Obituaries

Mike Kiblen

Moscow, Idaho

Vigil service for Mike Kiblen, 33, will be today at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Moscow. Funeral Mass will be Wednesday at the church. Short’s Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Born in Moscow, Mr. Kiblen died last Tuesday of an aneurysm.

A lifelong resident of Moscow, he attended Rose’s and St. Mary’s Catholic schools. He graduated from Moscow High School in 1988 and received a business finance degree from the University of Idaho in 1992.

Mr. Kiblen married Deanna Zumhofe-Broenneke in Coeur d’Alene in 1993. He worked as a mortgage banker from 1993 until 1999, when he joined the family business with his brother, Dave, and his father, Tod, at Latah Title Co.

Mr. Kiblen was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, St. Mary’s School Foundation, Vandal Boosters, Bear Boosters, and the Babe Ruth and Moscow Legion baseball associations. He was an avid sports fan, participating in football, baseball and basketball throughout high school. He also enjoyed golf, snow and water skiing and pingpong.

He is survived by his wife; two sons, Austin and Jake, a daughter Hannah, and two stepsons, Bryce and Cole, all of Moscow; his mother, Karen McGarvey of Anchorage, Alaska; and his father, Tod Kiblen, three brothers, Dave, Andy and Eric, and grandparents Guy and Verla Mae Nearing, all of Moscow.

Durward ‘Skip’ DeChenne

Mead

Funeral for Durward “Skip” E. DeChenne, 89, will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-South.

Mr. DeChenne, who died Friday, was born in Edwall, Wash.

He grew up in Chewelah, Wash., where he graduated from Jenkins High School in 1932.

He served in the Civil Air Patrol during World War II.

Mr. DeChenne was a service manager for Utter Motor from 1943 to 1960.

In 1960 he moved to the Clarkston area, where he operated DeChenne’s Marina from 1960 to 1982.

He returned to Spokane in 1989 and later moved to Mead.

He was member of Whitworth Community Presbyterian Church and past president of the Spokane Ski Club, Manito Lions Club and Toastmasters.

He was a longtime member of Manito Presbyterian Church and a member of the Clarkston Country Club and the Clarkston-Lewiston Elks Lodge. Mr. DeChenne was an outdoor sports enthusiast and a skilled woodworker.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Vida; a daughter, Gaye Hewson of Seattle; a son, Ed DeChenne of Newberg, Ore.; seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Dallas D. Miller

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

No service for Dallas D. Miller, 88, will be held, at his request. Arrangements were made by English Funeral Home.

Mr. Miller, who was born in Billings, died Friday.

His family moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1921. Mr. Miller graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1934 and attended North Idaho Junior College. In 1943 he purchased Tubby’s Cocktail Lounge, which he operated until 1958. He then worked as a cook in Forest Service and logging camps until he retired in 1973.

He married Geraldine Kilian in 1940, and they had a daughter, Della Jean. They divorced in 1944, and he married Faye Baldwin in 1956.

Mr. Miller enjoyed hunting, fishing and family. He was a member of the Dalton Gardens Church of Christ.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Faye.

Mr. Miller is survived by his daughter, Della Jean Grow; two grandsons, a granddaughter and four great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Coeur d’Alene Christian School, 6439 N. Fourth St., Dalton Gardens, ID 83815.

Bill Shirts

Coeur d’Alene

Memorial service for Bill Shirts, 59, will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at English Funeral Chapel in Post Falls.

Mr. Shirts, who was born in Salt Lake City, died Wednesday.

He was stationed in Japan as an air patrol officer in the Air Force. He moved to North Idaho in 1979.

Mr. Shirts enjoyed golf, fishing, hunting and camping on the Coeur d’Alene and St. Joe rivers.

Survivors include his mother, Dorothy Taylor, his former wife, Koko Shirts, a son Jeff Shirts, and a daughter, Terri Ashburn, all of Post Falls; three brothers, Ron, Morris and John; two sisters, Terry and Bernice; and four grandchildren.

Marion ‘Lee’ Nichols

Medical Lake

Graveside service for Marion “Lee” Nichols, 74, will be today at 2 p.m. at Fairmount Memorial Park. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Nichols, who was born in Brewster, Kan., died last Tuesday. He was a resident of the Spokane area for 52 years, including the past 15 years in Medical Lake.

He grew up in Goodland, Kan., and at age 19 he joined the Army and served in the Korean War. He was awarded a Korean Service Medal with four Bronze Stars.

He worked as a hairdresser in Spokane at salons including the Bon Marche, Select Coiffure and the Davenport Hotel.

He operated his own beauty shop, Lee Nichols Hair Salon, in the Fox Theater Building in the early 1970s until health challenges arose.

Mr. Nichols was a self-educated plumber, electrician and carpenter, and he even made his own shoes.

He enjoyed motorcycle riding and playing pool.

Survivors include two sons, Mike Nichols of Spokane and Dave Nichols of Bothell, Wash.; a stepdaughter, Janet Hunt of Oldtown, Idaho; his former wife, Elaine Saffle; and four grandchildren.

John ‘Jack’ Leahy

Spokane

Funeral for John F. “Jack” Leahy, 92, was Monday at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home.

Mr. Leahy, who was born in Spokane, died Thursday.

He attended Gonzaga High School, then worked for Washington Machinery before graduating from Lewis and Clark High School.

He then attended Washington State College.

He enjoyed hunting and golf and was a top-level senior amateur in the Northwest. He won numerous awards, including the Pacific Northwest Seniors Championship.

He was a member of Esmeralda, Sundance and Wandermere golf courses and the National Guard.

He worked in the insurance and construction industries before joining the Spokane Police Department. He retired as a sergeant in 1970.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Peg Leahy, and his second wife, Elaine Carroll.

Survivors include four children, John Leahy III of Alexandria, Va., and Darlene McCollim, Gary Leahy and Mikki Sdao, all of Spokane; his former wife, Therea Penna; 13 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

Elmer Williams

Greenbluff

Memorial service for Elmer L. Williams, 90, will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at St. David’s Episcopal Church. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Williams, who was born in Spokane, died Thursday. He was a lifetime resident of Spokane County.

In 1932 he was a member of the first class to graduate from Rogers High School.

He was a member of St. David’s Episcopal Church and Green Bluff Grange.

Mr. Williams retired from the Postal Service and was a Green Bluff orchardist.

He was preceded in death by Shirley, his wife of 52 years, in 1989.

Survivors include three daughters, Virginia Shulman of Seattle, Cathy Bond Anderson of Colbert and Barbara Williams of Spokane; a sister, Mildred Schneider of Tumwater, Wash.; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane or Green Bluff Grange, c/o Frances Enburg, 17410 N. Sands Road, Mead, WA, 99021.

Louise (Dunlap) Soden

Spokane

Private service will be held for Louise (Dunlap) Soden Cook, 95. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Cook, who died July 16, was born in Ilo-Volmer (now Graigmont), Idaho.

A 1930 graduate of the University of Idaho, where she was a member of Alpha Phi sorority. She was an elementary schoolteacher until her 1933 marriage to John Wesley Soden.

He died in 1974.

Mrs. Cook was the first initiate of Chapter AO, PEO, in Twin Falls in 1937.

While in Twin Falls, Mrs. Cook was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church.

In 1980 she married Frank Cook, who died in 1991.

In 1994 she moved to Spokane.

Survivors include a daughter, Nan Best of Spokane; a son, Mac Soden of Boise; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls.

Melvin Greenwalt

Ritzville, Wash.

Memorial service will be held for Melvin D. Greenwalt, 56, at a later date. Danekas Funeral Home, Ritzville, is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Greenwalt, who was born in Ritzville, died July 17.

He graduated from Odessa High School in Odessa, Wash., in 1965. He attended Spokane Falls Community College and received his certification in welding.

He worked as a welder for Spokane Comet Industries before moving to Moses Lake in 1970 to work for U & I Sugar Co.

In May of 1972 he moved to Ritzville and began working for Adams County Public Works, retiring after 31 years in 2003.

Survivors include five brothers, Walter Greenwalt of Lynnwood, Wash., David and Robert Greenwalt, both of Odessa, Leo Greenwalt of Moscow, Idaho, and twin brother Marvin Greenwalt of Moses Lake. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ritzville Lions Club, American Legion Remodel Project, c/o Lions Secretary Jim Leffel, 201½ West Broadway, Ritzville, WA 99169.

Lilly Marguerite McMurray

Athol, Idaho

Memorial service will be Saturday for Lilly Marguerite McMurray, 93, at 4 p.m. at Athol Community Center. English Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. McMurray, who born in Wabamun Alberta, died Thursday.

She was a longtime resident of North Idaho and was instrumental in establishing the Athol Library.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Charles Howerton and James McMurray.

Survivors include six daughters; Rita Tabor, Jewel Carlson, Billie Michaels, Pat Rieken, Kay Brown and Gail McMurray; two sons, John Howerton and Bob McMurray; 54 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, ID 83835.

William Lasswell

Spokane

Memorial service for William C. Lasswell, 78, was Monday at Riplinger Funeral Home.

Mr. Lasswell, who was born in Colville, was a lifelong area resident. He died last Tuesday.

He attended Lewis and Clark High School and the University of Idaho.

He joined the Navy in 1944 and was an aviation cadet.

Mr. Lasswell worked in electrical sign sales. He enjoyed golfing and fishing.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon; two sons, Stephen Lasswell and Kevin Lasswell; a brother Roger; three stepchildren, John Preston, Tracy Preston, and Lauri Stevens; and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lilac Blind Foundation, 1212 N Howard St., Spokane, WA 99205.

Lelia Pebles

Santa Maria, Calif.

Service for Lelia Ruth Pebles, 85, will be in Santa Barbara at a later date.

Mrs. Pebles, who was born in Spokane, died Thursday.

A former longtime resident of Spokane and Loon Lake, Wash., she moved to Santa Maria, Calif., about nine years ago.

She graduated from Rogers High School and was a homemaker.

She enjoyed playing card games and was a member of several bridge clubs.

Her husband, Frank, died in 1957.

Survivors include two sons, Frank and John Pebles, both of Bellevue, Wash.; two daughters, Connie Breitrkeutz of Kettle Falls, Wash., and Sandi Weeks of Santa Barbara, Calif.; 13 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Kelsey Roberts

Priest River, Idaho

Memorial service for Kelsey Dawn Roberts, 18, was Sunday at home of her parents, John and Susan Roberts, in Priest River. Coffelt Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.

Born in Sandpoint, Miss Roberts died Wednesday from injuries suffered in a car accident.

She grew up and attended school in Priest River. She loved animals and won awards with her horses. Kelsy was a member of Brownies and active in 4-H. She was artistic and loved to draw, dance and write poetry. She played basketball, playing in the AAU program.

Survivors include her parents, a brother, Shiloh, and grandparents John and Arlene Roberts, all of Priest River.

Patricia (Holler) Irwin

Coeur d’Alene

No service will be held for Patricia (Holler) Irwin, 66. Yates Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Irwin, who was born in Little River, Kan., died July 22.

Mrs. Irwin graduated from high school in 1957. She received a nursing degree and worked for several years in the Seattle area. In 2001 she moved to Coeur d’Alene to live with family and became a member of the Real Life Christian Church in Post Falls.

Her husband of 37 years, Paul Richard Irwin, died in 1994.

Survivors include three sons; Brett Irwin of Auburn, Wash., Bryan Irwin of Mulvane Kan., and Patrick Irwin of Athol; two brothers, Neel and Harris Holler; a sister, Kelsey Stewart; and seven grandchildren.

Allen Smith

Spokane

Funeral for Allen Smith, 91, will be Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at Heritage Funeral Home.

Mr. Smith, who was born in Racine, Wis., died last Tuesday. He was a resident of Spokane County for 70 years.

He graduated from Clarkston High School in 1934.

He married Ora Glover in 1935.

Mr. Smith drove a semitruck for Inland Motor Freight for 17 years.

In 1949 he purchased a filling station, known as Al’s Mobile Service, which he operated for 36 years.

He was preceded in death by his wife.

Survivors include his daughter, Gayle Heuston of Seaside, Ore.; a son, Richard Smith of Colville; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Lonnie Wood

Spokane

Private service will be held for Lonnie Boyd Wood, 46. Neptune Society is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Wood, who was born in Spokane, died July 16. He was a lifelong resident of Spokane County.

He graduated in 1976 from Freeman High School, where he excelled in sports.

He was an active fisherman and hunter.

Survivors include his companion of 27 years, Kathleen; a son, Jason Davis of Spokane; his parents, Boyd and Leslie Wood of Rockford; a sister, Sheryl Emerick of Spokane Valley; and a brother, David Wood of Rockford.