Obituaries

Faye Hilbert Silver Lake, Wash.

Military service for retired Air Force Major Faye W. Hilbert, 81, will be at 1 p.m. today at the Fairchild Air Force Base Chapel. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Hilbert, who was born in Buffalo, N.Y., died Sunday.

He graduated from Buffalo State University with a degree in engineering. He served for 28 years in the Air Force and had been a World War II command pilot. He retired in 1965.

After his retirement he moved his family to Silver Lake where he served two years as city clerk for Medical Lake, and was business manager for Interlake School for 14 years.

He was a past master of Medical Lake Masonic Lodge No. 102, a past worthy patron of the Loyal Chapter of Order of the Eastern Star, vice president of the Spokane Lilac Festival Association and was a charter member of the Medical Lake Lions Club.

Survivors include his wife, Geraldine; two sons, Daniel King of Spokane and Barry Hilbert of Marysville, Wash.; a brother, George Hilbert of Ormand Beach, Fla.; a sister, Eleanor Toven of Buffalo; and three grandchildren.

Jessica Taylor Spokane

Service for Jessica Lynn Taylor, 8, will be at 2 p.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.

Jessica, who was born in Spokane, died Sunday in an automobile accident near Cle Elum, Wash.

Survivors include her mother and stepfather, Carleen Taylor and Dan Letourneau of Nine Mile Falls; her half-sister, Josie Letourneau; her grandparents, Shirley Taylor and Joey, both of Spokane, Patty and Duane Schock of Veradale, and Ron and Nancy Taylor of Tacoma, Wash.; and her great-grandparents, Walter and Eunice Schock of Spokane.

Helene Carmack Spokane

Service for Helene J. Carmack, 88, will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home. Burial will be at Spokane Memorial Gardens.

Mrs. Carmack, who was born in Ritzville, Wash., died Saturday.

She was a 70-year Spokane resident and worked as a meat wrapper at Perry’s for many years.

Mrs. Carmack was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and the Hillyard Senior Center.

Survivors include her husband, Harvey; a son, Bruce Selcho of Seattle; a brother, Otto Zeller of Ritzville; and a sister, Elsie Schroll of Cheney.

Elsie Allen Potlatch, Idaho

Memorial service for Elsie Mae Allen, 80, will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Kramer Funeral Home in Palouse, Wash.

Mrs. Allen, who was born near Palouse, died Sunday.

She graduated in 1938 from Palouse High School, and married Richard Allen in 1939.

They moved to Potlatch in 1951 where they farmed. They returned to Palouse in 1970 and in 1983 returned to Potlatch to farm.

Mrs. Allen worked at West’s Grocery Store in Palouse for many years.

Survivors include her husband; five daughters, Rebecca Brink of Palouse, Luann Nelson of Viola, Idaho, Virginia Walters, of Kenai, Alaska, Patricia Weith of Palmer, Alaska, and Katherine Allen of Anchorage, Alaska; two sons, James Allen of Potlatch and Jon Allen of Pullman; 13 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Thelma Neubauer Chewelah, Wash.

Rosary service for Thelma P. Neubauer, 81, will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Schanzenbach Funeral Home in Chewelah. Funeral Mass is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary of the Rosary Catholic Church in Chewelah. Burial will be at Pioneer Cemetery in Chewelah.

Mrs. Neubauer, who was born in Trinidad, British West Indies, died Saturday.

She married Fred Neubauer in 1942 and they moved to the United States. They later moved back to Trinidad for several years, and moved to Chewelah in 1965.

Mrs. Neubauer was an artist.

Her husband died in 1998.

Survivors include three daughters, Heather Wise, Sandra Wang and Bonnie Nelson, all of Chewelah; a son, Fred Neubauer of Bennington, Vt.; two half-sisters, Hilda Campbell and Ida Luckett, both of Trinidad and Tobago; 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Maurice Petersen Spokane

Graveside service for Maurice F. Petersen, 85, will be at 9:15 a.m. today at Fairmount Memorial Park. Memorial service will follow at 10 a.m. at Heritage Funeral Home.

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

He served as a missionary to Africa for 10 years, then built and was a pastor for churches in Liberty Lake, the Spokane Valley and Pinehurst, Idaho.

Mr. Petersen was a member of the the First Assembly of God Church.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Ruth; two daughters, Rosalie Simon of Coeur d’Alene and Carol Graham of Seattle; two sons, Fred Petersen of Santa Rosa, Calif., and Ken Petersen of Waukegan, Ill.; a sister, Kathryne Diltz of Spokane; 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Ione Wegner Spokane

Vigil service for Ione M. Wegner, 99, will be at 7 p.m. today at the Jesuit House Chapel. Memorial Mass will be held at a later date. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. She was a 93-year Spokane resident.

Mrs. Wegner, who was born in St. James, Minn., died Friday.

She was a homemaker.

Her husband preceded her in death.

There are no surviving family members.

Vivian Almquist Spokane

Memorial service for Vivian June Almquist, 80, is planned for 2 p.m. today at Windriver House. Private inurnment was Wednesday at Riverside Cemetery. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Almquist, who was born in Gooding, Idaho, died Monday.

She moved to Spokane in the mid-1940s and was a beautician. She was a volunteer with the foster-grandparent program for 10 years.

Survivors include three sons, Jamie Almquist of Spokane, Michael Charter of Nine Mile Falls and Richard Charter of Coeur d’Alene; a daughter, Nellie Fry of Sequim, Wash.; four brothers, Dan Wilson of Naples, Idaho, Don Wilson of Deep Creek, Idaho, Harley Wilson of Vacaville, Calif., and Wiley Wilson of Albion, Wash.; two sisters, Nina Loy of Spokane and Darlene Billingsley of Moyie Springs, Idaho; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Cleroy `Lee’ Yoder Celina, Ohio

Service for Cleroy S. “Lee” Yoder, 76, will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Community Bible Chapel in Spokane. Burial will follow at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane. Riplinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Yoder, who was born in Lima, Ohio, died Sunday.

He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II.

Mr. Yoder was a service man and installed heating and air conditioning.

He lived in Spokane for more than 30 years and moved to Ohio six years ago.

Mr. Yoder was a member of the Celina Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, and was a founding member of Community Bible Chapel in Spokane.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret; a stepson, Ray Roberts of Pasco; two stepdaughters, Sharon DeLeon of Spokane and Lisa Mosier of Celina; a brother, Cloyde Yoder of Lakeland, Fla.; a sister, Chloris Morris of Springfield, Ohio; and several grandchildren.

Charles `Hank’ Scrupps Odessa, Wash.

Visitation for Charles “Hank” Scrupps, 93, will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Heritage Church in Odessa. Service is planned for 11 a.m. Friday at the church. Private burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Odessa Cemetery. Strate Funeral Home in Davenport, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Scrupps, who was born in Odessa, died Monday.

He attended school in Odessa and in 1934 married Lydia Kissler.

Mr. Scrupps was a farmer and cattleman in the Odessa area for many years. He was a member of Heritage Church, the Odessa Masonic Lodge, Odessa Fire Department, Odessa Gun Club, member and Past Master of the Odessa Grange, and was a past president of the Washington State Fire Commissioners. He also served on the Lincoln County Electric Board for many years.

His wife preceded him in death.

Survivors include two daughters, Noreen Groh and Marjorie Schell of Odessa; a sister, Sarah Walter of Odessa; three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Robert Gee Beckville, Texas

Memorial service for former Spokane resident, Robert L. Gee, will be at 2 p.m. July 7th at Pines Cemetery in Spokane. Sallie Lipsey Funeral Home in Carthage, Texas, is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Gee, who was born in Upshur County, Texas, died Monday. He was 88.

He served in the Marines Corps during World War II and was a railroad conductor with Union Pacific Railroad in Spokane. He retired in 1983.

Mr. Gee moved to Panola County, Texas, in 1983, and married Lanore Powell in 1987.

He was a member of the United Transportation Union Local No. 1505, Spokane Masonic Lodge and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Robert Gee Jr. of Lynnwood, Wash.; a daughter, C.E. Lewis of Longview, Wash.; five stepdaughters, Patricia Norsworthy and Debra Kennedy of Jacksonville, Texas, Judy Johnson of Wakefield, Mich., Vickie Berryhill of Chandler, Texas and Karen Thompson of Beckville; two half-sisters, Eula Rhoads of Mount Pleasant, Texas and Floy Duffey of Tyler, Texas; and three grandchildren.

Vincenza Dufresne, S.P. Spokane

Vigil service for Sister Vincenza Dufresne, S.P. (Regina Annette Dufresne), 87, will be at 7 p.m. Friday at Mount St. Joseph. Funeral Mass is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday at Mount St. Joseph. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Sister Vincenza, who was born in Missoula, died Monday.

She graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Sprague, Wash., and earned a bachelor’s degree in dietetics in 1945 from the College of Great Falls, Mont. She received a certificate in health care administration in 1968 from the University of Washington. Sister Vincenza entered the Sisters of Providence Novitiate in Seattle in 1931, professed her first vows in 1932 and her final vows in 1935.

She was a dietary aid and dietitian at hospitals and healthcare facilities in Wallace, Idaho, Great Falls, Sprague, St. Ignatius, Mont., and Missoula, including Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane from 1940 to 1943. From 1958 to 1966 she was an instructor at the School of Nursing in Spokane. She served as superior and administrator at St. Joseph Nursing Home in Spokane from 1967 to 1991. She later was in housekeeping and the dietary department from 1991 to 1994.

Sister Vincenza retired in 1995 and continued to live at Mount St. Joseph where she served on the development cabinet of the retirement fund.

She is survived by a sister, Loretta Butz of Portland.

Merald Yingst Spokane

Service for Merald Martin Yingst, 77, will be at 1 p.m. today at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. Burial will follow at Fairmount Memorial Park. Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Born on Wild Rose Prairie near Deer Park, Mr. Yingst died Sunday.

He graduated in 1940 from Deer Park High School, and served in the Army Air Corps during World War II.

Mr. Yingst was a lumberman and worked for Deer Park Pine as a sales manager for many years. He also operated Martin Wood Products since 1966.

His wife of 52 years, Renee, died in 1998.

Survivors include a daughter, Nadine Presta of Spokane; a brother, John Yingst of Deer Park; two sisters, Helen Strong and Verna Wagner, both of Spokane; and three granddaughters.

Anna Mason Coeur d’Alene

Service for Anna Mason, 94, will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Blanchard (Idaho) Community Church. English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Mason, who was born in Michigan, died Sunday.

She lived in Laird, Saskatchewan, before settling in Tweedy, Wash., with her family. In 1926 she married Ray Mason.

The couple managed a store in Tweedy and then operated Camp Diamond at Diamond Lake, Wash., until moving to Blanchard in 1939.

Mrs. Mason worked as a clerk at the Blanchard Trading Co., for 35 years. She was a past matron of Alta Chapter of Order of the Eastern Star in Spirit Lake, Idaho, and was a member of the Blanchard Grange. She was also an experienced cook of German food.

Mrs. Mason recently lived at Pinewood Care Center in Coeur d’Alene.

Her husband died in 1956.

Survivors include a son, Ray Mason of Hayden Lake, Idaho; one grandson, Terry Mason of Post Falls; and one great-grandson.

Donald Stewart Spokane

Memorial service for Donald Eugene Stewart, 61, will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Fourth Memorial Church. The Neptune Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Stewart, who was born in Washtucna, Wash., died Monday.

He graduated in 1957 from Rogers High School and served in the National Guard for six years in the 161st Armored Tank Company.

Mr. Stewart worked in the automobile industry for many years.

Survivors include his wife, Meredith; three sons, Jamie Stewart of Spokane, Jeff Stewart of Redmond, Ore., and Jason Stewart of Carlsbad, Calif.; a daughter, Jennifer Price of San Diego; his stepfather, Pat Tilson of Spokane; a brother, Jerry Stewart of Spokane; and 11 grandchildren.

Sharadee Lauritzen Spokane

Graveside service for Sharadee K. Lauritzen, 59, will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Fairmount Memorial Park. Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-South is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Lauritzen, who was born in Chewelah, Wash., died June 22.

A longtime Spokane resident, she had worked as a beautician and was a homemaker.

Survivors include a son, Anthony Lauritzen of Spokane; and three grandchildren.

Bill Flottman Addy, Wash.

Memorial service for Bill Flottman, 76, will be at 5 p.m. Friday at Chewelah (Wash.) City Park pavilion. Schanzenbach Funeral Home in Chewelah is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Flottman, who was born near Blue Creek, died June 21. He was a 19-year Chewelah resident.

He served in the Army in 1945, and in 1947 married Pearl Wilson.

Mr. Flottman worked in farming and logging in the Chewelah area. He worked for the Cenex Grange for eight years and later for Addy Feed and Hardware Store. He also worked for Eric Ross’s Saw Mill.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Raymond, Wayne and Fritze Flottman; a daughter, Lillian Smith; two sisters, Charlotte Thew of Spokane and Kathryn George of Aurora, Ore.; 14 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Virginia Gaston Spokane

Graveside service for Virginia M. Gaston, 98, will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Holy Cross Cemetery. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Gaston, who died Tuesday, was born in Edwardsville, Ill.

She and her husband, W.C. Gaston, owned and operated a lumber company in Santa Monica, Calif., for many years. In 1937 she went to work as a police dispatcher for the Santa Monica Police Department and retired 30 years later.

Mrs. Gaston moved to Spokane after retiring in 1969.

She was voted queen of the Celebrate Life Pageant for the 1989 Lilac Parade.

Her husband died in 1973.

Survivors include a son, W.C. Gaston, Jr. of Spokane; three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Lester Wolfe Springfield, Ore.

Memorial service for Lester Joseph Wolfe, 63, will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Armitage Park in Eugene, Ore. Graveside service is planned for 4 p.m. Friday at Goldenrod Cemetery in Tekoa, Wash. Kramer Funeral Home in Tekoa is in charge of local arrangements.

Mr. Wolfe, who was born in Tekoa, died June 22 from injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident near his Springfield home.

He graduated from high school in 1956 in Tekoa, and married Janet Bare in 1960.

He moved to Springfield 31 years ago. Mr. Wolfe was a long-haul truck driver for 13 years. He later worked for Schmunk’s Tire Center and Mercer Industries and then for Farwest Steel for 15 years. He was currently employed at Farwest Steel as a steel detailer.

Mr. Wolfe was a member of the National Harley Owners Group and was president of the Black Jacks Motorcycle Club in Springfield.

Survivors include his wife, Janet; a son, Sean Wolfe of Arcata, Calif.; and a brother, Leon Wolfe of Tekoa.