Obituaries

Leona Matje Elk

Memorial service for Leona M. Matje, 70, will be at 2 p.m. today at the Colville (Wash.) First Baptist Church. Danekas Funeral Home in Colville is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Matje, who was born and raised in Clinton, Iowa, died Sunday.

She graduated from Lyons Senior High School in 1947. While in high school she worked part time for a freight line company as a clerical worker. She continued to work there until she married Albert Matje in 1950.

In 1968 she began working part time as a church secretary and in 1970 worked as a book store manager at the community college in Clinton.

In 1975 Mrs. Matje and her husband moved to Colville, where she worked as a legal secretary and at Senior Chore Service. She later was a receptionist for the Colville National Forest before retiring in 1991.

She was a longtime member of Colville First Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband; two sons, Albert Matje of Elk and Karl Matje of Colville; three daughters, Kathryn Vander Meer of Elk, Karen Goodell of Kettle Falls, Wash. and Linda Kaffenberger of Snoqualmie Pass, Wash.; 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church in Colville or to Columbia River Bible Church in Kettle Falls.

Monty Bippes Spokane

Visitation for Monty J. Bippes, 41, will be today from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home. Rosary will follow the visitation at the funeral home. Funeral Mass is planned for 10 a.m. Friday at St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Mr. Bippes, who was born in Spokane, died Saturday.

He graduated from Gonzaga Prep in 1977 and from Gonzaga University in 1982.

Mr. Bippes was a writer, producer and director for television stations and production companies in Hollywood, Calif., New York City, Portland, San Diego and Spokane. He was involved with many nationally and internationally syndicated news and information programs.

Survivors include his parents, L. Monty and Rosemary Bippes of Spokane; a sister, Mercedes Bippes; and his grandmother, Marie Bippes.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Clare Nuns or American Heart Association.

Carl `Ted’ Fels Chelan, Wash.

Visitation for Carl E. “Ted” Fels, 85, will be from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the Precht Rose Chapel in Chelan. Service is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at the Riverview Cemetery in Chelan.

Mr. Fels, who was born in Emmett, Idaho, died Saturday .

He moved with his family in 1918 to Manson, Wash., where he attended school. In 1939 he married Eva Sapp, and they moved to Chelan.

Mr. Fels served in the Navy on the USS Vandalia in the Asiatic Pacific Campaign during World War II. He was discharged in 1945.

He and his wife moved in 1955 to Spokane, where he was a welder for Pohl Springs until his retirement in 1973.

Mr. Fels and his wife moved back to Chelan in 1998.

He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a member of the National Rifle Association and the Spokane Gun Club.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Lorene McClellan of Chelan; six sisters, Stella White, Sylva Blanchard and Connie Thomas, all of Spokane, Eathel Beckman of Chelan, and Buena Wicks and Patricia Werlock, both of Seattle; two brothers, Gene and Wilbert Fels, both of Veradale; six grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

Minnie Arneson Spokane

Funeral Mass for Minnie W. Arneson will be at 10 a.m. today at St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church. Private burial will be in Rapid City, S.D. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Arneson, who was born on the family homestead near Rapid City, died Sunday. She was 106 and a 60-year Spokane resident.

She graduated from Black Hills Teachers College in Spearfish, S.D., and taught at Garfield Elementary School in Rapid City. She also was a principal there for a while.

Mrs. Arneson married Ted Arneson in 1935, and they moved to Butte, Mont. They later moved to Spokane and owned and operated a printing business.

She was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.

Her husband died in 1954.

Survivors include numerous nieces and nephews.

Gary Burroughs Newport, Wash.

Memorial service for Gary Ray Burroughs, 59, will be at 1 p.m. today at Sadie Halstead Middle School in Newport. Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Burroughs, who was born in Wichita, Kan., died Thursday.

Mr. Burroughs served in the Marine Corps.

He married Anne Damiano in 1962, and they lived in California before moving to Newport 10 years ago.

Mr. Burroughs worked for General Telephone Co. for seven years and owned and operated a moped sales and service shop in Newport before starting his print business, Burrough’s House of Printing.

He was a member and was serving as president of the Newport-Oldtown, Idaho, Chamber of Commerce. He also was a member of the Church of Religious Science in Spokane.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Teri Milich of Memphis, Tenn.; his father, Steve Taylor of Sacramento, Calif.; a brother, Ron Wright of Sparks, Nev.; a sister, Sheri Amos of Sacramento; and three grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Pend Oreille County Christian Youth Group or County Crisis Network.

Francis Bippes Spokane

Memorial services for Francis William Bippes, 77, will be at 10 a.m. today at Westview Congregational Church in Spokane and at 1:30 p.m. at the Latah Country Bible Church in Latah. Schanzenbach Funeral Home in Fairfield is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Bippes, who was born and raised in Latah, died Monday.

He graduated from Latah High School.

Mr. Bippes worked for a freight company in Portland. He retired in 1985 and moved to Spokane.

He was a member of Westview Congregational Church.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia; a daughter, Delvena Towles; a son, Derryl Bippes; a sister, Bernice Ostheller; two brothers, Bill and Robert Bippes; three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, 10 stepgrandchildren and seven stepgreat-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, Latah Evergreen Cemetery or Westview Congregational Church.

Byron Congleton Spokane

Graveside service for Byron Congleton, 87, will be at 1 p.m. today at the Milan (Wash.) Cemetery. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Congleton, who was born in Milan, died Tuesday. He was a 55-year Spokane resident.

He was a laborer and janitor at Kaiser Aluminum.

Mr. Congleton was a member of the National Rifle Association.

His wife, Evelyn, died in February.

Survivors include a son, Darrell Congleton of Colbert; a daughter, Marian Olson of Spokane; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Roy Rydell Spokane

Funeral Mass for Roy Rydell, 91, was held Wednesday at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church. Burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery. HennesseySmith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Rydell, who was born in Miles City, Mont., died Monday.

He graduated from Montana State University with an electrical engineering degree in 1931.

Mr. Rydell retired from Fairchild Air Force Base in 1972.

He was a member of the Silver Lanes Senior Bowling League.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Helen; two daughters, Bette Buechler and Kathleen Johnson; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund.

Anna Kleinhans Spokane

No service will be held for Anna E. Kleinhans at her request. HennesseySmith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Kleinhans, who was born and raised in Anaconda, Mont., died Monday. She was 89 and a 26-year Spokane resident.

She was a homemaker.

Mrs. Kleinhans was a member of the Eagles Fraternal Grand Aerie 18 Ladies Auxiliary and a charter member and past president of the Anaconda Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1876 Ladies Auxiliary.

Survivors include two daughters, Marilyn Fautch of Spokane and Lorena Miller of Eagle River, Alaska; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Leroy `Bud’ Litten Spokane

Memorial service for Leroy Henry “Bud” Litten, 82, will be held at a later date. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Litten, who was born in Wallace, died last Thursday.

He attended Gonzaga university on a basketball scholarship in 1935 and later transferred to the normal college in Lewiston.

Mr. Litten married Jewel Chrisman in 1938 and they moved to Wallace.

In 1940 he moved with his family to Spokane, where he worked for the Darigold Milk Co.

Mr. Litten later owned and operated Bud and Jack’s Garage before becoming a route supervisor for the Carnation Milk Co.

In 1967 he moved to Clarkston, Wash., where he and his wife owned and operated Hogan’s Tavern. Two years later they also owned and operated a restaurant, Der Litten Haus, next door to the tavern. They retired in 1974.

Mr. Litten and his wife moved back to Spokane in January.

His wife died in April.

Survivors include three daughters, Lea Fransen of Spokane, Judi Coykendall of Honolulu and Vicki Kellogg of Long Beach, Calif.; two sons, John Litten of Sitka, Alaska, and Jim Litten of New York City; a sister, Goldie Murphy of Hamilton, Mont.; 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Erlene Sackmann Lind, Wash.

Graveside service for Erlene Sackmann, 76, will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Lind Cemetery. Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Sackmann, who was born in Lind, died Monday.

She graduated from Lind High School in 1942 and served in the Army from 1944 to 1946.

After her discharge from the military she attended beauty school in Spokane. She graduated in 1947.

Mrs. Sackmann married Charles Thacker in 1950, and they moved to Oregon. Her husband died in 1953 in a logging accident, and she returned to Lind.

In 1964 she married Elmer Sackmann.

Mrs. Sackmann owned and operated a beauty shop in Lind and also was co-owner with her sister of the Empire Cafe in Lind. She retired in 1980.

Survivors include her husband; a son, Gage Thacker of Vancouver, Wash.; two daughters, Kathie Timm of Lind and Jan Beshara of Marcola, Ore.; a brother, Wayne Weston of Albany, Ore.; three sisters, Lola Ulma of Klamath Falls, Ore., and Darlene Williams and Dorraine Boler, both of Pasco; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lind emergency medical technicians.

Henry Aman Spokane

Vigil service for Henry E. Aman, 85, will be at 7 p.m. today at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes. Funeral Mass is planned for 10 a.m. Friday at the church. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Aman, who was born in Elgin, N.D., died Monday. He was a 56-year Spokane resident.

He was a farmer in Ione, Wash., and was selected Beef Rancher of the Year while there. He later was a dairy farmer in Four Lakes for many years.

Mr. Aman was a member of the Eagles Lodge Aerie No. 2.

Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Erma; five sons, Earl, Morris, and Chris Aman, Charles Winslett and Ric Green, all of Spokane; three daughters, Lola Rudrud of Oakville, Wash., Patricia Lazzar of Woodinville, Wash., and Fay Gettig of Kalispell, Mont.; a sister, Claudia Snyder of Denver; 21 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association of Spokane.