Obituaries

James Wesselman Spokane

Visitation for James Eugene Wesselman, 71, will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Riplinger Funeral Home. Service is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.

A 40-year Spokane resident, Mr.

Wesselman died Friday.

He was born in LaCrosse, Wash., and graduated from LaCrosse High School.

At the age of 16 he received his private pilot’s license.

Mr. Wesselman served in the Air Force from 1953 to 1958. He was a second lieutenant and flew jet fighters. While on active duty he helped develop aerial target-towing with jets.

He joined the Air National Guard in 1958 as a pilot in Spokane. He retired after 23 years.

In 1962 he received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Gonzaga University.

Mr. Wesselman also flew as a commercial pilot and aerial applicator. He worked for Federal Express for 12 years.

He performed aerobatics at air shows through the Northwest and was also a flight instructor and taught aerobatics.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon; a son, Eric Wesselman of Vancouver, Wash.; a daughter, Laurel Ell of Spokane; his parents, Fred and Katherine Wesselman; three brothers, Fred, Ed and Ray Wesselman; and a sister, Janet Parker, all of LaCrosse; and two grandchildren.

John `Stan’ Short Coeur d’Alene

Memorial service for John Stanley “Stan” Short, 73, was Tuesday at Riverview Retirement Center Chapel in Spokane. Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene was in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Short, who was born in Spokane, died Nov. 23.

He grew up in Spokane and attended both Lewis and Clark and Rogers high schools. He married Margaret Odegard in 1948.

Mr. Short served with the Marine Corps during World War II and fought in the Okinawa and Saipan campaigns, where he earned the Purple Heart Award. He was a member of the occupying forces on mainland Japan at the end of the war.

After his military service he returned to Spokane and attended Gonzaga University and graduated from Eastern Washington University in 1952.

Mr. Short worked for Prudential Distributors of Spokane and was transferred to Walla Walla, where he raised his family and was a member of the Elks Lodge and the Shriners.

The couple later moved to Coeur d’Alene.

Survivors include his wife; three children, Christine Lowry of Olympia, John Short Jr. of Albuquerque, N.M., and Stephen Short of Hamilton, Mont.; a brother, Charles Short of Adams, Ore.; two sisters, Jean Mann of Ontario, Ore., and Barbara Curtis of Monroe, Wash.; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Margaret `Sally’ Van Horne Spokane

Visitation for Margaret I. “Sally” Van Horne, 90, will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Service is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Spokane Memorial Gardens.

Born in Baudette, Minn., Mrs. Van Horne died Monday.

She was a 75-year Spokane resident and worked as a packer in the baking industry.

Her husband, Hank, died in 1984.

Survivors include a daughter, Vina Ridnour of Spokane; two sons, Ron Van Horne of Coeur d’Alene and Larry Van Horne of Clarksville, Texas; two sisters, Grace Parker of Spokane and Hazel Hancock of Redding, Calif.; three brothers, Gene and Pete Bacon, both of Spokane, and Wallace Bacon of Seattle; eight grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Sister Karleta Wright, O.P. Spokane

Vigil service for Sister Karleta Wright, O.P., 78, will be at 7 p.m. today at the Dominican Center. Funeral Mass is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday at the center. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Born in Butte, Mont., Sister Karleta died Wednesday.

Before entering the Dominican Order she worked as the secretary and administrative clerk to the U.S. Attorney of Montana for 12 years. During World War II she served as a radio operator in the Navy.

In 1959 she entered the Dominican Order and in 1965 she professed her final vows in Kettle Falls, Wash.

She served at Mount Carmel Hospital in Colville, Wash., St. Martin Hospital in Tonasket, Wash., and Holy Family Hospital in Spokane. Sister Karleta served as secretary and treasurer of the Dominican Community at the Provinciate in Spokane. She also served as secretary for the Peace and Justice Center in Spokane and as a development office volunteer for the Transition Program for Women. She was a volunteer with the hospice program in Butte.

Sister Karleta is survived by three nieces, Barbara Rodriquez of Yakima, Judith Shaw of Royal City, Wash., and Carol Popovich of Billings, Mont.; and a nephew, Brian Frank of Kalispell, Mont.

Patrick Griffin Palm Springs, Calif.

Private service for Patrick A. Griffin, 59, will be held at a later date. Palm Springs Mortuary in Cathedral City, Calif., is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Griffin, who died Nov. 15, was born in Long Beach, Calif.

He moved to Spokane in the late 1970s and to Palm Springs in 1995. He worked as a real estate agent for 23 years in Spokane and Palm Springs.

He was a member of the Tennis Club in Palm Springs and The Spokane Club.

Survivors include a daughter, Victoria Glubrecht of Spokane; and a grandson.

Margaret Knowski Spokane

Service for Margaret Knowski, 86, will be at 2 p.m. today at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-North. Burial will follow at Fairmount Memorial Park.

A 79-year Spokane resident, Mrs. Knowski died Monday. She was born in Neustabt, Germany.

She was a homemaker and a member of Fourth Memorial Church. Mrs. Knowski was active in the Young at Heart Senior Fellowship.

Her husband, Benie, died in 1990.

Survivors include a daughter, Denice Myers of Nine Mile Falls; two sisters, Ruth Jones of Wenatchee and Elsa Henry of Garden Grove, Calif.; and a grandson.

Frank Grassel Oakesdale, Wash.

Visitation for Frank Michael Grassel, 73, will be from 9 to 11 a.m. today at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Memorial service will follow at 3 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church. Private graveside service will be at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.

Mr. Grassel, who was born in Detroit, died Tuesday.

In 1947 he married Elaine Higbee.

Mr. Grassel served in the Navy and Army from 1947 to 1950.

He was a 33-year Spokane-area resident and worked as a building contractor in the construction industry.

Mr. Grassel and his wife moved to Oakesdale eight years ago. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Survivors include his wife; four sons, Terry Grassel of Spokane, Jerry Grassel of Carson City, Nev., Frank Grassel Jr. of Spokane and Clint Grassel of Oakesdale; three daughters, Becky Beck of Nine Mile Falls, Kathy Pollock of Spokane and Vicki Miller of Billings, Mont.; a sister, Helen Bouchek of Garden City, Mich.; 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Evelyn Connett Moscow, Idaho

Graveside service for Evelyn A. Connett, 78, was Wednesday at Pinecrest Cemetery in Sandpoint.

Mrs. Connett, who was born in Grenville, N.M., died Saturday.

Her family moved to Saskatchewan when she was an infant. They lived in Canada for nine years and then moved to Cocolalla, Idaho.

In 1938 she married Patrick Connett. They lived in Cocolalla until moving to Sandpoint in 1950.

She worked as a baker at the Thrift Grocery Store in Sandpoint.

Her family moved to Othello, Wash., in 1962, where she was the head baker and managed the store bakery at Vickery’s Store. In 1966 they moved to Spokane.

Mrs. Connett worked as a baker for Albertson’s until retiring in 1980. She also had worked for Vern’s Pies for a year.

She and her husband lived in Spokane until moving to Moscow 2-1/2 years ago.

Mrs. Connett was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Bakers Union Local No. 74 in Spokane.

Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Patricia Cable of Spokane and Donna Ham of Moscow; a sister, Ellen Bossio of Priest River, Idaho; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Glenn Scott Airway Heights

Memorial service for Glenn Miles Scott, 72, will be at 11:30 a.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home.

A lifetime Spokane resident, Mr. Scott died Nov. 21.

He graduated from Rogers High School.

Mr. Scott served in the Army from 1945 to 1948.

In the early 1950s he opened the Spokane Body Shop. He retired from the shop in 1993.

He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans.

Survivors include his wife, Marilynn; two sons, Richard Scott of Spokane and Thomas Scott of New York City; a daughter, Kathy Cheney of Spokane; a stepson, Greg Wold of Spokane; a stepdaughter, Kirsten Bucher of Newman Lake; his former wife, Delores Scott; a sister, Amy Simmons; six grandchildren and six stepgrandchildren.

Donald Money Spokane

Service for Donald S. Money, 83, will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Graveside service will follow at Fairmount Memorial Park.

Mr. Money, who was born in Greenfield, Mo., died Sunday.

He grew up in California and moved to Spokane in 1946.

Mr. Money drove buses for the city of Spokane until he went to work for the Spokane Fire Department in 1947. He was on the inhalator crew for most of his career and retired in 1977.

He and his wife, Alice, raised race horses and raced them throughout the Northwest. He later served as an official at Playfair Racecourse.

His wife preceded him in death.

Mr. Money is survived by a brother, Guy Money of Branson, Mo.

Grace Thoresen Laguna Hills, Calif.

Private inurnment for Grace Campbell Thoresen, 82, will be held at a later date at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens.

Mrs. Thoresen died Sunday.

She was born and raised on a wheat farm near Washtucna, Wash. She skipped several grades of school before graduating from Cheney Normal School at age 18.

Mrs. Thoresen began a teaching career in Hubbard, Wash., in a oneroom school. She also taught in the Washington communities of Steptoe, St. John and Garfield, before becoming the head librarian at Cheney High School.

She retired in 1979 and then traveled and played golf. She later lived in Twin Lakes and Dalton Gardens, Idaho, before moving to Laguna Hills three years ago.

Mrs. Thoresen was also volunteer at a school in Coeur d’Alene for children with special needs.

She was preceded in death by two husbands, Maford Sharp and Ed Thoresen.

Survivors include a son, Richard Sharp of Salem, Ore.; a daughter, Margaret Doneen of Laguna Hills; three grandsons and four greatgrandchildren.

James O’Connell Coeur d’Alene

Memorial service for James Patrick O’Connell, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Spokane.

Mr. O’Connell, 62, died Tuesday. He was born in Spokane and in 1956 graduated from Gonzaga Prep.

Mr. O’Connell was a lifetime resident of the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene areas.

He worked as a heavy equipment salesman.

In 1986 he married Patricia Latimer. They lived on Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Mr. O’Connell was a member of the Elks and Eagles lodges. He was active in the Mount Spokane Ski Patrol and the Spokane Gun Club.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Catherine O’Connell of Spokane and Kelly Dines of New Meadows, Idaho; and two stepchildren, Pamela Smit and Douglas Latimer.

Mary (Goodman) Bryant Spokane

Private service will be held for Mary Ella (Goodman) Bryant, 88. Thornhill Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Bryant, who was born in Eagle, Idaho, died Tuesday.

She moved to Spokane in 1979 from Vale, Ore.

Mrs. Bryant was a homemaker and a Nazarene.

Her husband, Albert, preceded her in death.

Survivors include two sons, Wayne Bryant of Spokane and James Bryant of Fort Bragg, Calif.; three daughters, Elberta Dailey and Marjorie Wilson, both of Spokane, and Marie Goodman of Ontario, Ore.; 21 grandchildren and 49 great-grandchildren.

Viola `Alice’ (Addington) Swiger Egypt, Wash.

Graveside service for Viola “Alice” (Addington) Swiger, 56, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Pleasant View Cemetery in Ford, Wash., Lauer Funeral Home in Deer Park is in charge of arrangements.

Born in Chewelah, Wash., Mrs. Swiger, died Sunday.

She graduated in 1963 from Springdale (Wash.) High School.

Mrs. Swiger and her husband James operated cattle ranches in Ford, Wash., and Egypt. She also was a homemaker.

Survivors include her husband of 37 years; two daughters, Patricia Magnus of Spirit Lake, Idaho, and Edna Arruda of Descanso, Calif.; two sons, Kenneth and Clint Swiger, both of Davenport, Wash.; two sisters, Lucielle Perkins of Kettle Falls, Wash., and Delta LeBret of Wellpinit, Wash.; four brothers, Mel Addington of Reardan, Wash., Raymond Addington of Ford, Vern Addington of Glenwood, Wash., and Glen Addington of Big Lake, Alaska; a stepsister, Margie Dornquast of Dension, Wash.; three stepbrothers, Jim Russell of Boise, Harry Russell of Molalla, Ore., and Richard Russell of San Luis Obispo, Calif.; and three grandchildren.

Monique Truman Elk

Memorial service for T. Monique Truman, 24, will be at 2 p.m. today at Whitworth Community Presbyterian Church. Spokane Cremation and Burial Service is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Truman, who was born in Sacramento, Calif., died Monday from injuries suffered in a three-car accident on Highway 2 and Eloika Lake Road.

Her family moved to Spokane in 1978. She graduated from Riverside High School in 1994.

Mrs. Truman moved to Elk after marrying Ryan Truman in 1994.

For the past six years, she had worked in food service at Holy Family Hospital. Mrs. Truman also volunteered at Riverside Elementary School.

Survivors include her husband; two children, Geena and Logan Truman, both at home; her parents, Dean Campbell of Spokane and Therese Campbell of Chattaroy; and her grandparents, Larry and Joyce Zentz of Spokane, and Carlo and Claire Tassinari of Rancho Cordova, Calif.

Jessie (Schierman) Bafus LaCrosse, Wash.

No service will be held for Jessie S. (Schierman) Bafus, 90, at her request. Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.

Born in Lancaster, Wash., Mrs. Bafus died Sunday.

She married Albert Bafus in 1928 and they lived in St. John, Wash., until moving to LaCrosse more than 20 years ago.

Mrs. Bafus was a homemaker.

Her husband died in 1984.

Survivors include two sons, Norman and Douglas Bafus, both of LaCrosse; two sisters, Freda Tidd of Twin Falls, Idaho, and Dorothy Hollenbeck of Lewiston; five grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Irene Hougland Republic, Wash.

Service for Irene Hougland, 90, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Republic Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow at Republic Cemetery. Bergh Funeral Service in Oroville, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.

Born in Boxholm, Iowa, Mrs. Hougland died Nov. 20.

Her family moved to Washington state in 1926. She received a degree in home economics from Washington State College.

In 1934 she married Everett Hougland. They lived in Pullman until moving to Republic in 1937.

Mrs. Hougland was a homemaker and a member of the Rebekah Lodge, Republic Presbyterian Church, the Home-Ec Club and the Ladies Aide.

Her husband preceded her in death.

Survivors include two daughters, Mary Peterson of Spokane and Ellen Brudvik of Redondo Beach, Calif.; a son, David Hougland of Spokane; and three grandchildren.

Ray Walters Spokane

Graveside service for Ray A. Walters, 66, will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Fairmount Memorial Park. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

A 65-year Spokane resident, Mr. Walters died Sunday. He was born in Flathead, Mont.

He graduated from North Central High School.

From 1960 to 1964 he served in the Army.

Mr. Walters was a truck driver and a member of the Teamsters Union Local No. 690.

His wife, Joyce, died in 1995.

Survivors include a daughter, Cynthia McCauley, and two sons, Brian and Johnny Walters, all of Spokane; a sister, Jeanne Harmond, of Spokane; and nine grandchildren.

George Hager Elk

Service for George Amos Hager, 81, is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday at Peaceful Valley Church in Elk. Graveside service will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Oakesdale (Wash.) Cemetery. Lauer Funeral Home in Deer Park is in charge of arrangements.

Born in Farmington, Wash., Mr. Hager died Saturday.

He graduated in 1936 from Tekoa (Wash.) High School.

In 1947 he married Delores Marple.

They lived in Elk and worked with area farmers processing wheat and barley for seed. He also operated Hager Seed Processing, a portable seed service.

Mr. Hager was a past master of the Masonic Lodge in Tekoa. He also was a 50-year member of the Tekoa Grange. He served on the Spokane County Soil and Water Conservation District Board.

His wife died in 1996.

Survivors include three daughters, Darla Irwin of Spokane, Lynette Bronkhorst of Elk and Marcene Reese of Royal City, Wash.; a son, Roger Hager of Thornton, Wash.; a brother, Frank Hager of Elk; nine grandchildren and two great-grandsons.

Eugene Raska Spokane

Service for Eugene John Raska, 69, will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Riplinger Funeral Home. Private burial will be at Fairmount Memorial Park.

A Spokane resident for more than 26 years, Mr. Raska died Monday. He was born in Brush, Colo.

Mr. Raska served in the Navy during the Korean War.

He worked as a fork-lift operator for an area lumber mill.

Mr. Raska was a member of Eagles Lodge No. 2.

His wife of 44 years, Janet, died in June.

Survivors include three sons, Steve, Dave and Mark Raska, all of Spokane; three daughters, Lynette Anderson and Gina Hogan, both of Spokane, and Lori Black of Bellevue, Wash.; three sisters, Mary Ann Schrader and Alice Larson, both of Colville, Wash., and Lillian Huguenin of Chewelah, Wash; a brother, Joe Raska of Colville; and five grandchildren.

Robin Baker Spokane

No service will be held for Robin C. Baker, 80, at his request. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-South is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Baker, a 65-year Spokane resident, died Tuesday. He was born in Seattle.

During World War II he served in the Air Force as a pilot.

Mr. Baker later worked as a salesman for Jensen Byrd and Rusco Windows and Doors.

He was a member of the American Architectural Association.

Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Natalie; two sons, Brad Baker of Seattle and Robin Baker Jr. of Huntington Beach, Calif.; two daughters, Shirley Baker of Spokane and Barbara Merry of Providence, R.I.; and five grandchildren.

Virginia Williams Spokane

Memorial service for Virginia Mae Lawson Williams, 77, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Audubon Park United Methodist Church. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-North is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Williams, who was born in Denton, Mont., died Saturday while visiting her son in Lake Oswego, Ore.

She graduated from Denton High School in 1941 and later from Great Falls (Mont.) Business College.

From 1943 to 1945, she worked as a secretary for the American Red Cross in Great Falls.

In 1944 she married Melvin Lawson. They moved to Spokane in 1946.

Mrs. Williams worked as a secretary for Standard Oil from 1946 to 1951.

Her husband died in 1960.

She married Boyd Williams in 1963.

From 1974 to 1989 she was a paraprofessional with the Chapter 1 Program for School District 81.

Mrs. Williams was a member of Audubon Park United Methodist Church and the P.E.O. She volunteered at the Spokane Food Bank and Deaconess Medical Center.

Her husband died in January.

Survivors include two sons, Craig Lawson of Sammamish, Wash., and Kevin Lawson of Lake Oswego; a sister, Judith Lang of Great Falls; and four grandchildren.