Obituaries
Brandon Wagner Spokane
Memorial service for Brandon Wagner, 15, will be at 1:30 p.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home.
A lifetime Spokane resident, Wagner died Wednesday in the West Central neighborhood, the victim of an apparent beating.
Brandon was a student at Havermale Alternative School.
He enjoyed playing the guitar.
Survivors include his parents, Gail Wagner and Steven Douglas; his grandmother, Mary Wagner; and a sister, Lorraine Wagner, all of Spokane; and a brother, Dylan Epperson of Anaconda, Mont.
Ralph Braun Sr. Bismarck, N.D.
Rosary and funeral Mass for Ralph Braun Sr., 81, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Kellogg. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Kellogg. Shoshone Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Braun, who was born in North Dakota, died Thursday.
He lived in Bremerton before settling in the Silver Valley in 1945. He worked for the Bunker Hill Mining Co., for 31 years, retiring in 1977.
Mr. Braun moved to Linton, N.D. in 1985 where he lived until moving to Bismarck in 1996.
He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Bismarck, the Bunker Hill 20-year Club and the Knights of Columbus 3rd and 4th degrees.
Mr. Braun was preceded in death by his first wife, Cecilia, in 1980.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret of Bismarck; three daughters, Leona Hattery of Blaine, Wash., Margie Adams of Coeur d’Alene, and Conni Granley of Spokane; two sons, David and Ralph Braun, both of Kellogg; six stepdaughters, Diane Krezeminski of Florida, Kathleen Bachmeier and Sheila Zinke, both of North Dakota, Marge Thompson of Texas, and Annette Strang and Debbie Lindeman, both of Arizona; four brothers, Matt Braun of New Mexico, Tony Braun of Oregon, Leo Braun of North Dakota and Ray Braun of Coeur d’Alene; a sister, Perry Hulm of Bismarck; 24 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Rita’s Catholic Church, 27 Kellogg Ave., Kellogg, ID 83837, or The American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 3018 Hayden Lake, ID 83835.
Ruth Lenke Spokane
Graveside service for Ruth H. Lenke, a 27-year Spokane resident, will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Greenwood Memorial Terrace. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Lenke, who was born in Buena Vista, Ga., died Wednesday. She was 68.
She worked as a certified nurses aide and also had been a member of the Postal Carriers Union and the Spokane Association of Realtors.
Mrs. Lenke was also a supporter of the arts.
Survivors include a son, Michael Lenke of Rathdrum, Idaho; two daughters, Lisa Sousa and Rachel Yadin, both of Spokane; a sister, Fannie Wiggins of Plains, Ga.; and five grandsons.
Robert Wilkerson Valleyford
Memorial gathering for Robert L. Wilkerson, 67, will be at 5:30 p.m. today at the home of Jon and Kathy Wilkerson in Valleyford. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-South is in charge of arrangements.
A 34-year Spokane resident, Mr. Wilkerson died Monday. He was born in Whittier, Calif.
He served in the Air Force during the Korean War. He was stationed in London.
In 1960 Mr. Wilkerson graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in electrical engineering.
He worked as a district manager for Square D in California. He was transferred by the company to Spokane and retired in 1989 after 30 years.
Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Gerry; a son, Jon Wilkerson of Valleyford; a sister, Mary Ellen Young of Spokane; and three grandchildren.
Eleanor Schmedding Spokane
Vigil for Eleanor Schmedding, 83, will be at 6 p.m. Sunday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Otis Orchards. Funeral Mass is planned for 2 p.m. Monday at the church. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Trentwood. Thornhill Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Schmedding, who was born in Butler, Mo., died Thursday.
She was a homemaker and a longtime member of St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s Catholic churches.
Survivors include her husband of 64 years, Harry; two daughters, JoAnn Percy and Carol Olson, both of Spokane; a son-in-law, Robert Reilly; 22 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and four stepgrandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, or the Annual Catholic Appeal, P.O. Box 1453, Spokane, WA 99210.
Mary (Bernhardt) Storment Coupeville, Wash.
Funeral for Mary (Bernhardt) Storment, a former longtime Endicott, Wash., resident, was Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Endicott. Burial was at Endicott Cemetery.
Mrs. Storment, who was born in Colfax, died Wednesday. She was 85.
She was raised and attended schools in Colfax, graduating from Colfax High School in 1932. She attended Cheney Normal School for one year before attending beauty school in Spokane.
In 1936 she married George Bernhardt. They lived in Wallace, Idaho, for a short time before moving to Endicott. He died in 1975.
In 1977 she married Fay Storment. He died in 1993.
Mrs. Storment was a member of Trinity Lutheran church in Endicott and volunteered with the American Red Cross.
She lived in Endicott until 1994, when she moved to Coupeville.
Survivors include two sons, Dick Bernhardt of Bremerton and Jerry Bernhardt of Coupeville; two sisters, Helen Strickland of Vancouver, Wash., and Connie Day of Long Beach, Wash.; and 10 grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church in Endicott or to the Whitman Hospital Foundation.
Norma Baker Spokane
Memorial celebration for Norma L. Baker, a longtime Spokane resident , was Wednesday at the Spokane Spiritual Center.
Mrs. Baker, who was born in Corvallis, Ore., died Saturday. She was 69.
She graduated from North Central High School in 1948.
Mrs. Baker was the former owner of Plaza Hair and Nail. She spent her later years at En Vogue Hair and Nail Design.
Survivors include four daughters, Renee Keith and Bob Nordsby, both of Spokane, Nadene McKnight of Port Angeles, Wash., and Shirley Smith of Castle Rock, Wash.; her stepmother, Viola Guyer of Spokane; and three grandchildren.
Donald Baxter Spokane
Memorial gathering for Donald M. Baxter, a 34-year Spokane resident, will be at 1 p.m. today at the family home. The Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Baxter, who was born on the family farm in Buhl, Idaho, died Thursday. He was 84.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1934 at the age of 19. He was a decorated veteran of World War II and the Korean War.
Mr. Baxter was among the first group of service men to be promoted to the rank of chief master sergeant with the Air Force. He retired from the military in 1966.
He later worked as a mechanic for the city of Spokane for several years.
His wife of 53 years, Helen, died in 1995.
Survivors include two sons, Gary Baxter of Edmonds, Wash., and Kevin Baxter of Spokane; a daughter, Patti Piper of Spokane; a brother, Arthur Baxter of Hermiston, Ore.; and four grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Visiting Nurse Association, 3901 E. Main, Spokane, WA 99202
William Edwards Spokane
Memorial service for William O. Edwards, 79, is planned for 1 p.m. Monday at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home.
Mr. Edwards, who was born in Tekoa, Wash., died Wednesday. He was a 33-year Spokane resident.
He served in the Army in the Philippines during World War II.
Mr. Edwards worked for the Union Pacific Railroad for 48 years and retired in 1986.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Jessie; two sons, William Edwards of St. John, Wash., and Jerry Edwards of Spokane; a daughter, Dixie Swain of Spokane; two brothers, Robert Edwards of Spokane and Dean Edwards of Fairfield; two sisters, Thelma Bertholf of Spokane and Decca Calkins of Seattle; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Florence Schock Cheney
Visitation for Florence A. Schock, 88, will be from noon to 6 p.m. today through Monday, and from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesday at Heritage Funeral Home. Graveside service will follow at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Riverside Memorial Park.
Mrs. Schock, who was born in Victoria, British Columbia, died Thursday.
She moved to Spokane in 1928 and attended Northwest Business College.
After her graduation from business school she went to work for Richards and Blum Securities. She started out as a secretary and later became the treasurer.
Mrs. Schock moved to Cheney in 1991.
Her husband preceded her in death.
Survivors include a sister, May Harma of Cheney; a niece, Emily Harsin, of Cheney; a nephew, A.F. Schrier; three great-nieces, one great-nephew, numerous great-great-nieces and nephews and one great-great-great-nephew.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane.
Donna (Christiansen) VanHeel Osburn, Idaho
A gathering for family and friends of Donna Juanita (Christiansen) VanHeel, 89, will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the family home, No. 6 Stein Road, Nuckols Gulch in Osburn. Shoshone Funeral Service in Kellogg is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. VanHeel, who was born in Lark, Utah, died Wednesday.
In 1949 she married John VanHeel. They lived in Spokane before settling in the Silver Valley in 1952.
She was a a homemaker and a member of the Wallace Sewing Club and the Wallace Eagles Auxiliary, where she held several offices.
She was preceded in death by her husband.
Survivors include a son, Floyd Christensen of Los Angeles; a daughter, Alice Stinson of Spokane; four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Memorial contribution may be made to the Silver Valley Senior Transportation Fund, P.O. Box 887, Osburn, ID 83849.
Douglas Farley Rathdrum, Idaho
Viewing for Douglas W. Farley, 47, will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene. Service is planned for 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral chapel. Mr. Farley, who died Wednesday, was born in Sacramento, Calif.
He lived in the Boise Valley before moving to Rathdrum in 1976. He worked as an licensed practical nurse at nursing homes in Spokane from 1990 until 1996.
Mr. Farley also worked as a land surveyor for Durtchie Engineering in Hayden Lake, Idaho.
He was a Marine Corps veteran and a member of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Survivors include his wife, Sandra; two stepsons, Daniel Dekan and Brian McRoberts, both at home; a stepdaughter, Tonnie Vandenberg of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; a brother, John Farley of Post Falls; and three sisters, Lydia Levi, Dena Norris, and Penny all of the Boise area.