Obituaries

Wilma Schlechte Blanchard, Idaho

Memorial service for Wilma M. Schlechte, 63, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene with a gathering to follow at Lake City Senior Center, Coeur d’Alene.

Mrs. Schlechte, who was born in Redcliff, Colo., died Friday.

She lived in Colorado before settling on Gotham Bay on Hayden Lake in 1944.

In 1960 she married Lorence Schlechte. They moved to Blanchard in 1968.

Mrs. Schlechte was a homemaker and had worked as a licensed practical nurse at in Spokane at Sacred Heart Medical Center, and in Newport, Wash.

She was active as a poet and crafts artist.

Survivors include her husband; a son, Raymond Schlechte of Priest River, Idaho; two daughters, Esther Schlechte of Coeur d’Alene and Gwen Stevens of Rathdrum, Idaho; a brother, John McCrite of Rathdrum; three sisters, Naomi VanKeuren of Post Falls, Idaho, Betty Cotter of Hayden Lake, Idaho, and Edna Grytness of Coeur d’Alene; and four grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 280 W. Prairie Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815.

Helvi Koski Coeur d’Alene

No service will be held for Helvi Marie Koski, 78, at her request. English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.

Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., Mrs. Koski died Sunday.

She lived in Ironwood, Mich., and was a homemaker until moving to Coeur d’Alene 52 years ago.

Her husband, John, died in 1998.

Survivors include a daughter, Carol Swink of Coeur d’Alene; two sisters, Ruth Aspinwall of Seattle and Elaine Jarvi of Ironwood; and two grandsons, John and Jim.

Mike Renner Coeur d’Alene

No service will be held for Mike E. Renner, 89, at his request. English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Renner, who was born near Mandan, N.D., died Thursday.

He moved to Idaho as a child and later served in the military. After he was discharged he moved to Oregon. Mr. Renner enlisted in the Air Force in 1941 and served for four years during World War II before settling in Kansas City, Mo., where he was a restaurant manager. He later began a career with Standard Oil, where he worked until retiring in 1967.

Mr. Renner married his brother’s widow, Julia Renner, in 1967. They moved to Spokane, where he remodeled several homes.

They moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1984.

Survivors include his wife; a half-sister, Elizabeth “Tootie” Anderson; a niece, Judie Turk; and two nephews, Lawrence and Donald Anderson.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 280 W. Prairie Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815.

Cecil Carlson Spokane

Service for Cecil Carlson, 79, will be at 10 a.m. today at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.

Born in Manlius, Ill., Mr. Carlson died Saturday.

Mr. Carlson served in the Army during World War II and the Korean War. He retired as a master sergeant after 23 years.

He was a 33-year Spokane resident and worked for Garco Construction.

Mr. Carlson was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

His wife, Hildegard, died in 1996.

Survivors include a son, Ray Carlson; three daughters, Evelyn Carlson of Spokane, Jeanette Harris of Enumclaw, Wash., and Catherine Nagy of Bordentown, N.J.; a sister, Ruby Hard of Princeton, Ill.; and eight grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association.

Willa Mae Anderson Moscow, Idaho

No service will be held for Willa Mae Anderson, 73, at her request. Short’s Funeral Chapel in Moscow is in charge of cremation.

Mrs. Anderson, who was born in Palouse, Wash., died Sunday.

She graduated from high school in 1945 in Palouse and then attended Washington State University, where she was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority.

Mrs. Anderson married Guy Anderson in 1947. They lived in Moscow, where she graduated in 1950 from the University of Idaho with a degree in home economics.

She was active in UI affairs, including Faculty Wives, and AG College Wives, and had organized social orientations for new medical students entering the WAMI Program.

She was also a homemaker, Campfire leader, Cub Scout mother, Sunday School teacher, and school aide, and spent summers at Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Mrs. Anderson was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Moscow, and participated in bridge and golf.

Survivors include her husband; three daughters, Deborah Wallin of Moscow, Elesa Anderson of Stevensville, Mont., and Tamara Zamora of Wenatchee; a son, William Anderson of Pendleton, Ore.; two brothers, E.A. Redman of Palouse and Jack Redman of Beaverton, Ore.; a sister, Rachel Camp of Vancouver, Wash.; and seven grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, or Hospice of the Palouse, 803 S. Jefferson, Suite 1, Moscow, ID 83843.

Sharon Coffey-Taylor Spokane

Memorial service for Sharon Kay Coffey-Taylor, 47, will be at 2:30 p.m. today at Valley Church of Christ. Private burial will be at Fairmount Memorial Park. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Coffey-Taylor, who died Feb. 15, was born in Spokane.

She worked briefly as a certified nurses assistant. She also was an Avon representative and was a 21-year Spokane resident.

Survivors include her husband of 13 years, George Taylor; three children, Jeff and Mistie Willis, and Josh Taylor; her mother, Clara Coffey; a brother, Glen Coffey; and a granddaughter.

Mary Jane Hill Coeur d’Alene

Service for Mary Jane Hill, 73, will be at 1 p.m. today at English Funeral Chapel in Post Falls with burial to follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Post Falls.

Mrs. Hill, who was born in Cherryvale, Kan., died Saturday.

In 1942 she married John Hill and they settled in Kellogg in 1946.

They moved to Harrison Flats in 1956 and operated a dairy farm until moving to Deary, Idaho, in 1964, where they owned the Busy Corner Cafe for 25 years.

Mrs. Hill later moved to Post Falls. She recently moved to Coeur d’Alene.

Her husband died in 1998.

She was a homemaker and a member of the Deary Rebekah Lodge.

Survivors include two sons, John Hill of Rathdrum, Idaho, and Ron Hill of Federal Way, Wash.; two daughters, Sharon Montee of Post Falls and Kay Jarrold of Sandpoint; three brothers, Jack Welden of Tacoma, Arthur Welden of Pasco and Arnold Joe Welden of Santa Maria, Calif.; two sisters, Rosie Pagay of Roy, Wash., and Lily Lou Tribbett of Parkland, Wash.; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 280 W. Prairie Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815.

Glenn `Matt’ Sharpe Sandpoint

Rosary for Glenn J. “McGhee” Sharpe, 82, will be at 7 p.m. today at Coffelt Funeral Service in Sandpoint. Funeral Mass is planned for 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Sandpoint. Burial will follow at 3 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Spokane.

Mr. Sharpe, who was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, died Saturday.

He moved to Bonners Ferry in 1921 and attended schools there. He started a career with the Spokane International Railroad in 1941.

Mr. Sharpe moved to Spokane in 1950 and continued working as a railroad lineman and was transferred to the Sandpoint area in 1969.

He moved to Sandpoint in 1971 and had worked as a section hand and a gandy dancer. He retired from the Union Pacific Railroad in 1978, after 37 years in railroading.

Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Sally; two daughters, Theresa Radocy of Williston Park, N.Y., and Elizabeth Gragg of Bakersfield, Calif.; a brother, Donald Sharpe of Greenacres; two sisters, Margaret Brown and Grace Gonzales, both of Spokane; and three grandsons.