Obituaries

Margaret Kyser Spokane

Vigil for Margaret L. Kyser, a 48-year Spokane resident, will be at 7 p.m. today at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Miss Kyser, who was born in Three Forks, Mont., died Saturday. She was 83.

She served in the Army in the Philippines during World War II.

Miss Kyser later worked as a registered nurse in hospitals in California, Montana and most recently the Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center in Spokane.

She was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, the Retired Officers Association, Corbin Community Center and the Gonzaga University Alumni Association.

Over the years Miss Kyser traveled to 48 countries.

Survivors include a sister, Patricia Ann Minder of Great Falls, Mont.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Gonzaga Alumni Association or Morning Star Boys Ranch.

Willene Leonetti Spokane

Funeral for Willene M. Leonetti, 79, will be at 11 a.m. today at Riplinger Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Born in Colfax, Wash., Mrs. Leonetti died Thursday.

She was a 50-year Spokane resident and worked as a clerk in a grocery store for several years. She was a member of the Retail Clerks Union.

Her husband, Eugene Leonetti, died in the 1960s.

Survivors include a grandniece, Alison Murphy; a sister-in-law, Erlene Chilton, both of Birmingham, Ala.; and numerous cousins.

Karl Emery Pasco

Service for for Karl Emery, 83, is planned for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Veradale United Church of Christ. Funeral was Monday at Kennewick First Presbyterian Church. Mueller’s Tri-Cities Funeral Home in Kennewick is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Emery, who was born in Lamona, Wash., died Friday.

In 1939 he married Margaret Hayden.

He graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in agriculture that same year.

Mr. Emery then began his career as a teacher, first teaching agriculture in Payette, Idaho, and in Kirkland, Wash. After serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II, he moved to Spokane and became a vocational education teacher at Central Valley High School for 25 years. He retired in 1962.

Mr. Emery began farming full time in Otis Orchards after his retirement. He retired again in 1980.

He returned to the Tri-Cities a short time ago.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Richard Emery; a daughter, Fran Strehel; a brother, Elmer Emery; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Tri-City Cancer Center, 7350 W. Deschutes, Bldg. A, Kennewick, WA 99336.

Robert Mitchell Spokane

Funeral for Robert L. Mitchell, 75, will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Riplinger Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.

Mr. Mitchell, who died Friday, was born in Iron River, Mich.

He moved with his family to Detroit, Oakland, Calif., and then to Spokane.

He graduated from Rogers High School in 1942.

In 1943 he enlisted in the Navy. He served as a Seabee in the Pacific Theater during World War II and later, after being reactivated, during the Korean War.

After his military service he settled in Spokane and in 1955 began his career with The Spokesman-Review and Spokane Chronicle. He was initially employed in the circulation department and then in employee relations. He returned to the circulation department as a country district manager and retired in 1987. He continued to work as a part-time driver for the newspaper following his retirement.

Mr. Mitchell was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Eagles Lodge.

His second wife, Marvel, preceded him in death.

Survivors include a son, Dean Mitchell; a daughter, Lynette Versteeg; and two grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.

Margaret Irving Deer Park

Funeral for Margaret Elizabeth Irving, a longtime Deer Park resident and Deer Park High School librarian, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Deer Park Open Door Congregational Church. Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Grandview Cemetery in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Lauer Funeral Home in Deer Park is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Irving, 89, a former Bonners Ferry resident, died July 8. She was born in Indianola, Neb.

She taught school in Idaho and Colorado for many years before moving to Deer Park, where she was the librarian at Deer Park High School for 14 years.

Mrs. Irving was a member of Whitworth Presbyterian Church, the Deer Park Chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons, Deer Park Hospital Auxiliary and the Friends of the Library.

She also was a past Deer Park Citizen of the Year.

Her husband, George Irving, died in 1958.

Survivors include two brothers, Howard Critchfield of Bellingham and Fred Critchfield of Westminster, Colo.

Memorial contributions may be made to Whitworth Community Presbyterian Church or the Deer Park Hospital.

Ernest Grambo Spokane

Memorial service for Ernest J. Grambo, 87, will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-South is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Grambo, who was born in Wibaux, Mont., died July 8.

He moved with his family to Mead, where he graduated from high school.

Mr. Grambo received a bachelor of science degree in forestry from Washington State College. He served in the Navy during World War II.

Mr. Grambo retired as northwest regional manager for the U.S. Forest Service after 34 years. He was a 54-year fellow of the Society of American Foresters.

His wife of 53 years, Helen, died in 1989.

Survivors include three sisters, Melva Fuller of Medical Lake, Serena Rogers-Davis of Longview, Wash., and Lyla Specht of Puyallup, Wash.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ernest and Helen Grambo Fund at Deaconess Medical Center Pediatric Fund Foundation Office, Deaconess Hospital, P.O. Box 518, Spokane, WA 99210-0518.

Bill Dickerson Spokane

Memorial service for Bill Dickerson, a 20-year Spokane resident, will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home.

Mr. Dickerson, who was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., died Saturday. He was 81.

He was raised in Ottumwa, Iowa, and served in the National Guard.

Mr. Dickerson retired after 45 years with the John Morrell Meat Co. He was a member of Northwood Presbyterian Church and a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge in Agency, Iowa. He was also a member of Eagles Lodge No. 2 in Spokane.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Naomi; a son, William Dickerson of West Covina, Calif.; two daughters, Bobbie LaRue of Spokane and Glenda Scott of Colbert; two sisters, Betty Capps of California and Frances White of Iowa; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Horizon Hospice, 12 E. Rowan Ave., Spokane, WA 99207.

Verne Ellis Post Falls

Memorial service for optometrist Verne P. Ellis, 87, will be held at a later date. English Funeral Chapel in Post Falls is in charge of arrangements.

Dr. Ellis, who was born in Spokane, died Friday.

He lived in Spokane and married Viola Getman in 1937.

He worked as an optometrist from 1943 until 1977 and served as a vision care instructor at Spokane Community College for 23 years.

Dr. Ellis moved to Post Falls in 1995.

He was past president of the Washington Association of Optometry Physicians and was a past member of the Lions Club where he supported programs for the blind. He also volunteered at Union Gospel Ministries in Spokane and provided eye care for the homeless.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Ritchard Ellis of Seattle; a daughter, Sheri Ellis of Coeur d’Alene; two sisters, Ardeth Smith of Seattle and Ferol Getman of Spokane; two grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Memorial contributions may be made to Union Gospel Ministries, 1224 E. Trent, Spokane, WA 99202.

Norman Erickson Spokane

Memorial service for Norman W. “Norm” Erickson, 81, was Monday at Sunset Chapel at Fairmount Memorial Park.

A 52-year Spokane resident, Mr. Erickson died July 8. He was born in Oakes, N.D.

Mr. Erickson graduated from Fargo (N.D.) High School in 1935. He went on to attend Concordia College and the University of Minnesota.

He served as a lieutenant in the Navy during World War II. Mr. Erickson was discharged from the military in 1946 after an injury. That same year he returned to Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelors degree in business.

He began working for Madison Lumber in Spokane in 1948 and then was an accountant for Watson Management in 1950.

In 1949 he married Marjorie Henniger.

Mr. Erickson returned to college, attending Washington State University before graduating from Eastern Washington University with a teaching degree in 1956.

He was a business and mathematics teacher at North Central High School from 1956 until retiring in 1979.

Mr. Erickson was a member of the Retired Teachers, Spokane Education and the Washington Education associations and the Moose Lodge.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Craig and Scott Erickson, both of Spokane; two daughters, Sue Abitz of Spokane and Karen Erickson of Redmond, Wash.; and five grandchildren.

Memorial contributions to The Cardiac Unit at Deaconess Medical Center, P.O. Box 518, Spokane, WA 99210-0518.

Florence Hutchings Spokane

Rosary for Florence M. Hutchings, 80, was Monday at Riplinger funeral Home.

Mrs. Hutchings, a 40-year Spokane resident, died Friday. She was born in St. James, Minn.

She worked as a real estate broker for several years.

Survivors include two sons, Herb Koester of Ferndale, Wash., and Fred Koester of Spokane; three brothers, Percy, Delbert and Kenneth; three sisters, Leone, Beulah and Carol; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association.

Robert Hall Spokane

Graveside service for Robert Forest Hall, a 10-year Spokane resident, was Wednesday at Riverview Cemetery in Chelan, Wash.

Mr. Hall, who was born in Bremerton, died Thursday. He was 65.

He worked as a foreman for the Blue Chelan Packing Shed for several years. He also worked as an electrician for the Colville Indian Agency, and was employed working on the Chief Joseph Dam.

Survivors include his wife, Ellen; three sons, Leo, Ronald and Robert Hall Jr.; two daughters, Darlene Long and Gloria Pryor; four stepchildren, Jan Hamblen, Lorrie Walker, Kim Klamroth and Juan Balderas; his mother, Olive Keelor; 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Millie McLean Vancouver, Wash.

Graveside service for Millie T. McLean, a former longtime Spokane area resident, was Monday at Fairmount Memorial Park.

Mrs. McLean, who was born in Deer Park, died July 8. She was 67.

She retired from working in the food service industry.

Mrs. McLean was a safety patrol neighborhood organizer for the Sunset Strip Crime Watch.

She had been living in Vancouver for the past 15 years.

Survivors include a daughter, Pamela Stange of Vancouver; two sons, Robert and Samuel McLean, both of Spokane; a sister, Susie Pasco of Spokane; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or AIDS research.

Anna Kinder Spokane

No service will be held for Anna Kinder. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Kinder, who was born in Wilbur, Wash., died July 6. She was 83.

She was a 57-year Spokane resident and owned a fabric store for several years.

Her husband of 62 years, Merle Kinder, died in 1997.

Survivors include a daughter, Sharon Kinder of Olympia; a brother, Aksel Petersen of Wilbur; five nieces and five nephews.