returned to Spokane and worked as a mail carrier for the Postal Service before retiring in 1977.
Mr. Dobelstein was a member of the Elks Lodge, Eagles Lodge 2 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Survivors include a daughter, Candice Botner of Spokane; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Frances Ramm Odessa, Wash.
Funeral for Frances Ramm, 79, will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Christ Lutheran Church in Odessa. Burial will follow at the Odessa Cemetery. Strate Funeral Home in Odessa is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Ramm, who was born in Odessa, died Monday.
She was a homemaker.
Survivors include three sons, Ron and Jack Ramm, both of Spokane, and Fred Ramm of Odessa; a daughter, Irene Carnes of Seattle; five sisters, Marjorie Erickson of Marysville, Wash., Marie Braun of Deer Park, Frieda Braun of Odessa, Viola Derr of Renton, Wash., and Laura Medlin of San Bernadino, Calif.; 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Odessa Memorial Hospital.
Violet Musser Cheney
Graveside service for Violet B. Musser, 85, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Macabee Cemetery in Sprague, Wash. Cheney Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
A longtime Cheney resident, Mrs. Musser died Tuesday.
Born in Milton-Freewater, Ore., she was a teacher for many years and worked in various places, including Amber, Wash., and at Lakeland Village in Medical Lake.
Survivors include two sons, Charles Miller of Spokane and James Miller of Cheney; three brothers, Kenneth, Robert and Percy Erdmann; and five grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children.
Robb Emehiser Spokane
No service will be held for Robb L. Emehiser, 77, at his request. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
A 40-year Spokane resident, Mr. Emehiser, died Monday. He was born in Nampa, Idaho.
He served with the Navy during World War II and later worked as a carpenter out of Spokane Carpenters Union Local 98 for many years.
He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Survivors include his wife, Gwen; a daughter, Terry Montague of Spokane; two sons, Ricky and Robb Emehiser, both of Spokane; a sister, Frances Sager of Kalispell, Mont.; and six grandchildren.
James Haller Chewelah, Wash.
Visitation for James Haller, 80, will be from noon to 8 p.m. today at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home. Funeral is planned for 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Pines Cemetery.
Mr. Haller, who was born in Tillamook, Ore., died Monday.
He married Mildred Wiyrick in 1939.
He worked as a construction supervisor until his retirement in 1982, when he moved to Chewelah.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Millard Haller; a daughter, Katie Haller; 24 brothers and sisters, four grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and one stepgrandson.
Beverly (Behrns) Bohnhof Oldtown, Idaho
Funeral for Beverly Irene “Bev” (Behrns) Bohnhof, 63, will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the American Lutheran Church of Newport, Wash. Burial will follow at the Newport Cemetery. Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport is in charge of arrangements.
A longtime Newport resident, Mrs. Bohnhof died Sunday.
She was born in Waseca County, Minn., and in 1955 married Lester Bohnhof.
She was a member of the American Lutheran Church of Newport.
Survivors include her husband; a son, Jeff Bohnhof of Spirit Lake, Idaho; a daughter, Julie Clark of Priest River, Idaho; a brother, Don Behrns of Minnesota; two sisters, Darlene Bode of New Ulm, Minn., and Eunice St. John of Jonesville, Minn.; and three grandchildren.