Obituaries
Dorothy Benscoter Priest Lake, Idaho
Memorial service for Dorothy June Benscoter, 74, will be held July 10 at 11 a.m. at Priest Lake Community Church in Kalispell Bay at Priest Lake.
Mrs. Benscoter, who was born in Lewiston, died Tuesday.
She grew up and attended school in the Lewiston area and graduated from Clarkston (Wash.) High School in 1946. In high school she was active in band and the majorettes.
She worked for Washington Water and Power.
She married Robert Benscoter in 1945.
She lived in Denver while her husband served with the Air Force during World War II, and then lived in Sandpoint and Craigmont, Idaho, before settling in Spokane.
They bought Grandview Resort in Nordman on Priest Lake in 1970 and have operated the business for 30 years. They recently began spending winters in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Survivors include her husband; two sons, Richard Scott and Roger Albert, two daughters, Linda Bunch and Pamela Storro, and a brother and sister, Charles Forsman and Nell Kinney, all of Priest Lake; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
LaVera Russell Coeur d’Alene
Graveside service for LaVera R. “Swede” Russell, 87, will be held Monday at 1 p.m. at Forest Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene. Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Russell, who was born in Circleville, Utah, died Thursday.
She lived in Circleville until moving to Missoula in 1925 with her family. She graduated from high school there.
Mrs. Russell worked for the U.S. Forest Service, and married Howard Russell in 1937. The couple settled in Coeur d’Alene in 1942.
She worked for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare in Coeur d’Alene for many years until retiring.
Her husband died in 1991.
Survivors include three sons, Archie and Mike Russell, both of Coeur d’Alene, and Rocky Russell of Vancouver, Wash.; a sister, Vesta Richardson of Bountiful, Utah; 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Clair Gentry Weiser, Idaho
No service will be held for Clair L. Gentry, 93, at his request. Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Gentry, who was born in Galena, Mo., died June 13.
He moved to Deary, Idaho, with his family in 1910. He graduated from Deary High School in 1926 and attended Lewiston Normal School. He married Marie Caldwell in 1931.
Mr. Gentry worked in the timber industry in North Idaho and with the Civilian Conservation Corps in Genesee and Emmett, Idaho, prior to moving to Weiser in 1944.
He worked for the Weiser Soil and Conservation District from 1944 until his retirement in 1966. He also was a farmer, rotavator and soil conservationist.
Mr. Gentry moved to Coeur d’Alene earlier this year. He was active at the Weiser Golf Course and as a Vandal Booster.
His wife died in 1994.
Survivors include a son, Dean Gentry of St. Maries; a daughter, Deborah Gentry of Bayview, Idaho; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Victor Beplate Potlatch, Idaho
Service for Victor W. Beplate, 82, will be at 2 p.m. today at Freeze Church, north of Potlatch. Burial will follow at Freeze Cemetery. Kramer Funeral Home in Palouse, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Beplate, who was born in Spokane, died Wednesday.
He married Lizett Colvin in 1937, and they moved north of Potlatch, where they farmed.
Mr. Beplate also was employed at Potlatch Forest Inc. for several years, and did carpentry work, welding and logging. He operated his farm until his death.
He was a member of the Potlatch Senior Citizens and served on the Freeze Cemetery Board of Directors for several years.
His wife died in 1997.
Survivors include his companion, Marie Rohn; three sons, Edsel Beplate of Potlatch, Earnest Beplate of Deary, Idaho, and Richard Bepalt of St. Maries; three sisters, Helen Rush of Spokane, Hilda Owens of Potlatch and Mary Jane Fuller of Washington; nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Peyton Whitt Athol, Idaho
No service will be held for Peyton W. Whitt, 73, at his request. English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Whitt, who was born in Texas, died Wednesday.
He lived in the Athol area for many years and was a retired crop duster pilot.
Survivors include his wife, Jackie; three sons, Pat Whitt of Post Falls, Dan Whitt of Blanchard, Idaho, and Mike Whitt of Athol; two daughters, Teri Roundy of Colbert and Pam Bruse of Athol; a sister, Betty Buzzell of Limon, Colo.; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Gerald Burnham Coeur d’Alene
Memorial service for Gerald Lee Burnham, 64, will be held at a later date. Spokane Cremation and Burial Service is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Burnham, who was born in Spokane, died Wednesday.
He graduated from Edwall High School in 1953 and from Washington State University in 1957.
Mr. Burnham worked for Boeing Aerospace Co. before moving to Coeur d’Alene 19 years ago and managing the Kootenai County Transfer Station.
Survivors include his mother, Lucille Burham of Veradale; and a brother, Kent Burnham of Spokane.
David Ballard Post Falls
No service will be held for David M. Ballard, 48, at his request. English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Ballard, who was born in Oceanside, Calif., died Thursday.
Mr. Ballard lived in Carlsbad, Calif., prior to settling in Coeur d’Alene in 1979, and had worked as a teacher for the Coeur d’Alene School District until last fall.
Survivors include his wife and three daughters.