Obituaries
Robert Armbrust Athol, Idaho
Visitation for Robert R. Armbrust, 39, will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene. Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Athol Community Hall.
Mr. Armbrust, who was born in Missoula, died Sunday in a snowmobiling/avalanche accident near Roman Nose Mountain in Boundary County.
He lived in Superior, Mont., for many years before serving three years in the Army. He moved to Coeur d’Alene and served with the Army Reserve until 1983.
In 1984 he married Sandy Hindberg.
He had worked as a mechanic and operated Rocky Mountain Toys, a high performance specialty shop in the Coeur d’Alene area. He moved to Athol in 1999.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Cody and Christopher Armbrust; his stepmother, Rosie Steinlaski of Walla Walla; a brother, Patrick Armbrust of Walla Walla; and a sister, Debbie Woodworth of Preston, Idaho.
David Harris Spokane
Memorial service for David G. Harris, 39, will be at 11 a.m. today at Sunset Mausoleum at Fairmont Memorial Park. The Neptune Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Harris, who was born in Spokane, died Monday.
He was a 20-year Spokane resident and worked as a porter in the hospitality industry for Cavanaughs hotels, The Sheraton and most recently at the Days Inn near the airport.
Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Judy and Dave Layton of Spokane; his father, Warren Harris of Arizona; two brothers, Rich Layton of Spokane and Dan Harris of Bothell, Wash.; and two sisters, Lori Duncan and Teresa Benson, both of Spokane.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Rotary Club of Spokane or the Inland Northwest Blood Center.
Fern Castle Spokane
No service will be held for Fern K. Castle, 99, at her request. Thornhill Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
A 95-year Spokane resident, Mrs. Castle died March 13. She was born in Illinois.
She worked as a cook for Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake and retired in 1963.
Her husband, Larry, died in 1978.
Survivors include a daughter, Lois Riddell of Spokane; a granddaughter, three stepgrandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Kris Coffey Post Falls
Memorial service for Kris L. Coffey, 49, was Wednesday at Faith Presbyterian Church in Hayden Lake. Another service will be held later in Appleton, Wis.
Ms. Coffey, who died Monday, was born in Appleton and grew up in Wisconsin. She was an artist and a baker who specialized in Kriss Kringle elegant pastry.
She married James Wilger in 1996 and the couple moved to North Idaho in 1997. They settled in Post Falls, where she pursued a baking career. She was active in outdoor sports and recreation.
Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Megan Coffey of Appleton and Ellie Wilger of Post Falls; her parents, Gilbert Miller of Appleton, and Dorothy Gehring of Flagstaff, Ariz.; two brothers, Greg and Giff Miller, both of Appleton; and two sisters, Jayne Williams of Flagstaff and Nan Rozelle of Appleton.
Stanley Gilbert Spokane
Memorial service for Stanley G. Gilbert, 86, is planned for 11 a.m. Friday at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home.
Mr. Gilbert, a 66-year Spokane resident, died Saturday. He was born in Moscow, Idaho.
He worked as a buyer for a wholesale hardware company.
Mr. Gilbert was a member of the Eagles Lodge No. 2.
He was preceded in death by two wives, Helene Gilbert in 1979 and Acta Gilbert in 1995.
He is survived by three sons, Craig Gilbert of Spokane, Gary Gilbert of Worley, Idaho, and Darell Gilbert of Hauser Lake, Idaho; four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane.
Kenneth Murphy Spokane
Service for Kenneth L. Murphy, 73, will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-North. Burial will follow at Riverside Memorial Park.
Born in Wilson Creek, Wash., Mr. Murphy died Monday.
He grew up in Cheney and moved to Spokane in 1947.
Mr. Murphy served in the Army Air Corps from 1945 to 1947 in the Pacific Theater as an aircraft and engine mechanic.
In 1951 he married Carol Livingston. They later divorced.
He worked as a carman for Burlington Northern Railroad for 37 years and retired in 1986.
Mr. Murphy was a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen.
Survivors include two sons, Randy Murphy of Spokane and Duane Murphy of Colbert; a daughter, Darci Gustafson of Spokane; a brother, Raymond Murphy of Pasco; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Isabelle Lee Spokane
Service for Isabelle Ann Lee, 85, will be at 11 a.m. today at Open Door Congregational Church in Deer Park. Burial will be at Woodland Cemetery in Deer Park. Lauer Funeral Home in Deer Park is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Lee, who was born in Butte, Mont., died Sunday.
She and her husband, Al, owned the Ramble Inn in Clayton, Wash., and the Pow Pow Tavern in Springdale, Wash.
Her husband died in 1988. Mrs. Lee moved to Spokane in 1995.
Mrs. Lee is survived by two sons, Lynn Holcomb of Deer Park and Lyle Holcomb of Horseshoe Lake, Wash.; a stepdaughter, Loretta Prosch of Idaho; a sister, Darlene Gallagher of Missoula; two granddaughters and one great-granddaughter.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mountain View Baptist Church, 4807 E. Chattaroy Road, Chattaroy, WA 99003.
Thomas Skinner Mica
Service for Thomas C. Skinner, 51, will be at 10 a.m. today at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Spokane. Burial will be held at Pines Cemetery. Thornhill Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Skinner, who died Monday, was born in Rhinelander, Wis.
He was a 40-year Mica resident and graduated from West Valley High School.
Mr. Skinner owned Tom’s Oasis Tavern since 1996.
Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Donita; a son, Bryce Skinner, and a daughter, Janae Skinner, both of Spokane; his mother, Elsie Clayton of Spokane; his father, Clarence Skinner of Rhinelander; and a brother, Holland Skinner of Neenah, Wis.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Spokane Valley Food Bank.
Jean (Edgemon) Newby Spokane
Graveside service for Jean E. (Edgemon) Newby, 56, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Spokane Memorial Gardens. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Newby, who was born in Wenatchee, died Sunday.
She graduated from Coulee City (Wash.) High School in 1961 and married John Newby in 1962.
Mrs. Newby was a bank teller for US Bank in Colfax, Wash.
In 1992 she and her husband moved to Spokane from Tekoa, Wash., where they had lived for 10 years.
Survivors include her husband; a son, Jim Newby of Kent, Wash.; and a sister, Carol Hipperson of Spokane.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.