Obituaries
Alice Battien Lewiston
Memorial service for Alice G. Battien, 52, will be today at 1 p.m. at the Orchards United Methodist Church in Lewiston. Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home in Lewiston is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Battien, who was born in Richland, died Jan. 14.
She graduated from Kiona-Benton High School in the Benton City, Wash., area in 1965. She married Scott Battien in 1966, and lived in Alamosa, Colo., for four years. In 1970 they moved to Colville, Wash.
She was a homemaker and youth program volunteer with the Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, and served on the board of directors for the Inland Empire Girl Scout Council. She also was neighborhood president for the Colville area. She was also instrumental in the organization of several Girl Scout Camps at Douglas Falls in the mid-1980s.
Mrs. Battien and her husband moved to Spokane in 1990 and to Lewiston in 1995.
Survivors include her husband; a son, Mike Battien of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; a daughter, Jennifer Semenza of Spokane; two brothers, Gene McGehee of Benton City and Glen McGehee of West Richland; two sisters, Virginia Woodcock of West Richland and Janet McCall of Yakima; and two granddaughters, Alison and Sidney.
Marguerite `Jo’ Brodeur Spokane
Memorial service for Marguerite “Jo” (Newport) Rathbun Brodeur, 82, will be at 1 p.m. today at First Presbyterian Church, 318 S. Cedar. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Born in St. Maries, Mrs. Brodeur died Monday.
She grew up in Spokane and graduated from Lewis and Clark High School.
Mrs. Brodeur also graduated from Washington State College in 1939, where she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority.
She married Bill Rathbun in 1940, and they lived in Richland from 1952 to 1972.
Her husband died in 1976.
Mrs. Brodeur received her teaching certificate from Walla Walla College and taught in Richland at the junior high and high schools.
They later moved to Pomeroy, Wash., and to Spokane in 1973.
In 1983 she married Toner Brodeur and moved to Montreal. After her husband’s death she moved back to Spokane in 1993.
She was a member of First Presbyterian Church and the South Hill Senior Center.
Survivors include three sons, Charles Rathbun of Spokane, Douglas Rathbun of Coeur d’Alene and Richard Rathbun of Seattle; a brother, Richard Newport of Spokane; and one grandchild.
Lyle A. Vetsch Chewelah, Wash.
Funeral service for Lyle A. Vetsch, 64, will be held at 2 p.m. today at Schanzenbach Funeral Home in Chewelah. Burial will be at Chewelah Memorial Park.
Born in Waverly, Mr. Vetsch died Monday.
He graduated from Jenkins High School in 1954, and served in the Navy from 1956 to 1960.
He was produce and assistant manager for the Safeway stores in Colville, Wash., and Chewelah from 1960 to 1982. He also worked as a custodian at Jenkins High School from 1983 to 1991 and at Jenkins Middle School from 1991 to 1999.
Mr. Vetsch was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2047.
He is survived by his wife, Elaine; three daughters, BaLinda Matlock of Omak, Wash., Valorie Welch of Hillsboro, Ore., and Sandra Stone of Jackson, Miss.; a brother, Lester Vetsch of Chewelah; and eight grandchildren.
David Fuher Spokane
Service for David D. Fuher was held Tuesday at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Burial was at the Peone Prairie Cemetery.
Mr. Fuher, 84, died Jan. 12.
He was a truck driver, and later owned and operated North Crestline Wrecking.
He was a lifetime Spokane resident, and a member of Springhill Grange and the Teamsters Union.
His wife of 56 years, Lucille, died in 1993.
Survivors include two sons, David Fuher of Spokane and Richard Fuher of Keizer, Ore.; two sisters, Toni Lee and Edyth Becker, both of Spokane; six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Edward Osberg, M.D. Bonners Ferry
Service for Dr. Edward E. Osberg, 88, was Friday at First Baptist Church in Bonners Ferry. Burial was at Grandview Cemetery in Bonners Ferry. Dr. Osberg, who was born in Chicago, died Wednesday.
He grew up in Chicago and played the cornet with the boy’s band of the Chicago temple of the Salvation Army, progressing to the senior band. He became a part of the staff band in later years.
Dr. Osberg graduated from the Illinois College of Podiatry in 1934 and also studied at the Moody Bible Institute and the University of Chicago. He practiced podiatry in Chicago for several years.
In 1940 he married Ann Larson.
He served as a safety inspector during World War II at the Air Force-operated Dodge-Chicago plant, where he worked in the production of B-29 engines.
Dr. Osberg moved to Albany, Ore., in 1946 and operated a podiatry practice until he retired in 1978. He then attended oil painting, pencil sketching and wood-working classes with his wife at the community college in Albany.
He had served as volunteer chairman of the Board of the Extension Service Committee for the Oregon Salvation Army Headquarters in Portland, and was president of the Albany Christian Business Men’s Association.
Dr. Osberg was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Albany, and had served two terms as president of the congregation. He also taught adult Sunday school for many years.
He had written two books and published numerous articles and served as president of the Albany Toastmaster’s Club, the Oregon Podiatry Association and the Albany Rotary Club. He was a longtime member of Rotary International.
His wife died in 1989 and he moved to the Mennonite Village in Albany. He settled in the Bonners Ferry Restorium in 1994 to be near family. He attended the Bonners Ferry First Baptist Church and played harmonica.
Survivors include two daughters, Evelyn Rae of Bonners Ferry and Marilyn Christensen of Lafayette, Calif.; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Larry Coyle Coeur d’Alene
Service for Larry E. Coyle, 86, will be today at 4 p.m. at Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene. Burial will be at a later date at Riverview Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene.
Mr. Coyle, who was born in Grand Island, Neb., died Thursday.
He grew up in Nebraska and graduated from Iowa State University.
He served as a lieutenant commander in the Navy while stationed at Statton Island, N.Y.
After his military service, he moved to Detroit, where he worked in sales in the meat packing industry.
He later moved to Omaha, Neb., and co-owned a meat packing plant until selling the company. He became vice president of sales at Marsden Co. in Omaha.
Mr. Coyle retired and moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1992.
Survivors include his former wife, Dorothy Coyle of Hayden Lake, Idaho; two sons, David Coyle of Seattle and Larry Coyle of Chicago; two daughters, Kathy Reynolds of Omaha and Laurie Coyle Kazlauskas of Post Falls; and five grandchildren.
Cecelia McNeal Spokane
Memorial service for Cecelia Baxter McNeal, 82, will be at 2 p.m. today at Messiah Lutheran Church. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. McNeal, 82, died Wednesday.
A lifetime Spokane resident, she graduated from Lewis and Clark High School and Kinman Business College.
She worked as a secretary at local union halls.
Mrs. McNeal was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church and the Rock Rollers Club.
Survivors include a son, Clifford Baxter of Otis Orchards; a brother, Ernie Lenke of Redmond, Wash.; a sister, Margaret Kralman of Portland; and a granddaughter.
Anthony Allen Jr. Malcolm Allen William Allen Spokane
Service for siblings Anthony Lamar, 6, Malcolm James, 5, and William Alex Allen, 2, will be at 1 p.m. today at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-North. Burial will follow at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Born in Spokane, Anthony died Sunday, and Malcolm and William died Tuesday from injuries suffered in a house fire.
Survivors include their parents, Jamesetta Shealeay and Anthony Allen Sr., both of Spokane; and their grandparents, Arzik and Darlene Hansford, and Major and Irene Allen, all of Spokane.
Edgar Judy Careywood, Idaho
Service for Edgar Dean Judy, 86, will be held today at 11 a.m. at Coffelt Funeral Service in Sandpoint. Burial will follow at Westmond Cemetery in Westmond, Idaho.
Mr. Judy, who was born in Potomac, Ill., died Wednesday.
He grew up working on the family farm and attended school in the Potomac area. He moved to Montana as a young man and worked as a ranch hand.
Mr. Judy married Marguerite Coleman in 1940 and served as a civilian worker at the Navy Supply Depot in Roy, Utah, during World War II.
He was a munitions worker and miner in Colorado during the 1940s before settling in Careywood in 1948, where the couple operated a dairy and later raised beef cattle.
Mr. Judy had worked at Kaiser Aluminum and on local construction projects, including the Albeni Falls Dam and Bonner County schools.
He drove a school bus in Bonner County from 1965 until his retirement in 1978. As a longtime area 4-H leader, he also exhibited registered Milking Shorthorn cattle at the Bonner County and Spokane fairs.
He was a member of First Christian Church in Sandpoint and was involved in equestrian wilderness pack trips.
Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Nova Jo Kellogg and Tamara Judy, both of Careywood, and Eddie Judy of Clark Fork, Idaho; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Beulah Blankenship Pullman
Service for Beulah Myrtle (Sullivan) Blankenship, 74, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Simpson Methodist Church in Pullman. Burial will be at the Ritzville (Wash.) City Cemetery at a later date. Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Blankenship, who was born in Paha, Wash., died Tuesday.
She grew up in the Washtucna, Wash., area and in 1943 graduated from Washtucna High School.
Mrs. Blankenship moved to Pullman four years ago from Washtucna.
She was a homemaker and a member of Washtucna Community Church and the Endicott (Wash.) Quilt Club.
Survivors include her husband of 54 years, Dwayne; five sons, Dwayne Blankenship of Pullman, Dan and Brett Blankenship, both of Ritzville, and Perry and Scott Blankenship of Washtucna; a daughter, Audrey Blankenship-Wilson of Pullman; three brothers, Sydney and Clark Sullivan, both of Washtucna, and Daniel Sullivan of Lenore, Idaho; and 11 grandchildren.
Mary De Mills Spokane
Service for Mary Elizabeth “Betty” De Mills, 79, will be at 1 p.m. today at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Riverside Memorial Park.
A lifetime Spokane resident, Mrs. De Mills died Saturday.
She graduated from North Central High School.
In 1943 she married Lawrence De Mills.
During World War II, she worked as an office manager processing applications for those enlisting in the service at Fairchild Air Force Base.
Mrs. De Mills was a homemaker and a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.
Her husband died in 1996.
She is survived by a daughter, Sharon De Mills of San Francisco.
Marjorie Thorson Spokane Memorial service for Marjorie D. (Sherriffs) Thorson, 72, will be at 11 a.m. today at Riplinger Funeral Home.
A lifetime Spokane resident, Mrs. Thorson died Wednesday.
She graduated from North Central High School in 1945.
Mrs. Thorson worked in the credit department at The Crescent department store and later worked at Spokane Falls Community College.
Survivors include her husband of 49 years, Arthur; a daughter, Lori Weller of Springfield, Ore.; a son, Brian Thorson of Corona, Calif.; a sister, Millie Pederson of Spokane; and two grandchildren.
Edwin `Bud’ Pettis Coeur d’Alene
No service will be held for Edwin John Pettis, 86, at his request. English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Pettis, who was born in Zap, N.D., died Tuesday.
He grew up in Canada and later moved to Coeur d’Alene. He worked in construction for 50 years before retiring.
Mr. Pettis also was involved in gold mining, cooking and various mechanical repair. He was a resident of Beehive Homes in Coeur d’Alene at the time of his death.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 34 years, Betty Mae.
Survivors include three daughters, Janice Pettis of California, Marlene Metter of Ohio and Catherine Burt of Coeur d’Alene; two sisters, Carol Phelps of California and Gladys MacInturf of Tacoma; his former wife, Ruby Culver; nine grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Margaret Thompson Spokane
Visitation for Margaret A. Thompson, 86, will be from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home. Service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Riverside Memorial Park.
Mrs. Thompson, who was born in Park River, N.D., died Wednesday.
She moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1948 from Grafton, N.D., and then to Spokane in 1978 from Spirit Lake, Idaho.
Mrs. Thompson was a homemaker and a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.
Her husband of 58 years, Henry, died in 1990.
Survivors include a daughter, Laurel DesChamps of Spokane; two sisters, Minnie Wiggin of Coeur d’Alene and Florence Roudebush of Boise; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Hazel Bonser Davenport, Wash.
Service for Hazel (Richardson) Tupper Bonser, 85, will be at 2 p.m. today at Strate Funeral Home in Davenport. Private burial will be at the Mount View Cemetery in Davenport.
Mrs. Bonser, who was born in Molson, Wash., died Monday.
She married Clayton Tupper, and they lived in Almira, Wash., during the 1960s and 1970s.
Mrs. Bonser was a homemaker and later worked as a licensed practical nurse in Wenatchee and Medical Lake.
Her husband preceded her in death.
Survivors include her husband, Gordon; two daughters, Sally Jo Wear of Bellevue, Wash., and Barbara Gardner of Stockton, Calif.; 12 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Ernest Sprecher Spokane
Service for Ernest Sprecher, 80, was held Thursday at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Burial was at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
A 51-year Spokane resident, Mr. Sprecher died Monday. He was born in Elgin, N.D.
He served in the Navy during World War II.
Mr. Sprecher worked as a letter carrier and clerk for the U.S. Postal Service and retired in 1974.
He was a former pastor of the Audubon Terrace-Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
He was a member of Eagles Lodge Aerie 2 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1474.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Dale Sprecher of Spokane; four sisters, Eleanor Hoerner of Spokane, Freda Newman of Denver, Gertrude Davenport of New Leipzig, N.D., and Delia Schock of Elgin; three grandsons and one great-grandson.