Obituaries
Ralph Rich Vancouver, Wash.
Memorial service for Ralph Dixon Rich, 89, will be Saturday at First Evangelical Church in Vancouver. The cremated remains will be scattered into the Pacific Ocean at a later date. Heritage Memorial in Portland, Ore., is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Rich, who was born in Shawnee, Okla., died Jan. 22.
He moved to Los Angeles in 1923 and graduated from high school there in 1927. He graduated from Whittier College and taught math and coached high school athletics in Los Angeles.
Mr. Rich served with the Navy as a lieutenant commander during World War II.
He married Juyne Thornton in 1945.
After the war, Mr. Rich returned to his teaching career in Los Angeles. In 1967 he moved to Coeur d’Alene where he taught sociology and was a tennis coach at Coeur d’Alene High School. He retired in 1976.
Mr. Rich was a member and past president of the Kootenai County Retired Teachers Association. He also was a member of the Coeur d’Alene Elks and Coeur d’Alene Rotary Club, and was a founder and charter member of the Kootenai County Humane Society.
He moved to Vancouver in September.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, James Rich of Athol, Idaho, and Robert Rich of Vancouver; a daughter, Sarah Stewart of California; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Clarence Moody Sagle, Idaho
Visitation for Clarence Paul Moody, 87, will be Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. at Coffelt Funeral Service in Sandpoint. Service will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Sandpoint.
Mr. Moody, who was born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, died Saturday.
He grew up in Sandpoint and graduated from high school there. He then worked for Great Northern Railroad.
During World War II he served with the Army’s military police and received the Purple Heart and the Silver Star awards. He returned to the Sandpoint area after the war.
In 1957 he married Elaine Brommeland.
Mr. Moody briefly worked for the Potlatch Corp. before beginning a career with Pack River Lumber Co. until he retired in 1976.
He and his wife then operated Olympic Sports and the Pop Shop in Sandpoint from 1977 to 1983. They then moved to Libby, Mont., where they managed Greenmeadow Manor. They moved to the Highland Flats area in Naples, Idaho, in 1991, and to Sagle in 1992.
He was a member of Faith Evangelical Free Church in Sandpoint and the Sandpoint Elks Lodge.
Survivors include his wife; and a son, Shon Moody of Sagle.
Frances Johnson Coeur d’Alene
Memorial service for Frances Lesley Johnson, 92, will be Feb. 5 at 1 p.m. at Rathdrum (Idaho) United Methodist Church. English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Johnson, who was born in Lawrence, Mass., died Jan. 22.
She graduated from George Washington University with a degree in architecture and later received a registered nurse degree from Stamford University Hospital in Connecticut.
Mrs. Johnson married Joseph Johnson in 1946, and they lived in Grass Valley, Calif., where she worked as a nurse at Miners Hospital.
Her husband died in 1965.
In 1981 she moved to Coeur d’Alene from Grass Valley.
She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and the Order of Eastern Star. She was an avid gardener.
Survivors include a daughter, Lesley Stephenson of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; two granddaughters, Kristie and Casey; three stepgrandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Karen Piper Spokane
Memorial service for Karen Piper, 97, will be held at a later date. Private burial will be at Fairmount Memorial Park. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Piper, who was born in Nezperce, Idaho, died Friday.
She was a 50-year Spokane resident.
Mrs. Piper worked as a pay mistress for The Crescent department store.
Her husband, Peter, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a sister, Gladys Funseth of Gleneden Beach, Ore.; and two brothers, Martin and Melvin Malmoe, both of Spokane.
John Roe Osburn, Idaho
Memorial service for John M. Roe, 79, will be today at 11 a.m. at the Osburn Baptist Church. Shoshone Funeral Service in Kellogg is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Roe, who was born in Cozad, Neb., died Sunday.
He grew up in Cozad and served with the Army from 1942 to 1945. He was stationed in Alaska before serving in England in preparation for the invasion of Normandy.
Mr. Roe returned to Cozad for a short time after his military service. He later moved to Leadville, Colo., where he began a career in hard-rock mining.
He moved to Boise and in 1956 married Verla Green. They moved to the Silver Valley, where they owned the Roe Cafe in Wallace. He also worked as a miner at several mines before working for the Hecla Mining Co.. He retired in 1985.
His wife of 27 years, Verla, in 1983. He married Evelyn Brandt in 1988, and they lived in Osburn.
Survivors include his wife; two brothers, Ed Roe of Gothenburg, Neb., and Glen Roe of Caldwell, Idaho; and two stepchildren, Kenneth Green of Kellogg and Cherald Heller of Seattle.
Evelyn Sperber Plummer, Idaho
Memorial service for Evelyn Arvilla Sperber, 82, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Plummer Assembly of God Church. Chapel of the Roses in Fremont is in charge of arrangements.
Born in Sagle, Idaho, Mrs. Sperber, died Jan. 15.
She graduated from Bonners Ferry (Idaho) High School in 1935.
During World War II she worked as a staff car driver at Fort George Wright. She later worked at the El Patio at the State Line.
She married Jim Sperber in 1946, and they moved to Round Prairie, Idaho. They later moved to Oregon and Bremerton, Wash., where they raised cattle and owned a riding stable. She served as a 4-H leader and was a secretary for the Little Britches Rodeo Association. She had also worked with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
In 1970 she and her husband moved to Plummer. In 1990 she published “Vapor Trails.”
Survivors include her husband; two sons, Gary Sperber of Plummer and Jim Sperber of Port Ludlow, Wash.; three daughters, Meladi Thoads of Spokane, Sharon Williams of Fremont, Calif., and Louise Porenta of Taylorsville, Utah; two foster children, Joe Fitts of Grays River, Wash., and Gerri Pacini of Half Moon Bay, Calif.; a brother, Ross Budbaur, and a sister, Ruth Halverson, both of Bonners Ferry; 17 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Merritt Weiss Jr.
Sandpoint
Memorial service for Merritt P. Weiss Jr., 72, will be Feb. 7 at 2:30 p.m. at the Schweitzer Mountain Chapel. Thornhill Valley Funeral Home in Spokane is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Weiss, who was born in Pennsylvania, died Thursday.
He attended schools in Bethlehem, Pa., and then served with the Army Air Corps.
Mr. Weiss later studied at Parsons School of Design and Pratt Institute in New York City and started his career as a graphic designer.
He lived in northeastern New Jersey and worked in the advertising business until 1976 when he moved to Sandpoint.
He continued his advertising career and was one of the early board members of the Festival at Sandpoint. He created two poster designs for the festival and also had served on the board of the Sandpoint Mural Society.
Mr. Weiss designed and built several area homes and was active as a volunteer at Sandpoint High School where, he taught a design course.
He was a member of the Prime Timers Ski Club at Schweitzer Mountain.
Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Miriam; two daughters, Barbara Weiss of Colorado and Pamela Weiss of Wyoming and New Zealand; a sister, Lois Leonard of Pennsylvania; and three grandchildren.
Wilma De Marre Post Falls
Memorial service for Wilma De Marre, 86, will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Coeur d’Alene. English Funeral Chapel in Post Falls is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. De Marre, who was born in Polk County, Wis., died Monday.
She married Simmie De Marre in 1933, and the couple later lived in Minnesota, where she was a homemaker and mother.
Mrs. De Marre moved to the Post Falls area in 1951 and was a founding member of Christ the King Lutheran Church.
Survivors include her husband; a son, Ramon De Marre of Post Falls; a daughter, Beulah Johnson of Post Falls; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Edith Behmerwohld Spokane
Visitation for Edith Emmy Behmerwohld, 93, will be today from 4 to 6 p.m. at Coffelt Funeral Service in Sandpoint. Service will be Friday at 1 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time) at Heron Community United Methodist Church in Heron, Mont. Burial will follow at Heron Cemetery.
Mrs. Behmerwohld, who was born in Bristow, Ind., died Sunday.
She was a Spokane resident for many years. Her husband preceded her in death.
Survivors include two daughters, Stella Selmer of Heron and Ruth Welsch of Spokane; a son, Chester Tempero of Spokane; and a brother, Lee Aders; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Michael Guilbeault Spokane
Visitation for Michael Jon Guilbeault, 21, will be from noon to 6 p.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home. Vigil service will follow at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral Mass will be at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church.
A lifetime Spokane resident, Mr. Guilbeault died Sunday from a gun shot wound.
He was employed in the construction industry.
Survivors include his father and stepmother, John and Jill Guilbeault of Spokane; his mother, Valerie Perry; two sisters, Christina Nehez and Jacqueline Guilbeault, both of Mesa, Ariz.; two brothers, Todd Lainhart of Spokane and Marc Lainhart of Seattle; and his grandparents, Kenneth Perry of Spokane and Marlene Perry-Irwin of Bayview, Idaho.
Margaret Horton Spokane
Memorial service for Margaret Lillian Horton will be at 10 a.m. today at Riplinger Funeral Home.
Mrs. Horton, 67, died Sunday.
She was born in St. Paul, Minn., and graduated from high school there.
She was a 38-year Spokane resident and a homemaker.
Her husband of 42 years, Harold, preceded her in death.
Survivors include four sons, Greg Horton of Spokane, Jeff Horton of Moscow, Idaho, Kris Horton of Pasco and Kurt Horton of Colorado Springs; and six grandchildren.
Marjorie Aho Spokane
Memorial service for Marjorie E. Aho, 83, will be held at a later date in the Longview (Wash.) area. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Born in Brooks, Alberta, Mrs. Aho died Thursday.
She was a 25-year Spokane resident and a homemaker.
Her husband of 37 years, Hugh, preceded her in death.
Survivors include two sons, Robert and Kenneth Aho; a daughter, Kathleen Jasper; two brothers, six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Pansy Skidmore Arden, Wash.
Memorial service for Pansy K. “Jean” Skidmore, 72, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Danekas Funeral Chapel in Colville, Wash.
Born in Marcus, Wash., Mrs. Skidmore died Sunday.
She graduated from Colville High School in 1945.
Mrs. Skidmore received a teaching certificate from Cheney Normal School in 1948. Also that year, she married Donald Skidmore, and they lived in the Haller Creek area. They moved to Arden in 1951.
Mrs. Skidmore was a homemaker and a charter member of the Fine Arts Guild. She also was a member of Scrooby at First Congregational Church.
Survivors include her husband; three sons, Mark Skidmore of Spokane, Eric Skidmore of Harrison, Idaho, and Lance Skidmore of Port Orchard, Wash.; two sisters, Beulah Grittner of Colville and Bernice Zuberbuhler of Ogden, Utah; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Harry Johnson Beatty, Nev.
Memorial service for Harry John Johnson, 78, will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Western Pleasures Lodge in Sandpoint. The Neptune Society in Pahrump, Nev., is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Johnson, who was born in Sandpoint, died Dec. 17.
He graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1939.
Mr. Johnson served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and was discharged in 1946.
He married Anita Wood and moved to Spokane.
Mr. Johnson worked as a dairy inspector.
He and his wife moved to Beatty in 1961, and owned and operated the El Portel Motel. They then retired and spent summers in Elk River, Idaho.
Mr. Johnson was a member of the Beatty Lions Club and the Beatty Volunteer Fire Department. He was a member of the board for the Beatty Parks and Recreation Department.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Randy Johnson of Elk River and Rick Johnson of Beatty; a daughter, Michelle Malcolm of Reno; four brothers, Herbert, Robert and Donald Johnson, all of Sandpoint, and Arthur Johnson of Chicago; two sisters, Ethel Whelan of Sandpoint and Betty Scorosz of Missoula; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Verne Barney Spokane
Funeral Mass for Verne L. Barney, former operator of Barney’s City Electric in Colville, will be at 11 a.m. today at Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church in Colville, Wash. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Colville. Danekas Funeral Chapel in Colville is in charge of arrangements.
Born in Kennebec, S.D., Mr. Barney died Monday. He was 83.
He graduated from Parma (Idaho) High School.
In 1938 he went to work for Washington Water Power in Lewiston and was later transferred to Coeur d’Alene.
During World War II he worked at Boeing in Renton, Wash.
He returned to Coeur d’Alene after the war and sold appliances.
Mr. Barney moved to Colville in 1947. He purchased Empire Electric and Valley Sales and created Barney’s City Electric. He recently moved to Spokane.
Mr. Barney was a member of the Elks Lodge, Kiwanis and the Upper Columbia Boat Club. He was also a member and past president of the Colville Chamber of Commerce and a charter member of the Colville Bench Warmers.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Tomi; a son, Jim Barney of Laguna Niguel, Calif.; a daughter, Pat Davis of Spokane; a sister, Doris Bassar of Caldwell, Idaho; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Albert Clausen Greenacres
Service for Albert A. Clausen, 82, will be at 2 p.m Friday at the United Church of Christ in Tekoa, Wash. Burial will follow at Goldenrod Cemetery in Tekoa. Kramer Funeral Home in Tekoa is in charge of arrangements.
Born near Potlatch, Idaho, Mr. Clausen died Monday.
His family moved to a farm near Tekoa when he was 10 years old.
He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II in North Africa and Italy with the 31st Depot Repair Squadron.
Mr. Clausen returned to the Tekoa area after the war. He worked on the Hahner-Hanson farm and at the grain elevator for Rathdrum Prairie Grain Growers near Tensed, Idaho.
In 1961 he married Violet Schneider. They moved to Moscow, Idaho, in 1965.
Mr. Clausen worked as a delivery driver at Washington State University for 18 years, retiring in 1982.
They moved to Hayden, Idaho, in the late 1980s, and he moved to the Good Samaritan Village in Greenacres five years ago.
Survivors include his wife in Hayden; a stepson, Charles Schneider of Priest River, Idaho; and a stepdaughter, Jackie Malinauskas of Coeur d’Alene.